Poverty, in Islamic legislation, refers to lacking or falling short of basic necessities, so, “anyone who does not have a quantity that satisfies him and his family is considered in poverty and among the destitute.”
Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, feared the trial of riches for his nation more than he feared poverty. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “By Allah, it is not poverty about which I fear for you, but I fear in your case that [the worldly] riches may be given to you as were given to those who had gone before you, and that you begin to vie with one another for them as they vied for them, and that they may destroy you as they destroyed them.”
Yet, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, realized that poverty is also a great trial. Therefore, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate to Allah saying: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, realized the severity of the crisis of poverty and its attenuating impact on people, so he supported the poor and lived amongst them. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, treated the poor with mercy and kindness, and he used to give them whatever he could, although he, himself, was poor.
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also taught his Companions to have mercy upon the poor as well. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sometimes used to feed them from what he had. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would take them to his home or order that charity be given to them or propose that one of his Companions take them in as guests.