Sahih Muslim 2508
Sahih Muslim · Book 44: The Book of the Merits of the Companions · The Virtues Of The Ansar (RA)
Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw children and women of the Ansar coming back from a wedding feast. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) stood up motionless (as a mark of respect) and said:
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ صُهَيْبٍ - عَنْ أَنَسٍ ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى صِبْيَانًا وَنِسَاءً مُقْبِلِينَ مِنْ عُرْسٍ فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُمْثِلاً فَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتُمْ مِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتُمْ مِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ " . يَعْنِي الأَنْصَارَ .
O Allah, (bear witness) (and addressing the Ansar), said: You are dearest to me amongst people, (and said: O Allah (bear witness) (and addressing the Ansar), said: You are dearest to me amongst people. And he meant Ansar.