Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Martyrdom of Hazrat Anas bin Nadhr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
Hazrat Anas bin Nadhr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was one of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who could not take part in the Battle of Badr. He very much regretted to have missed the honour of participating in the first and the most illustrious battle for Islam. He longed for a chance wherein he could make amends for Badr.
He did not have to wait for long. The Battle of Uhud came about in the following year. He joined the army with the most determined zeal.
Despite heavy odds, the Muslims were gaining the upper hand, when some people made a blunder and the Muslims had to suffer a reverse. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had posted a band of fifty archers to guard a pass in the rear against the enemy. They had definite instructions not to move from their position till further orders from him. The reason for the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) stationing these Sahaabah at this spot was that there was a fear of the disbelievers attacking the Muslims from this side.
However, when they saw the Muslims gaining victory and the enemy in full flight, they left their position, in the belief that the battle was over and it was time to join in the pursuit and get on to the booty.
The leader of the band tried his utmost to check them by reminding them of the Prophet’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) command, and implored them to stay on, but no more than ten persons would listen to him, arguing that the orders given by the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) were only for the duration of the actual fight.
At that time, the fleeing disbelievers noticed that this area was unguarded and launched an attack against the Muslims from this side. The Muslims were caught off-guard, and soon succumbed to this unexpected attack. The Muslims were now surrounded by the disbelievers on both sides, due to which many of the Sahaabah fell into confusion and began to flee in different directions.
It was in this state of affairs that Hazrat Anas bin Nadhr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw Hazrat Sa’d bin Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passing in front of him. He shouted to him, “O Sa’d! Where are you going? By Allah! I smell the fragrance of Paradise coming from Mount Uhud!” Saying this, he threw himself into the very thick of the enemy, and fought tooth and nail till he met his martyrdom.
After the battle, it was found that his body had been mauled and mutilated to such an extent that only his sister could identify him, and that barely from the finger tips! No less than eighty wounds of arrows and swords were counted on his body.
Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahimahullah) mentions
Those who strive in the path of Allah with sincerity and devotion taste the pleasures of Paradise even in this world, and so did Hazrat Anas bin Nadhr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) smell the fragrance of Paradise.
I heard the following statement of Hazrat Moulana Shah Abdur Raheem Saheb Raipuri (rahimahullah) from a reliable person who was his faithful attendant. He mentioned to me that once, Hazrat Shah Abdur Raheem Raipuri (rahimahullah) said, “I am currently perceiving the enjoyment of Jannah (in this world).” I have already written this incident in Fazaa’il-e-Ramadhaan.
