Being faithful to your pledges – Anas bin An-Nadhr
There are many verses in the Quran that encourage us to be truthful and to stick to our principles and to cling to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and not to compromise, no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Allah is saying you can be with the truthful or with the liars, but there is no in-between position. The in-betweeners are the hypocrites. This is how the Quran differentiates between people. Surat al Baqarah begins with five verses describing true believers, two verses about disbelievers and thirteen verses about the hypocrites (munafiqoon). Across the Quran we see that you can either be with the truthful or with the liars.
In Surat al Ahzab, He says:
مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ رِجَالࣱ صَدَقُوا۟ مَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَیۡهِۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحۡبَهُۥ وَمِنۡهُم مَّن یَنتَظِرُۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا۟ تبديلاً
Of the believers are men who have been true to what they have covenanted with Allah: so of them is one who fulfilled his obligation, and of them is one who still waits, and they have not changed in the least. (33:23)
When you read tafseer of this ayah, you see that scholars have tried to work out when it was revealed. Some say it was during the Battle of Ahzab (Khandaq), others say it was after the Battle of Uhud. The scholar Ibn Ashur said it was more likely to be about the Battle of Uhud, as many ayahs were revealed and inserted in Surat Ahzab later.
Anas bin An-Nadhr
The story behind the ayah is that Anas bin An-Nadhr, who was the uncle of Anas bin Malik and the one after whom Anas bin Malik had been named, was a courageous warrior. Much to his disappointment, he was outside Madinah for trade when the Battle of Badr took place. Deeply upset that he had missed the first battle in the history of Islam, he made an oath, that if the opportunity for battle arose again, he would fight valiantly.
When the Battle of Uhud was announced, he eagerly joined the troops. During the battle, when the archers fled from their positions, against the commands of the Prophet (peace be upon him) leaving him exposed, Anas ibn An-Nadhr noticed that his life was endangered. Without a thought for his own safety, he ran to defend the Prophet (peace be upon him).
On his way he encountered Sa’d bin Mu’adh, the leader of Al Ansar, who asked him where he was heading. Anas replied that he could smell the fragrance of Jannah. Sa’d bin Mu’adh followed him. When the battle ended, they searched everywhere for Anas, but they couldn’t find him. His body had been mutilated and only his sister managed to identify his body from his finger. She described that he had 80 injuries from swords, spears and arrows.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) made special dua for him and those who fought for Allah at the battle. Talha lost his hand defending the Prophet (peace be upon him) and many companions became martyrs and among them was Anas. Allah revealed this very ayah, that among the believers were those who fulfilled their covenant with Allah. Anas was one of them. Although it is a very gory scene, you can see what Anas saw at that moment. He could smell Jannah and he would not wait to get there. He was faithful to his pledge to Allah and Allah gave him Jannah as a reward for his dedication to the truth.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
غاب عمي أنس بن النضر رضي الله عنه عن قتال بدر، فقال: يا رسول الله غبت عن أول قتال قاتلت المشركين لئن الله أشهدني قتال المشركين ليرين الله ما أصنع. فلما كان يوم أحد انكشف المسلمون، فقال اللهم إني اعتذر إليك مما صنع هؤلاء – يعني الصحابة- وأبرأ إليك مما صنع هؤلاء يعني المشركين- ثم تقدم فاستقبله سعد بن معاذ فقال: يا سعد بن معاذ الجنة ورب النضر، إني أجد ريحها من دون أحد! قال سعد: فما استطعت يا رسول الله ما صنع! قال أنس: فوجدنا به بضعًا وثمانين ضربة بالسيف، أو طعنة برمح أو رمية بسهم، ووجدناه قد قتل ومثل به المشركون، فما عرفه أحد إلا أخته ببنانه، قال أنس: كنا نرى -أو نظن- أن هذه الآية نزلت فيه وفي أشباهه: {من المؤمنين رجال صدقوا ما عاهدوا الله عليه فمنهم من قضى نحبه} إلى آخره ((الأحزاب 23)). ((متفق عليه)).
