Praise be to Allah,
Muhammad ibn Abu ‘Adiyy narrated to us from Humayd [at-Taweel] from Anas ibn Maalik who said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) asked the Helpers (Ansaar),”
‘Company of the Helpers, did I not find you astray and Allah guided you through me? Were you not divided and Allah united you through me? Were you not enemies and Allah united your hearts in love through me?’ They replied, ‘ Yes, Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘You could have rightly said: You have come to us afraid, but we gave you safety; exiled from your homeland and we gave you shelter; defeated and we gave you victory.’ They said, ‘No, rather it is Allah and you who have favored us .” ‘
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 3, p. 105. The isnaad of this hadeeth is Saheeh according to the conditions set by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.)
Note:
This incident took place after the Prophet(PBUH) had divided the war spoils and captives following the Battle of Hunayn, setting aside a large portion of the spoils to those notables who had recently converted to Islam in order to incline their hearts to Islam and winning their followers to it through them. Seeing that the Prophet (PBUH) had generously given to the new converts from amongst the Quraysh and other Arab tribes and nothing to them, the Helpers took the matter to heart and resented this so much that some of them said, “Allah’s Messenger has eventually joined his own people and forsaken us.”
Source:
Thulaathiyyaat Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reports of Imaam Ahmad that have only three narrators between him and the Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Saalim as–Saffaareenee al–Hanbalee ~(1114 –1188 AH)