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Hadith 28: I Find the Smell of Paradise
It was narrated by al-Bukhari, Muslim and al-Bayhaqi and the wording is Muslim’s, that Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
"My paternal uncle - after whom I was named - did not participate in the battle of Badr with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He felt distressed about it. He would say: I have missed the first battle fought by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and if Allah now gives me an opportunity to see a battlefield with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Allah will see what I do therein. He was afraid to say more than this (lest he be unable to keep his word with Allah). He was present with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the Day of Uhud. He met Sa'd bin Mu'adh (who was retreating). Anas said to him: O Abu 'Amr, where (are you going)? Woe (to thee)! I find the smell of Paradise beside the Uhud mountain. (Reprimanding Sa'd in these words) he went forward and fought thein (the enemy) until he was killed. (The narrator says): More than eighty wounds inflicted with swords, spears and arrows were found on his body. His sister, my aunt, ar-Rubayyi', daughter of Nadr, said: I could not recognize my brother's body (it was so badly mutilated) except from his finger-tips. (It was on this occasion that) the Qur'anic verse: "Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledge ˹with their lives˺, others are waiting ˹their turn˺. They have never changed ˹their commitment˺ in the least." (Qur’an: 33: 23) The narrator said that the verse had been revealed about him (Anas bin Nadr) and his Companions.
Aqeedah Values:
1. "I find the smell of Paradise beside the Uhud mountain." Anas bin Nadr could have smelled the scent of Paradise indeed, which is a karamah and a Divine blessing bestowed by Allah to support him through the battle. It is also possible that he smelt a good scent to entice him to desire Paradise. It could be a metaphoric phrase to indicate that he knew Paradise was in this spot in which he was fighting, so Paradise would be earned in this spot.
2. “I have missed the first battle fought by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” He did not intentionally miss the fight, and he did not attribute that to the Will of Allah out of politeness, even though it is indeed the Will of Allah that he missed the fight. This is the respectful way with Almighty Allah, this manner resembles what Prophet Ibrahim said, peace be upon him, as mentioned in the Qur’an:
“And He ˹alone˺ heals me when I am sick.” Surah Ash-Shu'ara
(Qur'an: 26: 80)
Sickness and health are decreed by Almighty Allah, yet Prophet Ibrahim attributed sickness to himself and the healing to Almighty Allah.
3. “I have missed…and if Allah now gives me an opportunity…” Attributing witnessing or missing Jihad to Almighty Allah shows Anas an-Nadr’s belief that the whole matter rests completely in the Hands of Allah. We as servants of Allah cannot move forward on the path of obedience unless Allah chooses us and put us on this path, based on the truthfulness and sincerity in our hearts.
4. Good righteous deeds are a reflection of the strength of belief in the heart, especially at times of Jihad, or fighting in the cause of Allah, which might imply sacrificing one’s life in the cause of Allah. This situation is very difficult to the person if his heart lacks faith.
Generic Values:
1. Naming children after their relatives strengthens family bonds.
2. The companions revered the Battle of Badr to the point that those who did not witness this battle felt regretful for not taking part in it.
3. The true Muslim feels distressed for missing any act of obedience even if it was not an obligatory act. Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, did not obligate his companions to fight in Badr, so those who did not take part were not considered sinful. Yet, it was very difficult for Anas that he missed such important event.
4. Allah’s mercy towards the faithful servant could be manifested in missing a certain good deed such as taking part in the Battle of Badr, which makes the servant more cautious to make up for the opportunity he missed. When Anas bin an-Nadr did not witness Badr, he was very keen on obeying Allah in the Battle of Uhud. He fought courageously on the Day of Uhud and became a role model for those who wanted to make up for what they missed.
5. The Virtues and Merits of the Companions: The companions of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, sacrificed their blood and spirits to support this religion.
6. The seriousness of giving an oath: The person should be careful when it comes to swearing in the name of Allah about something we intend to do, as we do not know what will happen in the future. This is why Anas bin an-Nadr did not disclose how hard and sincere he would fight and seek martyrdom in his statement “Allah will see what I do therein.”
7. “Allah will see what I do therein,” this statement by Anas shows how sincere he was in what he said and did. He fulfilled his pledge with Allah; the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, described him once saying, “Among Allah’s servants there are those who if they swear by Allah, Allah would consent to it.”
8. Being steadfast while is in Jihad despite the injures and chances of mortality show a Muslim’s sincerity and faithfulness.
9. The Qur’anic verse: “…do not let your own hands throw you into destruction,” does not apply to seeking martyrdom while in a state of jihad. Indeed, destruction is fleeing from jihad and fearing death in the cause of Allah.
10. In another narration: Anas said: “O Allah! I apologize to You for what the Muslims have done,” and “I denounce what the pagans have done.” His statement is quite eloquent and accurate, as he prays to Allah to have mercy on Muslims for fleeing the battlefield, while he denounces the actions of the pagans who were fighting Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him.
11. It was narrated that Anas bin an-Nadr met Sa'd bin Mu'dh who was retreating from the battlefield, so he advised him to be steadfast and not to flee, and Sa'd returned and said to Anas ‘I am with you.’ The people of jihad are those who denounce that which is wrong, inspire and encourage others to do that which is good, regardless of the danger and serious situations they face.
12. The strength and courage of Anas in the battlefield made the polytheists take revenge against him by mutilating his body and damaging his face to the point of not recognizing him when he found dead. None of his family members nor his friends could identify his body, except his sister who knew him from the shape of his finger.
13. Almighty Allah has revealed Qur’anic verses verifying the truthfulness of Anas bin an-Nadr and the martyrs of Uhud:
“Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledge ˹with their lives˺, others are waiting ˹their turn˺. They have never changed ˹their commitment˺ in the least.”
(Qur’an: 33: 23)
Anas said that it was believed that this verse was revealed concerning them, and that means Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, confirmed this fact.
14. Almighty Allah says (what can be translated as):
“Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledge ˹with their lives˺, others are waiting ˹their turn˺. They have never changed ˹their commitment˺ in the least.”
(Qur’an: 33: 23)
True manhood is committing to faith, obeying Allah and jihad in the cause of Allah, while masculinity is a biological trait and it does not imply having a certain virtue.
