The Book of the Merits of the Companions
44/43. Chapter:
The Virtues Of The Ansar (RA)
Sahih Muslim
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ الأَنْصَارَ كَرِشِي وَعَيْبَتِي وَإِنَّ النَّاسَ سَيَكْثُرُونَ وَيَقِلُّونَ فَاقْبَلُوا مِنْ مُحْسِنِهِمْ وَاعْفُوا عَنْ مُسِيئِهِمْ " .
Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The Ansar are my family and my trusted friends. and the people would increase in number whereas they (the Ansar) would become less and less, so appreciate the deeds of those from amongst them who do good and overlook their failings.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2510In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 249USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6103