The Helpers of Madinah
The Ansar
The Helpers: the people of Madinah who welcomed the Prophet ﷺ and the believers who came from Makkah. Here are 44 of them, men and women, with a link to each life.
Who were the Ansar? The Ansar, the Helpers, were the people of Madinah who welcomed the Prophet ﷺ and the believers who came from Makkah, the Emigrants. The story of that welcome is told in the chapters on the Hijrah.
The Ansar
44 peopleAbu ad-Darda al-Ansari
The sage of the Ansar
Died c. 32 AH (c. 652 CE)
أبو الدرداء الأنصاريRead profileSa'd ibn Mu'adh
Chief of the Aws
Died 5 AH (627 CE)
سعد بن معاذRead profileAbu Ayyub al-Ansari
The host of the Prophet ﷺ
Died c. 52 AH (c. 672 CE)
أبو أيوب الأنصاريRead profileUmm Sulaym
Her dowry was Islam
Died in the time of Uthman (the year is not certain)
أم سليم بنت ملحانRead profileNusaybah bint Ka'b
Umm Umarah, who fought for the Prophet ﷺ
Lived to the caliphate of Umar (the year is not certain)
نسيبة بنت كعبRead profileAnas ibn Malik
Servant of the Prophet ﷺ
Died c. 93 AH (c. 712 CE)
أنس بن مالكRead profileMu'adh ibn Jabal
The most knowledgeable of the lawful and the unlawful
Died c. 18 AH (c. 639 CE)
معاذ بن جبلRead profileUbayy ibn Ka'b
The master of the reciters
Died in the caliphate of Umar or Uthman (sources differ)
أبي بن كعبRead profileHassan ibn Thabit
The poet of the Prophet ﷺ
Died in Madinah, decades after the Prophet's ﷺ death (sources differ on the year)
حسان بن ثابتRead profileZayd ibn Thabit
The scribe of the Prophet ﷺ and collector of the Quran
Died in Madinah, about 45 AH (sources differ)
زيد بن ثابتRead profileUmm Haram bint Milhan
The martyr of the sea
Died in Cyprus, on the first Muslim naval expedition, about 27 to 28 AH (sources differ)
أم حرام بنت ملحانRead profileKa'b ibn Malik
The poet of Uhud, and the man whose repentance Allah revealed
Died in Madinah, about 50 AH (sources differ)
كعب بن مالكRead profileAbdullah ibn Rawahah
The warrior poet of the Prophet ﷺ
Killed at Mu'tah, 8 AH (629 CE)
عبد الله بن رواحةRead profileUbadah ibn as-Samit
Leader at Aqabah, teacher in Syria
Died in Palestine, about 34 AH (sources differ)
عبادة بن الصامتRead profileAs'ad ibn Zurarah
The first to lead Madinah in Friday prayer
Died in Madinah in the first year after the Hijrah (sources differ on the month)
أسعد بن زرارةRead profileUsayd ibn Hudayr
The leader of the Aws whom the Quran won over
Died in Madinah, about 20 AH (sources differ)
أسيد بن حضيرRead profileSa'd ibn Ubadah
The generous chief of the Khazraj
Died in Syria, in the years after the Prophet's ﷺ death (sources differ)
سعد بن عبادةRead profileAl-Bara' ibn Malik
The warrior whose oath Allah answered
Killed at Tustar, about 20 AH (sources differ)
البراء بن مالكRead profileAmr ibn al-Jamuh
The chief who gave up his idol
Killed at Uhud, 3 AH (625 CE)
عمرو بن الجموحRead profileJabir ibn Abdullah
The orphan with seven sisters
Died in Madinah, about 78 AH (sources differ)
جابر بن عبد اللهRead profileAsma bint Yazid
The spokeswoman of the women of Madinah
Lived in Madinah and Syria; the year of her death is not recorded firmly
أسماء بنت يزيدRead profileUmm Waraqah bint Abdullah
Memorised the Quran, called the martyr
Killed in Madinah in the time of Umar (before 23 AH)
أم ورقة بنت عبد اللهRead profileAbu Dujanah
The red headband and the sword of the Prophet ﷺ
Killed at Yamamah, 11 to 12 AH (sources differ)
أبو دجانة سماك بن خرشةRead profileHanzalah ibn Abi Amir
The one washed by the angels
Killed at Uhud, 3 AH (625 CE)
حنظلة بن أبي عامرRead profileAbdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Ubayy
The loyal son of the chief of the hypocrites
Killed at Yamamah, 11 to 12 AH (sources differ)
عبد الله بن عبد الله بن أبيRead profileKulthum ibn al-Hidm