My uncle Anas bin An- Nadhr (may Allah be pleased with him) was absent from the battle of Badr. He said: “O Messenger of Allah! I was absent from the first battle you fought against the pagans. (By Allah!) if Allah gives me a chance to fight against the pagans, no doubt, Allah will see how (bravely) I will fight.” On the Day of Uhud, when the Muslims turned their backs and fled, he said, “O Allah! I apologise to You for what these (i.e., his companions) have done, and I denounce what these (i.e., the pagans) have done.” Then he advanced and Sa’d bin Mu’adh met him. He said: “O Sa’d bin Mu’adh! By the Lord of An-Nadhr, Jannah! I am smelling its aroma coming from before (the mountain of) Uhud,” Later on, Sa’d said: “O Messenger of Allah! I cannot achieve or do what he (i.e., Anas bin An-Nadhr) did. We found more than eighty wounds by swords, spears and arrows on his body. We found him dead and his body was mutilated so badly that none except his sister could recognise him by his finger.” We used to think that the following ayah was revealed concerning him and other men of his sort: “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah (i.e., they have gone out for Jihad, and showed not their backs to the disbelievers), of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e., have been martyred).” (33:23). (Bukhari and Muslim)
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ عَمَّهُ، غَابَ عَنْ قِتَالِ، بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ غِبْتُ عَنْ أَوَّلِ، قِتَالٍ قَاتَلَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَئِنِ اللَّهُ أَشْهَدَنِي قِتَالاً لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ لَيَرَيَنَّ اللَّهُ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ أُحُدٍ انْكَشَفَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ هَؤُلاَءِ . يَعْنِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ، وَأَعْتَذِرُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا يَصْنَعُ هَؤُلاَءِ . يَعْنِي أَصْحَابَهُ، ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ فَلَقِيَهُ سَعْدٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَخِي مَا فَعَلْتَ أَنَا مَعَكَ فَلَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ أَصْنَعَ مَا صَنَعَ . فَوُجِدَ فِيهِ بِضْعٌ وَثَمَانُونَ مِنْ ضَرْبَةٍ بِسَيْفٍ وَطَعْنَةٍ بِرُمْحٍ وَرَمْيَةٍ بِسَهْمٍ فَكُنَّا نَقُولُ: فِيهِ وَفِي أَصْحَابِهِ نَزَلَتْ : (فمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ ) . قَالَ يَزِيدُ يَعْنِي هَذِهِ الآيَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَاسْمُ عَمِّهِ أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ . رواه الترمذي
Anas ibn Malik narrated that his uncle missed the Battle of Badr and said, “I missed the first battle in which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fought the polytheists. If Allah grants me the opportunity to fight the polytheists, He will see how I act.” When the day of Uhud came, the Muslims were exposed, and he said, “O Allah, I declare myself free from what these (the polytheists) have brought. And I seek Your forgiveness for what these (his companions) are doing.” Then he advanced and met Sa’d, who said, “O my brother! Whatever you do, I am with you!” But he was not able to do the same as him. He was found with eighty-three wounds from swords, stabbings from spears, and arrows. We used to say that about him and his companions the verse was revealed: “Among them are some who have fulfilled their vow, and among them are some who are still waiting, but they have never changed in the least”. (33:23). (Tirmidhi)
Anas bin Malik said that my uncle Anas ibn al-Nadhr, whom I was named after, did not attend the Battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He felt this deeply and said, “The first battle in which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fought, I was absent from it. By Allah, if Allah shows me a battle with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), He will see what I do.” He feared to say anything else, and he fought with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on the day of Uhud the following year.
Sa’d ibn Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) met him and said, “O Abu Amr, where are you going?” He replied, “Oh, how I long for the scent of Paradise; I find it before Uhud.” He fought until he was killed, and in his body were found over eighty wounds from strikes, stabs, and arrows. My aunt, Rubayyi’ bint al-Nadhr, said, “I recognised my brother only by his fingertips.”
This verse was revealed: “Of the believers are men who have been true to what they have covenanted with Allah: so of them is one who fulfilled his obligation, and of them is one who still waits, and they have not changed in the least.” (Tirmidhi)
The men among the believers who stood firm against the enemy on the Day of Uhud were: Uthman ibn Affan, Anas ibn al-Nadhr, Talhah ibn Ubaydullah, Hamzah, Said ibn Zayd, and Mus’ab ibn Umair. As for Anas ibn al-Nadhr, Hamzah, and Mus’ab ibn Umair, they were martyred on the day of Uhud. Talhah had his hand severed that day while defending the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and the rest fought and survived. Usayd ibn Hudayr was wounded seven times but continued fighting valiantly.
By contrast, the hypocrites had pledged to Allah that they would not turn their backs, yet they fled on the day of the Battle of Uhud and returned to their homes in Madina.
This emphasis may serve as a veiled reference to the hypocrites who broke their oath of faith when they believed that victory would be for the polytheists.
وَعَنْ أنس بن مالك قَالَ: كَسَرَتِ الرُّبَيِّعُ وَهِيَ عَمَّةُ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ثَنِيَّةَ جَارِيَةٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَ بِالْقِصَاصِ فَقَالَ أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ عَمُّ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا تُكْسَرُ ثَنِيَّتُهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا أَنَسُ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ الْقِصَاصُ» فَرَضِيَ الْقَوْمُ وَقَبِلُوا الْأَرْشَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ مَنْ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى الله لَأَبَره»
متفق عليه.
On another occasion, Anas narrated that ar-Rubaiyi‘, the paternal aunt of Anas bin Malik, broke the front tooth of a girl of the Ansar, and when they went to the Prophet he ordered retaliation to be taken. Then Anas bin an-Nadhr, paternal uncle of Anas bin Malik, said, “No, by God, her front tooth will not be broken, Messenger of God.” He replied, “Anas, God’s decree is retaliation.” But the people were agreeable to accepting a fine, so God’s Messenger said, “Among God’s servants there are those who, if one adjured God, would consent to it.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
This shows the stature of Anas in Allah’s estimation. Allah was so pleased with Anas’s sincerity and is encouraging us to be faithful to our promises in our lives. Being from the sadiqun means that we fight our whims and desires and fight against injustices, raise our voices against oppressors and ask for the implementation of international law and for war criminals to be brought to justice.
We have to remain steadfast, sticking to our principles. How many people must die before this massacre ends? Enough is enough. It has been more than one year and on a daily basis civilians – men, women and children – are being killed. Stop arming oppressors – we are not learning from history. It is in our interests to stop the massacres now rather than tomorrow.
We ask Allah to make us among the faithful and those who are sadiqeen with Allah. Ameen.
Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 18th Oct 2024
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