By: Muhammad bin Haroon
Source: Al Miftah
In an absolutely captivating style, the Nabi of Allah (ﷺ) offered the following priceless counsel to his devoted servant, Sayyiduna Anas (Allah be pleased with him).
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reports that:
“Rasulullah (ﷺ) arrived in Madinah when I was a young eight-year-old. My Mother took me by my hand to him and said: O Messenger of Allah, every man and woman of Madinah has presented you with a gift. I have nothing else to offer besides this child of mine. Please accept him as your servant for all your needs.’
I served the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for ten years. During this time, he never beat me, abused or even scolded at me. He never gave me an angry look.”
The first advice he gave me was:
- “O my son! Keep my secrets confidential, and you will become a true believer.” Sayyiduna Anas (Allah be pleased with him) says: “I never disclosed the secrets of Rasulullah (ﷺ) to anyone, despite the requests of my mother and the wives of Rasulullah (ﷺ).”
- He also told me: “O my son! Be thorough in your wudu and the two angels (who are recording your deeds) will love you. Your life will also be increased.”
- “O Anas! Ensure that you bathe from Janabat (the obligatory bath) properly, if you do so all sins and evil will leave you.” Sayiduna Anas (Allah be pleased with him) enquired: “How do I do that?” Rasulullah (ﷺ) said, “Wet the roots of the hair and clean/rub the skin.”
- “O my Son! If you can, then remain in the state of wudu continuously, for if death comes to someone in the state of wudu, he acquires Shahadah (the rank of the martyrs).”
- “O my son! If you have the ability to constantly send salutations upon me then do so, the angels will beg Allah to forgive you.”
- “O my son! Try to offer some (nafl – volutary) salah in your home too.”[1]
- “O Anas! When you bow in prayer (ruku) ensure that you grasp you knees, spread your fingers and distance your elbows from your sides. O my Son! When you raise your head from ruku allow all your limbs to settle in their original positions. Allah will not look on the day of Judgement to the one who doesn’t straighten his back when standing up from ruku.”
- “O my son! When you prostrate in prayer (sajdah), place your head and palms firmly on the ground. Do not prostrate (hastily) like the pecking of a rooster. Do not sit (in salah – prayer) like fox or dogs squats.”
- “Refrain from turning about in salah, as this is destruction. If need be then (it is allowed) in the optional prayer, not the obligatory (fardh) prayers.”
- “O my son! If after you leave your house, you greet every Muslim you see with peace (salam), you will return home forgiven. Also tell yourself that every other Muslim is better than you.”[2]
- “O my son! Whenever you enter your house, say salam upon yourself and your family. [This will be a source of Barakah- blessing- for you and them.]”[3]
- “O my Son! If you are able to spend your day and night without having malice for anybody in your heart, then do so as this will make your hisab (reckoning with Allah on the Day of Judgment) easy.”
- “O my son! This is my sunnah. Whoever revives/ loves my sunnah loves me and will be with me in Jannah (Paradise).”[4]
- “O my son! If you follow my advice, there will be nothing more beloved to you than death.”
(Musnad Abi Ya’la & Al-Mu’jamus Saghir, see Majma’uz zawaaid, vol.1 pgs. 271-272)
NOTES
[1] From Ibn ‘Asaakir 9/253.
[2] Ibn ‘Asaakir and one narration of Tabarani.
[3] Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2698 and Ibn ‘Asaakir.
[4] Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2678, Ibn ‘Asaakir and one narration of Tabarani.
