Abdullah bin Shaqiq says: I resided with Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Madinah Munawwarah for a year. One day he said to me, while we were near the chamber of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): I saw that we had torn, old sheets, and there were days when we could not find anything to eat by which we could straighten our backs. It would reach the point that people would pick up stones and tie them to their hungry stomachs with cloth in order to keep their backs straight. One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) distributed dates among us; each person received seven dates, among which were dry and inferior dates. And I did not like the idea that I would get a good date instead of that inferior date. I asked: Why is that? He said: Because it had to be chewed with difficulty.