A similar experience has been reported by Haroon Al-Mustamli who said:

I once met Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) and asked for assistance saying, “We do not have any wealth.” Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) immediately took out five dirhams, gave them to me and said, “Take this wealth. Besides this wealth, we do not have any other wealth (in other words, if we had other wealth, we would have given you more).”

(Manaaqib Imaam Ahmed libnil Jowzi pg. 325)

Note: We are commanded in Shari‘ah to assist people to the extent that we can manage, without putting ourselves and our families through difficulty. Hence, it is not correct for one to give everything away if his and his family’s level of tawakkul (reliance upon Allah Ta‘ala) has not reached the point where despite not having anything, they will be able to continue and remain pleased with the decree of Allah Ta‘ala without complaining of difficulty.

In the case of these great, illustrious Imaams, their and their families’ tawakkul had reached that level. Hence, these incidents are quoted to illustrate their great generosity and tawakkul upon Allah Ta‘ala. Thus, it will not be correct for one to emulate them if one and one’s family has not reached that level of tawakkul. However, the lesson that we should take is that we should also express some generosity to the needy, in accordance to our deeni position and to the extent that we can manage.