What is the authenticity and meaning of the Hadith: "O 'Aisha, shield yourself from the Fire, even with half a date"?

The mentioned narration: "O 'Aishah, protect yourself from the Fire even with half a date, for it satisfies the hungry as it satisfies the full," has a weak chain of transmission.

However, the wording: "Protect yourselves from the Fire even with half a date," has been narrated with authentic chains of transmission by Imam Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, and Muslim.

The meaning of "half a date" (شق التمرة) is its half or a piece of it.

The hadith encourages charity and not belittling even a small amount, for it is a means of salvation from the Fire. Allah accepts charity from honest earnings and makes it grow until it becomes like a mountain.