The Devotion of Life — Page 90
90 Among the Jama’at of the believers there were some who pledged that they would give their lives up until their last breath and they have fulfilled that promise and achieved their goal by dying in the way of Allah (‘Shuhada’). And there were some who were still steadfast in their promise and were waiting for when they can present their lives. Hadrat Anas bin Nazr ra was one of those fortunate persons. For some reasons, he could not be present in the Battle of Badr. With great wistfulness in his voice, he described his heart’s desire to the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘O Apostle of Allah! I was absent from the first battle in which you fought against the non-believers. If Allah gave me the opportunity in the future to be able to fight against the idolaters, then Allah will show with what great enthusiasm and dedication I fight. ’ After a short time, his heart’s desire was fulfilled in the Battle of Uhad. During the fighting, when the Muslims seemed to be temporarily in retreat, Hadrat Anas bin Nazr ra addressed Allah with these sentiments, ‘O Lord! I apologise to you for the behaviour of these Companions and I express profound indignation at the attitude of the enemy. ’ Saying these words, he advanced forward when he met Sa’ad bin Ma’az ra and said to him, ‘O Sa’ad, I can smell the perfume of Paradise from the battleground of Uhad. ’ Having said this, he leapt into the battlefield. Afterwards, Hadrat Sa’ad ra told the Holy Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘O Messenger of Allah, I cannot describe the fervour and enthusiasm that Anas bin Nazr ra showed in the battlefield. The intensity of his courage was such that he broke line after line of the enemy. He was like lightning falling on his enemies. He put everything at stake and fought like a man possessed until he achieved his heart’s desire of ‘ Shahadat’ and