Is it permissible to eat dates in the mosque before the Eid prayer?

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. Some people eat dates in the mosque; is this correct? And what is the wisdom behind the prescription of eating, O Shaykh, specifically on Eid al-Fitr? Yes, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : It is better for a person not to leave his house until he eats an odd number of dates, such as three, five, seven, nine, or eleven, according to what he desires. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used not to go out on the day of Eid al-Fitr until he ate dates, and he used to eat them in an odd number. The wisdom behind this is following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). May Allah reward you with good.