Technical note / Defect ('illah): Our manuscripts have "ista'mala", but we have established the text according to the Mahmudiyyah manuscript, since it agrees with the other sources of the takhrij.

Grading: This hadith is "sahih".
Technical note / Defect ('illah): This chain is "hasan" in corroborations and supporting reports because of Muhammad bin Kathir (Ibn Abi Ata' al-Thaqafi), and he has also been corroborated.

Reference / Source: It was narrated by Ahmad 21/ (14043) from Affan, and by Ibn Hibban (4329) by way of Hudbah bin Khalid; both of them narrate it from Hammad bin Salamah with this chain.

Reference / Source: Ahmad narrated it similarly at 19/ (12522) by way of Muhammad bin Thabit, from his father Thabit (bin Aslam) al-Bunani.

Reference / Source: Ahmad 20/ (12797), al-Bukhari (3785, 5180) and Muslim (2508) (174) narrated it with similar meaning with the chain Abd al-Aziz bin Suhayb, from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).

Reference / Source: Ahmad 19/ (12305, 12306) and 21/ (13711), al-Bukhari (3786, 5234, 6645), Muslim (2509) (175), al-Nasa'i (8271) and Ibn Hibban (7270) narrated by way of Hisham bin Zayd, from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that a woman of the Ansar came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with her children, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said three times: "By the One in whose hand is my soul! You are the most beloved of people to me."

Reference / Source: Ahmad 20/ (12950, 13137), al-Nasa'i (8270) and Ibn Hibban (7266, 7271) narrated it with the chain Humayd al-Tawil, from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came out and the Ansar received him, and he said: "By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad! I love you. The Ansar have fulfilled what was upon them, and what is upon you remains (to recognise their right); so do good to those of them who do good, and overlook those of them who do wrong."