Anas bin al-Nadhrرضي الله عنه bin Dhamdham bin Zaid bin Haram bin Jundub bin 'Amir bin Ghanm bin 'Adi bin al-Najjar. Anas bin al-Nadhrرضي الله عنه is the uncle of Anas bin Malikرضي الله عنه. Anas bin al-Nadhrرضي الله عنه was also one of those who participated in the Uhud battle and was martyred in that battle. Furthermore, he is included among the believers, who are truthful in fulfilling what he has promised to God (to fight for Islam). Among those who narrated hadiths from him are Sa'ad bin Muaz and Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه.
Heaven at the feet of Uhud
Anas bin al-Nadhrرضي الله عنه is an Ansar. From the descendants of an-Najjar. His brother is Malik, the father of Anas bin Malikرضي الله عنه who is famous as the favorite servant of Rasulullahﷺ.
Although Islam was as early as the migration, Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه did not participate in the battle of Badr. After the Muslim army left for the battlefield, only then did he regret it. Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه blames himself by monologuing:
"Woe to you, Anas! In the first war, you were not with Rasulullahﷺ? Are you sure this life is long enough to be with the next war? Is there still a war with a greater reward than Badr?"
In regret, Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه vowed:
"For Allahﷻ! If there is another opportunity with Rasulullahﷺ to face polytheists after this, I will prove to God what I will do.."
Not long after that, the call for Uhud came. Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه did not miss another opportunity. Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه marched with Rasulullahﷺ and his companions to the field of Uhud, proving what he had promised.
Unlike Badr, this war presents a great test for Muslims. Mistakes by the archers resulted in the enemy quickly organizing a counterattack from behind. The polytheists managed to climb the hill of Rummah, where the archers were positioned. They broke through the defenses of the Islamic army, then broke through to the main post where Rasulullahﷺ was.
The Muslims below were very surprised when they saw this situation. What they are most worried about is the safety of Rasulullahﷺ. The enemy army is so many above, and the Muslim army below is powerless to climb back because Rummah Hill has already been captured by the polytheists.
Rasulullahﷺ is indeed the main target of polytheists. Rasulullahﷺ was stoned, fell into a hole, injured his face, cut his lip, broke his tooth, and blood flowed.
His friends tried to defend him. A circle was formed, Rasulullahﷺ was placed in the middle and they covered the back of the body to save the Prophet.
At this time, the news quickly spread that Rasulullahﷺ had already been martyred. The situation caused Muslims to lose their spirit, and some began to surrender. They turned and ran away from the battlefield because they thought there was nothing left to fight for.
Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه observed this situation with a thousand regrets. Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنهwas saddened by the attitude of Muslims. Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنهshouted:
"If the Messenger of Allah is dead, what is the point of us surviving to live."Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه went to see Saidina Umar.
"How is Rasulullahﷺ's condition?"
Saidina Umar's رضي الله عنه answer:
"I saw nothing, but felt that he was dead."
Hearing Saidina Umar's رضي الله عنه 's answer, Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه replied:
"If Muhammad is dead, then verily Allah is Living, never dies."
Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه continued to take the sword out of the sheath and broke the sheath as a sign that he would not keep it anymore. Then he continued to rush towards the enemy, advancing without retreating, bravely without fear.
While he was rushing, he saw Saad bin Muazرضي الله عنه near him. Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه shouted at Saad:
"Heaven oh Saad! Heaven!”
"By God an-Nadhr, I really smelled heaven at the foot of Uhud!" Anas bin Nadhr Anas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه left the last words to Saadرضي الله عنه and continued to walk forward. For a moment Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه disappeared in the crowd of enemy soldiers Saadرضي الله عنه tried to follow, but was unable to.
When the war ended, it was found that Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه was martyred at the foot of the Uhud hill. Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه body has more than 80 traces of sword strokes, arrow punctures, and spear stabs. Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه body was also horrible, mutilated, dismembered, and dug up here and there. At first, no one recognized the body, until it was confirmed by his sister Umm Harithahرضي الله عنه, who recognized Anas' remaining fingers.
