Even if a person does not have the means to give a large gift, it is still disliked to send a beggar away without giving anything.

Ibn Bajid narrates from his grandmother. She says: I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, sometimes a beggar comes to me and I have nothing to give him (so what should I do)?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not send the beggar away (empty-handed), even if it is just a single date, give him that." The narrator Ashaj did not mention the words "ma u‘tiyhi" (what I give him). Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Ibn Bajid refers to Abdur Rahman bin Bajid bin Qibti.

It is narrated from Abdul Rahman bin Bujayd, the brother of Ibn Harithah, that his grandmother narrated to him. She is Umm Bujayd, and she was among those who pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). She said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): "By Allah, a poor person stands at my door and I have nothing to give him." So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed her: "If you find nothing to give him except a burnt hoof, then put that in his hand."