Why did the Companions not ask the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for food or money when he tied a stone to his stomach and said that he had never seen white bread, and why was the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, poor even though Allah the Almighty did not give him money or food, and why did the Companions not do what I would do by spending my property on him to make him wealthy?

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, tying a stone to his stomach was an act of asceticism and patience on his part, and a signal to his Ummah that wealth should not own their hearts. He used to spend a great deal of what came to him, so if he found nothing, he would endure and be patient. This is what sometimes led him to tie a stone to his stomach and eat dates and water.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, chose to be a servant and a messenger, not a king and a prophet. He refused to have Allah make the valley of Mecca gold for him. He preferred to be full one day and hungry another day, so that he could humble himself before Allah and be grateful to Him.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, lived through times of wealth and poverty. The instances of hunger mentioned in the hadith were temporary circumstantial conditions, not a permanent state. The Companions would assist him and offer him food. He used to supplicate to Allah to grant the family of Muhammad sustenance. Allah did not abandon him to poverty; rather, he used to spend what wealth came to him on the needy, and that is why he experienced times of hardship.