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Who were the ansar in Muhammad’s community?

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Medina, Saudi Arabia: Prophet's Mosque — Muhammad The Prophet's Mosque, showing the green dome built above the tomb of Muhammad, Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The Ansar (Arabic for "helpers") were the citizens of Medina who provided essential support to the Prophet Muhammad and his followers, the muhājirūn ("emigrants"), following their migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, an event known as the Hijrah.12

The Ansar were primarily composed of members from the two major Medinese tribes, the al-Khazraj and the al-Aws. These tribes had previously been feuding, but they became devoted supporters of Muhammad after he was invited to reconcile them. Their significance to the early Muslim community included:1

Military Support: They constituted approximately three-fourths of the Muslim army during the Battle of Badr in 624 CE.1
Community Building: By aiding the emigrants, they helped establish the Muslim community as a cohesive sociopolitical entity.1

Following the death of Muhammad, the influence of the Ansar as a distinct group declined, particularly after none of their members were chosen to succeed him as caliph. Over time, they merged with the broader Muslim population in Medina.1