God glorifies Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه. Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه death led to the revelation of a verse, which will continue to be read until the Day of Judgment:
مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌۭ صَدَقُوا۟ مَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحْبَهُۥ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ ۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا۟ تَبْدِيلًۭا ٢٣
Among those who believe, some behave truthfully in fulfilling what they have promised to God; So among them, some have finished fulfilling their promise (then martyred), and there are among them who are still waiting for their turn. They did not change (what they promised) one bit.
[Al-Ahzab:23]
Anas bin NadhrAnas bin an-Nadhrرضي الله عنه taught the people the true intention of the Islamic struggle. Not because of people, not because of leaders but only because of God. Humans will leave at any time, while God is always there at all times. No human being is guaranteed to be faithful until they have breathed their last, while God will remain with His religion.
Fight for God, not for man.
Narrated by Anas رضي الله عنه he said:
غَابَ عَمِّي أَنَسُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ عَنْ قِتَالِ بَدْرٍ، فَقَالَ: «يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ غِبْتُ عَنْ أَوَّلِ قِتَالٍ قَاتَلْتَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، لَئِنِ اللَّهُ أَشْهَدَنِي قِتَالَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ لَيَرَيَنَّ اللَّهُ مَا أَصْنَعُ»، فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ أُحُدٍ، وَانْكَشَفَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعْتَذِرُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ هَؤُلاَءِ – يَعْنِي أَصْحَابَهُ – وَأَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ هَؤُلاَءِ، – يَعْنِي المُشْرِكِينَ – ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ»، فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ سَعْدُ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، فَقَالَ: «يَا سَعْدُ بْنَ مُعَاذٍ، الجَنَّةَ وَرَبِّ النَّضْرِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ رِيحَهَا مِنْ دُونِ أُحُدٍ»، قَالَ سَعْدٌ: فَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا صَنَعَ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ: فَوَجَدْنَا بِهِ بِضْعًا وَثَمَانِينَ ضَرْبَةً بِالسَّيْفِ أَوْ طَعْنَةً بِرُمْحٍ، أَوْ رَمْيَةً بِسَهْمٍ وَوَجَدْنَاهُ قَدْ قُتِلَ وَقَدْ مَثَّلَ بِهِ الْمُشْرِكُونَ، فَمَا عَرَفَهُ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أُخْتُهُ بِبَنَانِهِ قَالَ أَنَسٌ: ” كُنَّا نُرَى أَوْ نَظُنُّ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ وَفِي أَشْبَاهِهِ: {مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ} [الأحزاب: 23] إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ “
Meaning: "My uncle (Anas bin al-Nadhr) did not follow the battle of Badr. So he (Anas bin al-Nadhr) said: "O Messenger of Allah! I did not have time to follow you in the first battle against the Mushyrikins. If God allows me to join the war against the polytheists, God will surely see what I will do." During the battle of Uhud, the Muslims fought. He (Anas bin al-Nadhr) said: "O Allah, I ask for forgiveness for what they did - that is, his companions - and I renounce to You from what they did - that is, the polytheists -.
" Then he advanced. After that, Sa'ad bin Mu'az met him, and then (Anas bin al-Nadhr) said: "O Sa'ad! I want heaven, for God's sake, I can really smell it from the direction of Uhud Hill." Sa'ad said: "I am not able, O Messenger of Allah, to do as he did." Anas bin Malik (narrator) said: "We found on him more than 80 sword cuts, spears, or arrows. We found that he was martyred and cut into pieces by the Musyrikins. No one knows him except his sister through his fingers.” Anas said: "We considered - or thought - that this verse was revealed about him, and others like him: "مِنَ المُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ"(Meaning: among the believers, there are those who fulfill what they have promised to God.) [Surah al-Ahzab: 23] until the end of the verse."
Narrated by al-Bukhari (2805) and Muslim (1903)
Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh Al-'Uthaimin in his syrah said, the phrase "I can really smell the smell from the direction of Uhud hill" is a real smelling kiss, not just a fantasy or wishful thinking. This is a karamah for Anas bin al-Nadhr R.A because he could smell the fragrance of heaven before he was martyred.
(See Sharh Riyadh al-Solihin, 2/110).
(See Ma'rifah al-Sahabah, 1/230).