The Anṣār — Those Who Shared Everything
🏠 THE ANṢĀR — Those Who Shared Everything
"If all the people took one valley and the Anṣār took another, I would take the valley of the Anṣār."
— The Prophet ﷺ [al-Bukhārī]
📖 Introduction
The Muhājirūn left everything for Allah.
The Anṣār shared everything for Allah.
Without the Anṣār of Medina, Islam would have had nowhere to go.
This is the story of those who opened their homes, their hearts, and their lives.
🏙️ Who Are the Anṣār?
Definition
Anṣār (الأنصار) means "the helpers" or "the supporters."
They are the inhabitants of Medina (then Yathrib) who:
- Embraced Islam before the Hijra
- Welcomed the Prophet ﷺ and the Muhājirūn
- Shared their wealth with the emigrants
The Two Tribes
| Tribe | Origin | Notable Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Aws | Yemeni | Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh |
| Khazraj | Yemeni | Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda |
These two tribes had been enemies for generations.
Islam united them.
Part I: Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh 🦁
📋 Identity Card
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh ibn al-Nu'mān |
| Tribe | Aws |
| Role | Chief of Aws, Chief of the Anṣār |
| Conversion | 1 year before the Hijra |
| Death | 5 AH, after the Battle of Banū Qurayẓa |
💡 His Conversion
Muṣ'ab ibn 'Umayr
Before the Hijra, the Prophet ﷺ sent Muṣ'ab ibn 'Umayr as the first ambassador to Medina.
Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh, respected chief of Aws, was hostile to this new religion.
🌙 THE CHIEF'S CONVERSION
Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh, furious, goes to Muṣ'ab ibn 'Umayr...
🔴 Sa'd: "What are you doing among us? Stop disturbing our people!"
🟢 Muṣ'ab: "Sit and listen. If you don't like it, I'll leave."
Sa'd sat down, listened to the Quran, and his heart changed. He pronounced the shahāda on the spot.
He returns to his tribe:
🟢 Sa'd: "O Banū 'Abd al-Ashhal! What do you think of me?"
🔵 His tribe: "You are our chief!"
🟢 Sa'd: "Then it is forbidden for me to speak to any of you until you believe in Allah and His Messenger!"
That day, his entire tribe entered Islam.
⚔️ The Judgment of Banū Qurayẓa
At the Battle of Khandaq (5 AH), Banū Qurayẓa betrayed their pact with the Muslims.
After the siege, they surrendered and requested an arbitrator.
The Prophet ﷺ accepted that Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh would judge.
Sa'd, wounded in the battle, was brought on a donkey.
The Verdict
📜 The Scene of Judgment
The Prophet ﷺ to the Anṣār:
"Stand up to receive your chief!"
To Banū Qurayẓa:
"Have you accepted Sa'd's judgment?" — "Yes."
To the Prophet ﷺ:
"And you, O Messenger of Allah?" — "Yes."
Sa'd:
"My judgment is that the fighters be executed, the women and children captured, and the property distributed."
The Prophet ﷺ:
"You have judged according to Allah's judgment."
🌙 His Death and Divine Honor
Shortly after, Sa'd's wound opened and he died.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The Throne of the Most Merciful trembled at the death of Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh."
Jibrīl came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
"Who is this deceased for whom the gates of heaven have opened and for whom the Throne has trembled?"
Part II: Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda 🤝
📋 Identity Card
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda ibn Dulaym |
| Tribe | Khazraj |
| Role | Chief of Khazraj |
| Distinction | Standard-bearer of the Anṣār |
| Death | ~15 AH, Syria |
🎖️ The Generous Chief
Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda was the most generous of the Anṣār.
His Open House
🍽️ The Generosity of Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda
📢 Every evening, a crier announced:
"Whoever wants meat and fat, let him come to Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda!"
🍽️ He fed 80 people or more every night
🏠 His house was a refuge for the poor
💰 He regularly sent food to the Prophet ﷺ
⚔️ The Standard-Bearer
In every battle, Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda carried the standard of the Anṣār.
