Each narration below is shown in its original Arabic alongside an English translation, with its chapter, number, and reference.
" وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، إِنَّكُمْ أَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ "
Once an Ansari woman, accompanied by a son of hers, came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) spoke to her and said twice, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you are the most beloved people to me."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا حَمْزَةَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ، قَالَتِ الأَنْصَارُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ أَتْبَاعٌ، وَإِنَّا قَدِ اتَّبَعْنَاكَ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ أَتْبَاعَنَا مِنَّا. فَدَعَا بِهِ. فَنَمَيْتُ ذَلِكَ إِلَى ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى. قَالَ قَدْ زَعَمَ ذَلِكَ زَيْدٌ.
The Annwar said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Every prophet has his own followers and we have followed you. So will you invoke Allah to let our followers be considered from us (as Ansar too)?" So he invoked Allah accordingly.
" اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ أَتْبَاعَهُمْ مِنْهُمْ "
(A man from the Ansar) The Ansar said, "Every nation has followers and (O Prophet) we have followed you, so invoke Allah to let our followers be considered from us (as Ansar like ourselves)." So the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! Let their followers be considered as Ansar like themselves."
" خَيْرُ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ بَنُو النَّجَّارِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ، ثُمَّ بَنُو الْحَارِثِ بْنِ خَزْرَجٍ، ثُمَّ بَنُو سَاعِدَةَ، وَفِي كُلِّ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ خَيْرٌ "
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best of the Ansar's families (homes) are those of Banu An-Najjar and then (those of) Banu `Abdul Ash-hal, then (those of) Banu Al-Harith bin Al-Khazraj and then (those of) Banu Sa`ida; nevertheless, there is good in all the families (houses) of the Ansar." On this, Sa`d (bin Ubada) said, "I see that the Prophet (ﷺ) has preferred some people to us." Somebody said (to him), "No, but he has given you superiority to many." (Hadith similar to above with a different chain)
" خَيْرُ الأَنْصَارِ ـ أَوْ قَالَ خَيْرُ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ ـ بَنُو النَّجَّارِ وَبَنُو عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ وَبَنُو الْحَارِثِ وَبَنُو سَاعِدَةَ "
That he heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "The best of the Ansar, or the best of the Ansar families (homes) are Banu An-Najjar, Bani `Abdul Ash-hal, Banu Al-Harith and Banu Sai'da."
حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ خَيْرَ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ دَارُ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ، ثُمَّ عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ، ثُمَّ دَارُ بَنِي الْحَارِثِ، ثُمَّ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ، وَفِي كُلِّ دُورِ الأَنْصَارِ خَيْرٌ ". فَلَحِقْنَا سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ فَقَالَ أَبَا أُسَيْدٍ أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَيَّرَ الأَنْصَارَ فَجَعَلَنَا أَخِيرًا فَأَدْرَكَ سَعْدٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، خُيِّرَ دُورُ الأَنْصَارِ فَجُعِلْنَا آخِرًا. فَقَالَ " أَوَلَيْسَ بِحَسْبِكُمْ أَنْ تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْخِيَارِ ".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best of the Ansar families (homes) are the families (homes) of Banu An- Najjar, and then that of Banu `Abdul Ash-hal, and then that of Banu Al-Harith, and then that of Banu Saida; and there is good in all the families (homes) of the Ansar." Sa`d bin 'Ubada followed us and said, "O Abu Usaid ! Don't you see that the Prophet (ﷺ) compared the Ansar and made us the last of them in superiority? Then Sa`d met the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! In comparing the Ansar's families (homes) as to the degree of superiority, you have made us the last of them." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "Isn't it sufficient that you are regarded amongst the best?"
" سَتَلْقَوْنَ بَعْدِي أَثَرَةً فَاصْبِرُوا حَتَّى تَلْقَوْنِي عَلَى الْحَوْضِ "
A man from the Ansar said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will you appoint me as you have appointed so-andso?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "After me you will see others given preference to you; so be patient till you meet me at the Tank (i.e. Lake of Kauthar). (on the Day of Resurrection).
" إِنَّكُمْ سَتَلْقَوْنَ بَعْدِي أَثَرَةً فَاصْبِرُوا حَتَّى تَلْقَوْنِي، وَمَوْعِدُكُمُ الْحَوْضُ "
The Prophet (ﷺ) said to the Ansar, "After me you will see others given preference to you; so be patient till you meet me, and your promised place (of meeting) will be the Tank (i.e. Lake of Kauthar).
" إِمَّا لاَ، فَاصْبِرُوا حَتَّى تَلْقَوْنِي، فَإِنَّهُ سَيُصِيبُكُمْ بَعْدِي أُثْرَةٌ "
That he heard Anas bin Malik when he went with him to Al-Walid, saying, "Once the Prophet (ﷺ) called the Ansar in order to give them the territory of Bahrain they said, 'No, unless you give to our emigrant brethren a similar share.' On that he said 'If you do not agree to it, then be patient till you meet me, for after me others will be given preference to you."'
" لاَ عَيْشَ إِلاَّ عَيْشُ الآخِرَةِ، فَأَصْلِحِ الأَنْصَارَ وَالْمُهَاجِرَةَ "
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There is no life except the life of the Hereafter; so, O Allah! Improve the state of the Ansar and the Muhajirun." And Anas added that the Prophet (ﷺ) also said, "O Allah! Forgive the Ansar."