It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was once invited to a meal of barley bread and a curry which, due to having been left for a long time, had developed a bad smell. I myself heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say several times in one day, "By Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the family of Muhammad does not have even a sa’ (a measure) of grain or dates." At that time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had nine wives. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had pawned his armor with a Jew in Madinah; he had taken some grain on credit from him, and now the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not have enough wealth to redeem that armor.

It is narrated from Qatadah, who says: We used to come to Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), while his cook who made bread would be standing by him. One day he said: Eat, for I do not know whether the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ever saw thin, large bread or a goat roasted after its hair was removed, until he (peace and blessings be upon him) met his Lord.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that due to hardship and scarcity, bread and meat for both the midday meal and the evening meal were never combined in the presence of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.