The Twenty Sixth Narration: The Apostle of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came to us and there was none in our house but I, my mother, and my aunt Umm Haram…..

The Twenty Sixth Narration

Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu reported:

دخل علينا رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – وما نحن إلا أنا وأمي وخالتي أم حرام فقال : قوموا أصلي بكم. فصلى بنا في غير وقت صلاة فقال رجل لثابت : فأين جعل أنسا ؟ قال : جعله ، عن يمينه . فلما قضى صلاته دعا لنا أهل البيت بكل خير من أمر الدنيا والآخرة . فقالت أمي : خويدمك ادع الله له ، قال : فدعا لي بكل خير . فكان في آخر ما دعا لي اللهم أكثر ماله وولده وبارك له فيه

The Apostle of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came to us and there was none in our house but I, my mother, and my aunt Umm Haram.

He said, “Stand up so that I may lead you in prayer”, whilst it wasn’t time for any prescribed prayer. He then led us in prayer.

A person said to Thabit, “Where did Anas stand with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?”

He replied, “He was on the right side.”

He then prayed for us, the members of the household with every good of this world and of the hereafter.

My mother said, “O Messenger of Allah, here is your little servant, invoke the blessing of Allah upon him too.”

He then prayed for blessings for me with every good, and he concluded his blessings for me with these words: “O Allah! Increase his wealth, and his children and make them the source of blessing for him.”

This narration has been recorded in Musnad al Tayalisi and Sahih Muslim. It has also been recorded in Sahih al Bukhari with the following addition:

فإني لمن أكثر الأنصار مالا وحدثتني ابنتي أمينة أنه دفن لصلبي مقدم حجاج البصرة بضع وعشرون ومائة

Thus I am one of the richest among the Ansar and my daughter Umaynah told me that when al Hajjaj came to Basra, more than 120 of my offspring had been buried.^{^[1]}

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

1. There is great virtue and honour in favour of Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu in this narration:

a. The supplication of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on behalf of him for an increase in wealth and offspring.

b. The supplication of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on behalf of him for blessings.

c. His service to Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He is the only Companion that served him in this manner for such a period.

2. This narration lends great virtue to the mother of Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu and her sister Umm Haram radiya Llahu ‘anha.

3. The narration is a sign of the true prophethood of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. His supplication for Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu

4. Imam al Nawawi says:

وفيه هذا الأدب البديع ، وهو أنه إذا دعا بشيء له تعلق بالدنيا ينبغي أن يضم إلى دعائه طلب البركة فيه والصيانة ونحوهما . وكان أنس وولده رحمة وخيرا ونفعا بلا ضرر بسبب دعاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

This narration teaches us to pray for blessings, protection, and the like thereof when praying for things of this world. The wealth and children of Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu was a source of mercy, blessings, and benefit without becoming a source of harm due to the supplication of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

5. One of the greatest benefits of serving the pious scholars is gaining blessings through their supplication.

6. This narration refutes the notion of generalising the preference of poverty over wealth. This differs according to the different dispositions of men. Having a basic amount of wealth which sees to a person’s basic necessities is good for those who are able to live in this manner, if not then having an excess of wealth is better. If this was not the case, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would not have made the above supplication for his close Companion and servant.

Some so called ‘ascetics’ flee from wealth which results in them having to beg and procure services from those around them. Having excess wealth allows one to spend in the path of Allah, which is amongst the best of actions.

7. In another narration the following words appear:

… Lengthen his life-span and forgive his sins.

This is proof for those that hold the opinion of literal extension of life and not just metaphorical extension by way of blessings. Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu did indeed say, “My life was extended till I became shy of my family and wished to meet my Lord.”

Ibn Battal has refuted the chapter heading of Imam al Bukhari by saying, ‘Lengthen his life’ is not found in the narration. However, this needs some thought as other narrations do contain the wording, ‘Lengthen his life-span’. This narration has been recorded by others as well such as Abu Ya’la, Ibn Sa’d, and others.

8. A lot of wealth is desirable for a pious person as long as it does not keep him from good.

9. The desirability to supplicate for lots of wealth and children when one has good intentions matched with piety.

10. The Imam should visit his people and show humility towards them.

11. The permissibility of supplicating for others without including oneself or without beginning with oneself.

12. The permissibility of using the word بضع in numbers greater than 10. Al Jawhari has declared the practice of using بضع in numbers greater than 10 as incorrect which is obviously incorrect as Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu used it in the above narration. He was amongst the most eloquent of Arabs! Al ‘Ayni has alluded to the same in al ‘Umdah.

13. Al Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al Thaqafi arrived in Basra in the year 75 A.H whilst Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu had surpassed the age of eighty. He lived on reaching the age of one hundred.

NEXT⇒ The Twenty Seventh Narration

[1] See, Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 1881; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1055.

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