Anas reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw children and women of the Ansar coming back from a wedding feast. Allah's Apostle ﷺ stood up motionless (as a mark of respect) and said: O Allah, (bear witness) (and addressing the Ansar), said: You are dearest to me amongst people, (and said: O Allah (bear witness) (and addressing the Ansar), said: You are dearest to me amongst people. And he meant Ansar.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ صُهَيْبٍ - عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَأَى صِبْيَانًا وَنِسَاءً مُقْبِلِينَ مِنْ عُرْسٍ فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُمْثِلاً فَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتُمْ مِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتُمْ مِنْ أَحَبِّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ " . يَعْنِي الأَنْصَارَ .