“Indeed, the people are my outer garment, while the Ansar are my inner garment.” The hadith further states:
“Whoever assumes any authority over their affairs (1) should treat their righteous kindly and overlook their wrongdoers. Whoever frightens them has frightened this one between these two”—and he, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed to himself. The wording of al-Awsat is: “and he pointed to his chest,” meaning, his heart.
It was narrated by Ahmad (5/307) and al-Tabarani in al-Awsat (9/414–415/8892), who said:
“No one narrated it from Abu Qatadah except Yahya ibn al-Nadr; Abu Sakhr alone narrated it.”
I say: He is trustworthy, one of Muslim’s narrators, as are those below him. Ibn al-Nadr is likewise trustworthy. Thus, the chain is authentic. Al-Hakim authenticated it (4/79), and al-Dhahabi concurred with him.
- Among them is the report from Zayd ibn Saʿd, from his father:
When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was informed of his approaching death, he came out wrapped in worn garments and sat on the pulpit. The people and those in the marketplace heard of it, so they came to the mosque. He praised Allah and extolled Him, then said:
“O people, safeguard my rights concerning this clan of the Ansar. They are my very belly from which I eat and my private repository. Accept the good done by their righteous, and overlook the wrongs of their wrongdoers.”
It was narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Muʿjam al-Kabir (6/40/5425) through Ibn Abi