During the period of the boycott, the Muslims survived by eating the leaves of the acacia tree. Hazrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions, “I was suffering from extreme hunger. Once, during the night, I stepped on something moist. I immediately picked it up and swallowed it, and until today, I do not know what it was.”
Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions another similar incident saying, “One night, I went out to relieve myself. While I was walking, I came across a dried camel skin. I washed it with water, burned it and crushed it to a powder. I then swallowed this powder with water. This sustained me for three nights.”
The difficulties of the boycott then intensified to the point where if any trade caravan came to Makkah, then Abu Lahab would approach it and announce, “Do not sell any goods to the companions of Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at the ordinary price. Rather, sell to them at an inflated, exorbitant price. If you suffer any financial loss due to this then I will compensate you.”
Accordingly, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) would approach the trade caravans to purchase the goods they required, but on seeing the inflated prices, they would be forced to return empty-handed.
In essence, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were suffering from poverty and the persecution of the enemy on one hand, while on the other hand, they were in distress due to their children crying in hunger and starvation.
Some of the disbelievers could not tolerate seeing their own relatives suffering in this manner, and hence they would secretly send them food and drink. One day, accompanied by his slave, Hakeem bin Hizaam (who had not yet accepted Islam) was taking food for his aunt, Hazrat Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). En route, Abu Jahal caught sight of him and began to shout saying, “Are you taking food for the Banu Haashim? I will never allow you to take food for them, and I will humiliate you before everyone!”
Coincidentally, Abul Bakhtari passed by at that time. After enquiring as to what the matter was, he said to Abu Jahal, “If a person wishes to send food for his aunt then why should you interfere?” Abu Jahal became enraged and began to hurl abuse at Abul Bukhtari. In response, Abul Bakhtari picked up the bone of a camel and struck Abu Jahal on the head with such force that his head was wounded. However, for Abu Jahal, more painful than the blow was the fact that Hazrat Hamzah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was watching the entire scene from the Valley of Abu Taalib.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/264-266)