It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “When Allaah favored His Messenger with the properties of the tribe of Hawaazin as Fay’(1) , he started giving to some men from Quraysh even up to one-hundred camels each, whereupon some men from Al-Ansaar (Helpers) said about Allaah’s Messenger, ‘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 Allaah's Messenger was informed of what they had said, he called Al-Ansaar and gathered them in a leather tent and did not call anybody else along with them. When they gathered, Allaah's Messenger 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 Allaah’s Messenger! 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.’ Allaah's Messenger 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 Allaah’s Messenger to your houses? By Allaah, what you will return with, is better than what they are returning with.’ The Ansar replied, ‘Yes, O Allaah's Messenger, we are satisfied.’ Then the Prophet, peace and blessings 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 at Al-Kauthar (i.e. a fount in Paradise).’ (Anas added:) But we did not remain patient.”(2) 

In another narration reported from ‘Abdullah ibn Zayd ibn ‘Aasim, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: “When Allaah gave to His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, the war booty on the day of (the Battle of) Hunayn, he 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 blessings be upon him, then delivered a sermon before them, saying, ‘O, the assembly of Al-Ansaar! Did not I find you astray, and then Allaah guided you on the Right Path through me? You were divided into groups, and Allaah brought you together through me; you were poor and Allaah made you rich through me.’ Whatever the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, they (i.e. the Ansaar) said, ‘Allaah and His Messenger have more favors to do.’ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘What stops you from answering the Messenger of Allaah?’ But whatever he said to them, they replied, ‘Allaah and His Messenger have more favors to do.’

The Prophet, peace and blessings 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 blessings 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 favored over you, so you should be patient till you meet me at Al-Hawd (the Cistern).(3)”

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth(4)  are:

1-          Establishing the argument against the opponent and refuting him by truth whenever it is necessary.

2-          The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded Al-Ansaar to gather together in one place and did not call anyone else to join them. The wisdom behind this is that he wanted to explain to them their virtue, faith, his love to them and what will happen to them the thing that no one else shall share them.

3-          High morals and great bashfulness of the Ansaar appeared in avoiding arguing on the basis of falsehood and having a great level of modesty, explaining that what is reported from them was expressed by their youngsters not their wise and learned old men.

4-          It has many great virtues and merits about Al-Ansaar for the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, has praised them greatly in it.

5-          The old has to draw the attention of the young to what he (i.e. the young) neglected and explain to him the unclear matter so that he may go back to the what is right.

6-          It implies a kind of blame, an attempt to conciliate the blamed person, blaming him for his criticism through establishing the argument against him, apology and acknowledgement, where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed out their favors over him (in a third narration other than the two mentioned above ones) saying: “By Allaah, I would have acknowledged it if you had replied: ‘You came discredited and we believed you; you came deserted and we helped you; you were a fugitive and we gave you shelter; you were poor and we comforted you.’  

7-          It includes one of the sings of the Prophethood of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in his saying: “No doubt, you will see other people favored over you”, and it was come true exactly as he said.

8-          It is permissible for Al-Imaam (leader or governor of Muslims) to prefer some people to the others in the distribution of Fay’. It is also permissible for him to give the rich if there is a benefit in doing so.

9-          There is no blame on the one who asks for his share of the worldly life.

10-       Perfection of the moral of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his good evaluation of the weakness and ambition for the worldly life that can afflict the souls, where he, peace and blessings be upon him, explained to them the causes of preferring others to them in giving. Furthermore, he pointed out to them what Allaah The Almighty distinguished them with such as guidance to supporting him, his love to them and preferring them to all other people. Thus, their souls felt content and became satisfies with what Allaah The Almighty has granted them.

11-       The permissibility of giving a sermon when something occurs whether it is a private or general.

12-       The permissibility of singling out some addressees in the sermon.

13-       Consoling the one who missed something from the worldly life with the reward of the Hereafter he got, preferring the matter of the Hereafter to that of the worldly life, and showing patience to what was missed of it for it will be saved for its doer in the Hereafter. Actually, the Hereafter is better and more enduring.

14-       Encouraging seeking guidance, affection and content.

15-       Favors is only for Allaah and His Messenger ever. Allaah The Almighty is the One Who guides to obedience. He The Almighty is the One Who gives rewards for it. He The Almighty is the One Who gives and withholds and in His Hand is all goodness and He The Almighty is able to do all things.

16-       Every Muslim individual should know the value and status of Al-Ansaar, love them greatly, ask Allaah to be pleased with them, recognize their morals and biographies, and follow their example. May Allaah gather us together with them in the Gardens of Pleasure. 

1) It means booty gained with no fight or war and was assigned to the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him. (Translator).

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

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

4)  Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (7/427).

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