It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If there had been no migration, I would have been an Ansari. If people were to walk in a valley or a mountain pass and the Ansar took another valley or pass, I would prefer to walk in the valley and path of the Ansar."
Hadith Referenceالسنن المأثورة / باب عمارة الأرضين / 431