The elder of Quba who hosted the Prophet ﷺ
Died in Madinah soon after the Hijrah (sources differ on the order of his death and As'ad ibn Zurarah's)
كلثوم بن الهدمRead profileUwaym ibn Sa'idah
The man of Quba who loved to be clean
Died in Madinah (the year is not recorded firmly)
عويم بن ساعدةRead profileSa'd ibn Khaythamah
The young host of Quba, killed at Badr
Killed at Badr, 2 AH (624 CE)
سعد بن خيثمةRead profileHudhayfah ibn al-Yaman
The keeper of the Prophet's ﷺ secret
Died at al-Mada'in, 36 AH (656 CE)
حذيفة بن اليمانRead profileAbu Sa'id al-Khudri
The Mufti of Madinah
Died in Madinah, about 74 AH (693 CE; sources differ)
أبو سعيد الخدريRead profileZayd ibn al-Arqam
The boy who told the Prophet ﷺ the truth
Died in Kufa, in the 60s AH (sources differ)
زيد بن أرقمRead profileMuhammad ibn Maslamah
The Prophet's ﷺ horseman
Died in Madinah, about 43 AH (sources differ)
محمد بن مسلمةRead profileThabit ibn Qays
The Prophet's ﷺ orator
Died at Yamamah, 12 AH (633 CE)
ثابت بن قيسRead profileAbbad ibn Bishr
The friend of the Quran
Died at Yamamah, 12 AH (633 CE)
عباد بن بشرRead profileAbu Lubabah ibn Abd al-Mundhir
The pillar of repentance
Died in the time of Ali (sources differ on the year)
أبو لبابة بن عبد المنذرRead profileKhubayb ibn Adi
The first Companion crucified
Died near Makkah, in Safar 4 AH (625 CE)
خبيب بن عديRead profileAsim ibn Thabit
The archer whose body was guarded by wasps
Died at ar-Raji, in Safar 4 AH (625 CE; sources differ)
عاصم بن ثابتRead profileNu'ayman ibn Amr
The Companion known for his jokes, whom the Prophet ﷺ would not let others curse
Died in Madinah, in the time of Mu'awiyah (sources differ on the year)
نعيمان بن عمروRead profileHilal ibn Umayyah al-Waqifi
One of the three left behind at Tabuk, who wept in his house until Allah turned to him
The year and place of his death are not clearly recorded
هلال بن أمية الواقفيRead profileMurarah ibn ar-Rabi al-Amri
The second of the two forgotten men left behind at Tabuk
The year and place of his death are not clearly recorded
مرارة بن الربيع العمريRead profileAl-Bara' ibn Ma'rur
The elder of Madinah who prayed towards the Ka'bah before the command
Died in Madinah, in Safar, a month before the Hijrah (622 CE)
البراء بن معرورRead profileUmayr ibn Sa'd
The boy who told on the man who raised him, and became a governor no one could buy
Died in the time of Umar (the year is not clearly recorded)
عمير بن سعدRead profileSawad ibn Ghaziyyah
The man who asked for payback from the Prophet ﷺ minutes before Badr
Died in Madinah, in the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (the year is not recorded)
سواد بن غزيةRead profileBishr ibn al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur
The young Ansari who ate with the Prophet ﷺ from the poisoned sheep at Khaybar
Died of the poison of Khaybar, 7 AH (628 CE; sources differ on the time)
بشر بن البراء بن معرورRead profileMore on How to Muslim
Questions & answers
Questions about the Ansar
Short answers from this page, each with a link to read more.
Who were the Ansar?
The Ansar, the Helpers, were the people of Madinah who welcomed the Prophet ﷺ and the believers who came from Makkah, the Emigrants.
Read more: The Ansar Stage 5: The Hijrah
Which Companions of the Ansar are profiled on this site?
44 of them, men and women, among them Abu ad-Darda al-Ansari, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, Umm Sulaym, Nusaybah bint Ka'b and Anas ibn Malik.
Read more: Abu ad-Darda al-Ansari Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
Who was Abu Ayyub al-Ansari?
The Companion in whose house the Prophet ﷺ stayed on arriving in Madinah.
Read more: Abu Ayyub al-Ansari