Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I am suffering from hunger. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent a message to his wives, but nothing was available with them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Is there anyone who will host this man tonight? A man from among the Ansar stood up. He said: O Messenger of Allah! I (will host him). That man went to his wife. He said to his wife: This is the guest of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Do not keep anything hidden from him. The woman said: By Allah, I have only enough food for the children. The Ansari said: When the children want dinner, put them to sleep. Then you extinguish the lamp. Tonight we will tie our stomachs (bear hunger). The woman did so. The next day, that man came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Allah Almighty liked the action of such-and-such man and such-and-such woman.

(The narrator is in doubt whether these are the words:) That Allah Almighty was pleased with it, so Allah Almighty revealed this verse regarding it: "And they give preference to others over themselves, even though they are in need themselves."