salahdin
Junior Member
Regarding the distribution of the war booty Rasulullah was obliged to resort to the most skillful political means in order to avoid all kinds of ill feelings, and to prevent dangerous jealousy arising among the Sahaba (R.A.). All the spoils, nevertheless, were nearly all allotted and he seemed to have forgotten his devoted Ansaar who naturally expected to rank amongst the first to be rewarded. With ever increasing surprise they saw no share offered to them, and the rich bounty flowing into the hands of the Quraish and the Bedouins. The Ansaar exchanged bitter remarks:
"By Allah, Rasulullah thinks only of his own people. Now that he has returned victoriuos to his birthplace we are forgotten".
Hazrat Sa'd ibn Ubadah (R.A.) having heard these complaints went to Rasulullah and informed him of the feelings of the Ansaar. Rasulullah asked him to call the Ansaar together.
When they were assembled, Rasulullah said:
"O Ansaari It has been reported to me that you were personally angry, that you do not approve of my distribution of the booty. Do tell me, I came to you, did I not find you sunk in misguidance and error and did not Allah guide you to the truth through me? Did I not find you in a state of need and did not Allah make you happy? Did I not find you enemies of one another and did not Allah reconcile your hearts?"
The Ansaar answered. "Truly! Allah and His Rasool have been very generous and very loving;" and they fell into silence. Rasulullah continued:
"Did you not welcome me with love and generosity when I was homeless? Have you not the right to say to me: 'You came to us rejected as an imposter and we believed in you, you came as a helpless fugitive and we assisted you, poor and an outcast and we gave you shelter, comfortless and we gave you comfort.' Had you replied to me in this manner you would have said nothing but the truth and I would have had to agree. O Ansaar, are you angry because I have given away some goods to those whom I seek to win to lslam? O Ansaar why disturb your hearts beacuse of the things of this life? Are you not satisfied, O Ansaar, that all the people return from this conquest loaded with goods and camels whereas you return with the Rasool of Allah. By Him who dominates Muhammed's soul in His hands, there is no people whom I love to belong beside the Ansaar. If all mankind went one way and the Ansaar went another, I would certainly join the Ansaar. O Allah, show mercy to the Ansaar and bless them, and their children. Show Your mercy to them and keep them under Your protection".
Rasulullah said these words with great affection for all the men of the Ansaar who had pledged their loyalty and allegiance to him, who had helped him and who had found their strength in him. Indeed Rasulullah was so moved by his feelings for them that he cried. The Ansaar cried with him and declared with one voice:
"Verily, we accept our share of the booty, for the most beautiful portion is ours".