Sahih Muslim 2042 a
The Book of Drinks
It is recommended to take the stones out of dates, and it is recommended for the guest to pray for the host and to ask a righteous guest to supplicate, and he should respond to that request
'Abdullah b. Busr reported: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to my father and we brought to him a meal and a preparation from dates, cheese and butter. He ate out of that. He was then given dates which he ate, putting the stones between his fingers and holding his forefinger and middle finger together" - Shu'bah said: "I think we learn from this that one may hold the date stones between two fingers, In shaAllah." Then a drink was brought for him and he drank it, and then gave it to one who was on his right side. He (the narrator) said: My father took hold of the rein of his riding animal and requested him to supplicate for us. Thereupon he said: O Allah. bless them in what You have provided them as a sustenance; and forgive them and have mercy upon them.