Briefly, did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his Companions not work despite their asceticism and patience with hunger, and how do we reconcile this with the exhortation to work and to refrain from begging people, and is it possible to apply this in our present time?

The asceticism of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions, and their need and hunger, are true. However, to infer from this that they were not working is an incorrect inference. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) encouraged work, and he said: "For one of you to go out early in the morning and gather firewood on his back, and then give it in charity and become independent of people, is better for him than to ask a man who might give him or refuse him." The reason for this misunderstanding is a failure to grasp the reality of life in the civil society after the Hijra, and the jihad, conquests, learning, and teaching that the Companions encountered. Initially, the Companions worked with their hands and gave in charity, as Abu Mas'ud al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) stated. Then, the Muhajirun devoted themselves to Allah and His Messenger, having no means to enrich themselves, and unable to travel to seek livelihood.