Ansar's pivotal role in nurturing Islam
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 465
٤٦٥. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام) فِي مَدْحِ الْأَنْصَارِ:
465. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said eulogizing the anṣār:
هُمْ وَاللهِ رَبَّوُا الْإِسْلَامَ كَمَا يُرَبَّى الْفَلُوُّخ مَعَ غَنَائِهِمْ بَأَيْدِيهِمُ السِّبَاطِ وَأَلْسِنَتِهِمُ السِّلاَطِ.
By Allāh, they nurtured Islam with their generous hands and eloquent tongues as a year old calf is nurtured.