Who are the ansar?

[confusedshia]

When the Quran talks about the ansar who is it referring to? Are these people the inhabitants of medina as a whole (i.e. everyone living there) or just a specific group of people from medina?

[Farid]

They are the Muslims of Madinah. They are described vividly in the Qur'an:

Al-Hashr-9: And those who dwelled in the land (in Al-Madîna) before them and in the hearts of whom the Faith has settled love those who have emigrated to them. And they have no wish (grief, malice) in their hearts due to what they are given (their share of booty), even if they are in need of them. And they prefer (put) them over their souls. And whoever protects his soul from stinginess, then these it is that have attained Salvation.

[confusedshia]

They are the Muslims of Madinah. They are described vividly in the Qur'an:

Al-Hashr-9: And those who dwelled in the land (in Al-Madîna) before them and in the hearts of whom the Faith has settled love those who have emigrated to them. And they have no wish (grief, malice) in their hearts due to what they are given (their share of booty), even if they are in need of them. And they prefer (put) them over their souls. And whoever protects his soul from stinginess, then these it is that have attained Salvation.

So the ansar refers to all of the Muslim inhabitants of Medina prior to the hijra, but does not include any non muslim inhabitants?

In 9:100 Allah specifically praises the first forerunners of the ansar - do we know who these people are?

[Farid]

Yeah, it goes without saying that they are Muslims only.

The first forerunners according to Sahaba and Tabi'een are those that prayed towards both Jerusalem and Makkah. So this is for those that were Muslims before Sha'baan in year 2AH.