Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.
Bismillah.
Volume 2, Book 13, Number 747:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
Once the Prophet ascended the pulpit and it was the last gathering in which he took part. He was covering his shoulder with a big cloak and binding his head with an oily bandage. He glorified and praised Allah and said, "O people! Come to me." So the people came and gathered around him and he then said, "Amma ba'du." "From now onward the Ansar will decrease and other people will increase. So anybody who becomes a ruler of the followers of Muhammad and has the power to harm or benefit people then he should accept the good from the benevolent amongst them (Ansar) and overlook the faults of their wrong-doers."
Ansar (Arabic: الأنصار al-Anṣār) is an Islamic term that literally means "helpers" and denotes the Medinan citizens that helped Muhammad and the Muhajirun on the arrival to the city after the migration to Medina. They belonged to two main tribes, the Banu Khazraj and the Banu Aws. [Wikipedia]
We all know who the Ansaar were. We read about the in the Seerah of the Prophet (SAW) - how they helped the Muslims who migrated from Makkah, how they shared their wealth, property, houses, and even families with them, how they sacrificed for Islam. This is just one example.
Their efforts and sacrifices in the name of Islam raised their status to such heights that Prophet (SAW) said what he said in the above mentioned Hadith, that the ruler should accept the good from the benevolent amongst them (Ansar) and overlook the faults of their wrong-doers. Not just that. It's a sign of IMAAN to have love for the Ansaar. Can you believe it? :O
Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, The sign of Eemaan is love for the Ansaar and the sign of hypocrisy is hatred for the Ansaar.
Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/21/no.16). Refer also to Fadaailus-Sahaabah of Imaam Ahmad (2/790).
Even now, Madinah and its people are so amazing. You can't help but love them. :P
Wassalam.
