The Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Servant

’Anas Ibn Mâlik Ibn An-Nadir

May Allah be pleased with him

When ’Um Sulaym Bint Milhân knew that the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, was arriving to Al Madînah, she ran to him, taking her son with her; ’Anas Ibn Mâlik who had not been ten yet, and she said: O Prophet of Allah, that is my son ’Anas, a boy who knows how to write, so take him to serve you… The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, accepted him for the signs of intelligence, cleverness, and good origin that had foreseen in him… He jokingly called him “You who has two ears”[1]…

’Anas Ibn Mâlik became one of the lucky ones who had won the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companionship and his service… He went out with him to the battle of Badr to serve him, he then stayed with him weather he, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, was travelling or staying, serving him, and fighting in the Cause of Allah with him. He was one of the very skilful archers… 

’Anas speaks of the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, good manners and greatness saying: I have never touched a fine material; or silk that feels softer than the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, palm, and I have never smelt a better odor than his… I have served the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, for ten years, he had never told me Uhff (a word of contempt)… Nor ever told me about something I have done: “Why did you do it?”, and he never told me about something I haven’t done: “Would you do that?”[2]… But he used to commend the saying: “Allah destined, and Allah’s destiny be done!”[3].

He also explained how the Sahâbah (companions) quickly responded to Allah’s and the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, orders… He says: I used to offer water in ’Abî Talhah’s house (His father in law), so we heard a man calling: Liquor has been prohibited… So ’Abî Talhah told me: O ’Anas, look what we have of liquor and get rid of it… And by Allah, it was as if the roads of the city seemed like rivers of spilt liquor.

Indeed… Everyone responded and spilt the liquor without hesitation, and without even waiting till the next day, or until they asked the man who announced the prohibition of liquor: Who said that?.. Or when was it prohibited?.. Or let us drink today and refrain tomorrow… And that is how Islam had awakened their consciousness… They were men not to be feared of, or worried about… They have been brought up in the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, moral school. For he was the best living example to them in being pious and obedient to Allah…

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, used to go a lot to the house of ’Anas’ mother to eat and pray Nâfilah (supererogatory prayer), so that she may later pray in his blessed place… She also used to join the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, in his conquests… During the conquest of Hunain, she was remarkably courageous… She was pregnant, but when she saw the people running away and not protecting the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, she tied around her stomach for support and protection, took her sword, and stood by him, defending him and saying: Let my parents be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Prophet.

One day, she asked Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, to pray for her son ’Anas that Allah would bless and increase his money and his children, so he prayed for him… Allah accepted his prayer, and ’Anas Ibn Mâlik -who used to love and was proud of being called the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, servant- became one of the richest men amongst Ansâr (supporters), and Allah granted him a lot of children… When he died, he left behind him 120 (One hundred and twenty) children and grandchild.

During the later part of the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, life, he told ’Anas trying to reward him for his serving him: “O ’Anas… Ask me what you like”… ’Anas said: I ask for your shafâ‘ah (Support me on the day of judgment), O Prophet of Allah.. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “Ask me for one of your needs of this world”.. ’Anas said: O Prophet of Allah… By Allah, I ask of you nothing else.. So, the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, told him: “Then allow me to help you by your prostrating a lot”[4] (in prayer).

He, may Allah be pleased with him, prayed and prostrated a lot until he died in Al Basrah and was buried there… He was the last of the Sahâbah (companions) to die in Al Basrah… He had kept a small cane which he had taken from the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and he had asked that it would be buried with him… It was buried between his body and his shirt…

He was 103 (One hundred and three) years old when he died… He, may Allah be pleased with him, was one of the men who related many of the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, sayings… For a lot of Hadîth were related by him… It was then related through others like Humayd Al Tawîl, Thâbit Al Bunânî, Qatâdah, Al Hassan Al Basrî, Az- Zuhrî, and many of the men who learnt and related Hadîth.

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