O people of the Ansār, did I not find you in a state of misguidance then Allah guided you aright through me? Were you not divided then Allah brought you together through me? Were you not in a state of poverty then Allah made you wealthy through me?
Authentic hadithعن عبد الله بن زيد بن عاصم قال: «لما أفَاء الله على رسوله يوم حُنَيْنٍ؛ قَسَم في الناس، وفي المُؤَلَّفَةِ قلوبهم، ولم يعطِ الأنصار شيئا. فكأنهم وجدوا في أنفسهم؛ إذ لم يُصِبْهُمْ ما أصاب الناس. فخطبهم؛ فقال: يا معشر الأنصار، ألم أجدكم ضُلاَّلاً فهداكم الله بي؟ وكنتم متفرقين فَأَلَّفَكُمُ الله بي؟ وَعَالَةً فأغناكم الله بي؟ كلما قال شيئًا؛ قالوا: اللهُ ورسولُه أمَنُّ. قال: ما يمنعكم أن تجيبوا رسول الله؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أمَنُّ. قال: لو شِئْتُمْ لقلتم: جئتنا كذا وكذا. أَلَا تَرْضَوْنَ أن يذهب الناس بالشاة والبعير، وتذهبون برسول الله إلى رحَالِكُم؟ لولا الهجرة لكنت امْرَأً من الأنصار، ولو سلك الناس واديًا أو شِعْبًا، لَسَلَكْتُ وادي الأنصار وَشِعْبَهَا. الأنصار شِعَارٌ، والناس دِثَارٌ، إنكم ستلقون بعدي أَثَرَةً ، فاصبروا حتى تلقوني على الحوض».
‘Abdullāh ibn Zayd ibn ‘Āsim (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Allah gave war booty to His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on the Day of Hunayn, he distributed the booty among the people, and among those whose hearts had been recently reconciled to Islam. He did not give anything to the Ansār. It seemed that they felt uneasy that they did not receive a share like the others. Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) addressed them saying: "O people of the Ansār, did I not find you in a state of misguidance then Allah guided you aright through me? Were you not in a state of disunity then Allah brought you together through me? Were you not in a state of poverty then Allah made you wealthy through me?" Every time he said something, they replied: "Allah and His Messenger are the most benevolent." Then he asked: "Why do you not answer me?" They said: "Allah and His Messenger are the most benevolent." He said: "If you wish, you may say 'you came to us in such-and-such a state.' Would you not be satisfied that the people go away with goats and camels and you go away with the Messenger of Allah to your homes? Were it not for Hijrah, I would have been a man from the Ansār. If the people were to tread a valley or a mountain pass, I would tread the valley and mountain pass of the Ansār. The Ansār are like Shi‘ār (inner garments), while other people are like Dithār (outer garments). No doubt, you will see people favored over you after me (in getting worldly benefits). So be patient until you meet me at the Basin)."
Explanation
When Allah, the Almighty, bestowed upon His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) a large amount of war booty in the battle of Hunayn, and after he ended the blockade he had imposed on Taif, he returned to get the booty; the majority of which was in the form of cattle. He had more than 40,000 camels and 120 sheep. So, he gave some people who had recently accepted Islam to attract their hearts and make them firm upon Islam. Some of the Ansār disapproved of this, but the nobles amongst them understood that this action on part of the Prophet was correct. The ones who disapproved said: "The Messenger of Allah is giving the booty to people whose blood is dripping from our swords (i.e. whom we had just fought), and he is not giving us anything." When the Prophet was informed of this statement, he ordered that they be assembled under a large canopy and he addressed them, saying: "What is this statement that has reached me from you?" He admonished them and acknowledged the support they offered to him and to the religion of Islam which he came with. After speaking to them, they were appeased and realized the great reward that Allah had granted them, represented in their companionship of Allah's Messenger and their return home with him accompanying them, in addition to what Allah has prepared for them in the Hereafter because of their support and the efforts they exerted in His Cause. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) also ordered them to show patience when they see other people favored over them after his death.
Source · Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).