The Day of Mecca's Conquest
Sa'd carried the standard and said:
"Today is the day of slaughter! Today, the sacred will be violated!"
The Prophet ﷺ, fearing reprisals, took the standard from him and gave it to his son Qays.
Sa'd had a warm heart—sometimes too warm.
😢 Saqīfa: The Disagreement
After the Prophet's ﷺ death, the Anṣār gathered at Saqīfa Banī Sā'ida.
Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda was their candidate for the caliphate.
The Anṣār's Argument
"We welcomed the Prophet ﷺ. We fought for him. The caliphate belongs to us!"
Abū Bakr's Response
Abū Bakr arrived with 'Umar and said:
"The Arabs will only accept a Qurayshite. But we will not forget you—one leader from you, one from us."
'Umar intervened:
"No! One leader only!"
Finally, Abū Bakr was elected.
Sa'd's Position
Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda refused to pledge allegiance. He left to live in Syria.
He died there around 15 AH, having never pledged his oath.
Part III: The Brotherhood (Mu'ākhāh) 🤝
📜 The Pact
Upon his arrival in Medina, the Prophet ﷺ established a unique system:
Each Muhājir was paired with an Anṣārī.
The Rules
| Aspect | Application |
|---|---|
| Property | Shared 50/50 |
| Housing | The Muhājir lives with the Anṣārī |
| Inheritance | The brother inherits (before the abrogating revelation) |
💎 The Example of 'Abd al-Raḥmān ibn 'Awf
The Meeting
'Abd al-Raḥmān ibn 'Awf (Muhājir) was paired with Sa'd ibn al-Rabī' (Anṣārī).
Sa'd said:
"I am the wealthiest of the Anṣār. I give you half my wealth. And I have two wives—choose the one you like, and I will divorce her for you."
'Abd al-Raḥmān replied:
"May Allah bless your family and your wealth. Just show me the way to the market."
He went to the market, traded, and became one of the wealthiest men in Medina—through his own work.
🌟 The Generosity of the Anṣār
The Verse of Their Praise
Allah said:
﴾ And they prefer [others] over themselves, even though they are in need ﴿
— [al-Ḥashr: 9]
The Story of the Meal
An Anṣārī invited some Muhājirūn. He only had food for his children.
He and his wife turned off the lamp and pretended to eat so the guests could eat everything.
The next day, the Prophet ﷺ told them:
"Allah laughed (with joy)—or was amazed—at what you did last night."
💎 Key Lessons
1. Hospitality Is Worship
The Anṣār welcomed strangers — people they knew only through Islam.
This became their greatest merit. Allah revealed about them: "They give them preference over themselves."
Are our homes open to those in need?
2. Sharing, Not Leftovers
Sa'd ibn al-Rabī' offered 'Abd al-Raḥmān:
"I divide my wealth in two. And I divorce one of my wives for you to marry."
Not leftovers — half! This is true brotherhood.
3. Dignity in Receiving
'Abd al-Raḥmān refused and said: "Direct me to the market."
He preferred work over dependence. Giving is noble, but dignity is nobler.
4. Unity Before Tribe
Aws and Khazraj were enemies for decades.
Islam made them one Ummah. Religion is stronger than blood.
📊 Summary
| Figure | Tribe | Gift | Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sa'd ibn Mu'ādh | Aws | Judgment | The Throne trembled |
| Sa'd ibn 'Ubāda | Khazraj | Generosity | Standard-bearer |
| The Anṣār | Aws + Khazraj | Hospitality | يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ |
📚 Sources
| Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī | al-Bukhārī |
| Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim | Muslim |
| Sīra of Ibn Hishām | Ibn Hishām |
| al-Iṣāba fī Tamyīz al-Ṣaḥāba | Ibn Ḥajar |
And Allah knows best
Rabbi Zidnī 'Ilmā — My Lord, increase me in knowledge