Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34552 — The virtue of the Ansar

Abdullah bin Rabah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: We came as a delegation to Mu'awiyah, and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) was among us, and that was in the month of Ramadan. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O company of Ansar! Shall I not tell you a hadith about you?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O company of Ansar!" The people said: "We are at your service, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You say: 'As for the man, a longing for his own land has come over him, and he has love for his own clan!'" They said: "We did say that, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What then would my name be?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Not at all! Indeed, I am the servant of Allah and His Messenger. I migrated to you. Living is with you, and dying is with you as well." The narrator said: All the Companions began to weep and to say: "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we said what we said only out of love for Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), wanting to keep them with us." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) both believe you and accept your excuse."