Thread by @sirnucy

Know your heroes series 2

أنس بن النضر

Abū ‘Amrū Anas bn an-Nadar was one of the best companions of the Prophet ﷺ who sacrificed his life and the pleasure of this world to protect Islām and the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ. He was an Ansari man from the tribe of Khazraj.

He accepted Islām after the Prophet’s Hijra to Madīnah. He was an uncle to the popular servant of the Prophet ﷺ, Anas bn Mālik.

According to his nephew, Anas bn an-Nadar did not partake in the battle of Badr. This pained him so much that he went to meet the Prophet ﷺ.

He lamented thus:
يا رسول الله غبتُ عن أول قتال قاتلت المشركين، لئن الله أشهدني قتال المشركين ليرينَّ الله ما أصنع

“O Apostle of Allāh! I missed the first battle that you fought against the idolaters. If Allāh should grant me the grace to witness the next battle against them,

He (Allāh) will see what I will do."

Then came ‘Uhud and Anas bn an-Nadar was one of the most excited companions of the Prophet ﷺ. During the battle of ‘Uhud, the archers who the Prophet ﷺ had placed on strategic positions on the mountains and had instructed never to leave

their places no matter what happens abandoned their positions when they saw the enemies fleeing the battlefield and came down to collect the war booty.

No sooner had the enemies realized this strategic lacuna than they made a U-turn and swooped down on the Muslims who were

basking in the euphoria of a premature victory. When the enemies’ arrows started flying in the air, the celebrants were thrown into great confusion. They fled, most of them. A few stood still, watching in complete shock. Some faced the enemies with invigorated spirit and fought

gallantly. Yet, some rallied round the Prophet ﷺ to prevent the enemies from attacking and killing him. One of those who stood in utmost confusion was Anas bn an-Nadar.

When he saw his companions fleeing the battlefield, he looked up at the sky and said:

اللهم إني أعتذر إليك مما صنع هؤلاء - يعني أصحابه - وأبرأ إليك مما صنع هؤلاء

“O Allāh! I seek your forgiveness for what these people (the fleeing Muslims) are doing and I declare myself free from what those (the enemies) are doing.”

Immediately he regained his strength, he charged towards the enemies. As he headed down, he saw ‘Umar and a few other people sitting down with him, so he asked them:

ما يقعدكم ؟ قالوا: قتل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: ما تصنعون بالحياة بعده؟ قوموا فموتوا على ما مات عليه

Why are you all seated here? They replied, ‘The Apostle of Allāh ﷺ has been killed.’ He said, ‘So, what will you live for after him? C’mon, get up and let’s all go and die on that which he had died.”

Allāhu Akbar!!!

As he charged forward, he saw Sa’d bn Mu’aadh who was also

watching in confusion as the enemies slay the Muslims. Sa’d asked him:

يا أبا عمرو أين؟

“Where are you going, O Aboo ‘Amr?”

He replied:

قال: واها لريح الجنة أجدها دون أحد

“Yeah! I can perceive the fragrance of Jannah coming from ‘Uhud.”

In another narration, it’s reported that he said:

يا سعد بن معاذ، الجنة ورب النضر إني أجد ريحها من دون أحد

“O Sa’d bn Mu’aadh! By the Lord of Nadar I can perceive the fragrance of paradise coming from ‘Uhud.”

Then, he jumped into the middle of the enemies and continued

fighting until he dropped dead. Anas bn Malik said, there were over 80 wounds in his body from arrows and spears. When his body was found, no one could recognize him because it was terribly mutilated. His sister, Ar-Rubayyi’ Bint an-Nadar said, “فما عرفت أخي إلا ببنانه” “

I couldn’t recognize my brother except from his fingers.”

When they returned home after the battle, Sa’d bn Mu’ādh said to the Prophet ﷺ:

فما استطعت يا رسول الله ما صنع

“O Apostle of Allāh, I could not do what he did.”

Al-Bukhārī narrated on d authority of Anas bn Mālik that d following verse was revealed in recognition of his uncle’s sacrifice:

مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلاً

"Among d Believers are men who av been true to their covenant with Allāh & av gone out for Jihād. Some have completed their vow to extreme & av been martyred fighting & dying in His cause, & some are waiting, prepared 4 death in battle but they av nvr changed in d least." [33:23]