He traced it back to the Prophet ﷺ, who said, "When one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with a date, for it is a blessing. If he cannot find a date, then with water, for it is purifying."He also said, "Charity given to a needy person is charity, but charity given to a relative is two things, charity and Sila."
حدثنا قتيبة حدثنا سفيان بن عيينة عن عاصم الأحول عن حفصة بنت سيرين عن الرباب
يبلغ به النبي ﷺ قال إذا أفطر أحدكم فليفطر على تمر فإنه بركة فإن لم يجد تمرا فالماء فإنه طهور وقال الصدقة على المسكين صدقة وهي على ذي الرحم ثنتان صدقة وصلة
[Sahih] Abu Dawud also narrated it in the Book of Fasting, chapter on what one should break the fast with, no. 2355, with the same wording. Ibn Khuzayma graded it sahih, no. 2067, as did Ibn Hibban, no. 892 and 893, and Abu Hatim Razi, and Hakim (1/431), and Dhahabi, and I have not seen any valid argument from those who judged it daif.On this topic there is also a report from Zaynab, the wife of Abdullah bin Masud [Bukhari, no. 1466, and Muslim, no. 1000], from Jabir [Ahmad 3/329, 346], and from Abu Hurairah [Bukhari, no. 1426, and Muslim, no. 1042].