If the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not have anything to give to the poor, he would send the poor person to one of his Companions

that a man came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, poverty has struck me.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent a messenger to one his wives (to bring something for that man to eat) but she said: “By the One who sent you with the truth, I only have water.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent to another one of his wives (to bring something for that man to eat), but she said the same, until all of them said the same thing. Then Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Who will take this one as a guest in exchange for Allah’s Mercy?” A man from the Ansaar said: “I will, O Messenger of Allah.” So he took the man to his home, and said to his wife, “Treat the guest of the Messenger of Allah well.” She said: “By Allah! We have nothing except the meal for my children.” He said: “Get the food ready, and light the lamp, and put your children to sleep if they ask for dinner. Then when the guest enters, dim the lamp, and make it seem as if we are eating, and when he reaches for the food to eat, then stand up to the lantern and turn it off.” She got the food ready, turned the lamp on, and put the children to sleep. She then went to the lamp as if she was fixing it, and turned it off. Then they pretended that they were eating and they both went to sleep hungry. In the morning, the man from the Ansaar went to Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who said: “Allah has laughed (implying His acceptance to the deed), from your actions last night.” Then Allah revealed His saying (which means): «And they give them preference over themselves even though they were in need of that.»

“Allah’s Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to two men who had the same need. One of them spoke, and Allah’s Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, noticed that his breath smelled as if he had not eaten. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked him: ‘Do you not brush your teeth?’ The man said: ‘I do, however, I have not eaten in three days.’ So the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered some men who accommodated him and took care of his needs.”