It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "When Allaah The Almighty favored His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, with the properties of Hawaazin tribe as Fay' (1), he started giving to some Quraysh men even up to one-hundred camels each, whereupon some Ansaari men said about the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, "May Allaah forgive His Messenger! He is giving to (men of) Quraysh and leaves us, in spite of the fact that our swords are still dropping blood (of the infidels)" When the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, was informed of what they had said, he called the Ansaar and gathered them in a leather tent and did not call anybody else along, with them. When they gathered, the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, came to them and said, "What is the statement which, I have been informed, and that which you have said?" The learned ones among them replied," O Messenger of Allaah! The wise ones amongst us did not say anything, but the youngsters amongst us said, 'May Allaah forgive His Messenger; he gives the Quarysh and leaves the Ansaar, in spite of the fact that our swords are still dribbling (wet) with the blood of the infidels.' "The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, replied, I give to such people as are still close to the period of Infidelity (i.e. they have recently embraced Islam and Faith is still weak in their hearts). Would not you be pleased to see people go with fortune, while you return with the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, to your houses? By Allaah, what you will return with, is better than what they are returning with." The Ansaar replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allaah, we are satisfied' Then the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said to them." You will find after me, others being preferred to you. Then be patient till you meet Allaah and meet His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, at Al-Hawdh (i.e. the Basin)." Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, added: "But we did not remain patient."  (2).

In another variant narration from ‘Abdullaah ibn Zayd ibn ‘Aasim, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "When Allaah The Almighty gave to His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, the war booty on the Day of Hunayn, he, peace and blessing be upon him, distributed that booty amongst those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Islam), but did not give anything to the Ansaar. So, they seemed to have felt angry and sad as they did not get the same as other people had got. The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, then delivered a sermon before them, saying, "O, the assembly of Ansaar! Did not I find you astray, and then Allaah The Almighty guided you on the Right Path through me? You were divided into groups, and Allaah The Almighty brought you together through me; you were poor and Allaah The Almighty made you rich through me." Whatever the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said , they (i.e. the Ansaar) said, "Allaah and his Messenger have more favours to do." The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said, "What stops you from answering the Messenger of Allaah?" But whatever he, peace and blessing be upon him, said to them, they replied, "Allaah and His Messenger have more favours to do." The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, then said, "If you wish you could say: 'You came to us in such-and-such state (at Medina).' Would not you be willing to see the people go away with sheep and camels while you go with the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, to your homes? But for the migration, I would have been one of the Ansaar, and if the people took their way through a valley or mountain pass, I would select the valley or mountain pass of the Ansaar. The Ansaar are Shi‘aar (i.e. those clothes which are in direct contact with the body and worn inside the other garments), and the people are Dithaar (i.e. those clothes which are not in direct contact with the body and are worn over other garments). No doubt, you will see other people favoured over you, so you should be patient till you meet me at the Al-Hawdh. (3).

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(1)         It refers to the property and booty of the disbelievers that they forfeit in return for peace. [Translator].

(2)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (3147) and Saheeh Muslim No. (2483).

(3)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (4330).

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