Anas ibn Mālik RA- The scholar of Islam

Anas ibn Mālik ibn al-Naḍr al-Khazrajī (RA) was born in Madinah ten years before the Hijrah. He belonged to the Banū Najjār clan of the Khazraj tribe. His mother was Umm Sulaym (RA), an early convert to Islam, and his father Mālik ibn al-Naḍr died before Islam.

When the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah, Umm Sulaym (RA) who was also the maternal aunt of Prophet ﷺ through nursing brought her young son Anas, then about ten years old, and said:

“O Messenger of Allah, this is Anas, your servant. Please accept him to serve you.” (Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā 7/17).

From that day, Anas (RA) served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years. He became Khadim Rasulallah ﷺ. Umm Sulaym (RA) lived close to Prophet’s ﷺ house , so for next ten year Anas’s (RA) life revolved completely around Prophet ﷺ, every single day, morning till evening, watching him closely, serving his small needs, listening him talk. There is so much we know about Prophet ﷺ from Anas (RA), about how he loved and treated children, listening to them compassionately, checking on their well-being, and sometimes teasing them playfully.

Anas (RA) reported the hadith about his little brother Abu ‘Umair and his pet bird Nughair. When the bird died, causing great sadness for the little boy, Prophet ﷺ showing deep compassion, gently asked Abu ‘Umair, “O Abu ‘Umair, what happened to the little Nughair?”, this way, he consoled him and and acknowledged his feeling of loss.

His Service to the Prophet ﷺ

Anas (RA) himself said:

“I served the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for ten years. By Allah, he never once said to me ‘uff,’ nor did he ever say about something I had done: ‘Why did you do this?’ or about something I had not done: ‘Why did you not do this?’” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2309).

He narrated how the Prophet ﷺ showed affection even in small things:

“The Prophet ﷺ had the best manners of all people. One day he sent me on an errand, and I said: ‘By Allah, I will not go.’ But inside me I intended to go. I went out and found boys playing in the street. Suddenly the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and caught me by the neck from behind, smiling, and said: ‘O Anas, did you go where I told you?’ I said: ‘Yes, I am going, O Messenger of Allah.’” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2310).

This reflects both the gentle character of the Prophet ﷺ and the closeness of Anas (RA) to him.

Participation in Battles

Though too young for Badr and Uhud, he later joined battles such as Hunayn and witnessed the Conquest of Makkah. His love for the Prophet ﷺ was deep; he said, “The day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Madinah was the brightest day, and the day he died was the darkest.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3618).

His Narrations of Hadith

Anas ibn Mālik (RA) became one of the greatest narrators of hadith. He transmitted over 2,200 hadiths, including many about the Prophet’s character, home life, and daily habits.

Some examples:

• He said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the best of people in character.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
• He narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī ; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
• Narrated Az-Zubair bin `Adi: We went to Anas bin Malik and complained about the wrong we were suffering at the hand of Al- Hajjaj. Anas bin Malik said, “Be patient till you meet your Lord, for no time will come upon you but the time following it will be worse than it. I heard that from the Prophet ﷺ.” – Sahih al-Bukhari
• Anas bin Malik narrated that: The Messenger of Alllah ﷺ said: “(Real) Patience is at the first stroke of the calamity.” – Tirmidhi
• Anas bin Malik narrated that : Allah’s Messengerﷺ said: “The supplication made between the Adhan and Iqamah is not rejected.” -Tirmidhi

The Prophet’s Duʿāʾ for Him

The Prophet ﷺ made a special supplication for Anas (RA):

“O Allah, increase his wealth and children, and prolong his life, and forgive him.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1982; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2481).

Anas (RA) later said: “By Allah, I have buried over one hundred of my children and grandchildren, and I have a garden which produces fruit twice a year. I hope for Allah’s forgiveness through the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1982).

His Piety and Teaching

During the time of the khilafah of Abu bakr RA and Umar RA , Anas spent all his time in Basra, teaching the likes of Qatadah, Thabit al-Bunani, al-Zuhri, Hasan Al Basari and many more, RA

He was known for his humility. Once he wept when remembering the Prophet ﷺ and said: “Nothing remains of what I used to know from the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ except the prayer, and even that you have neglected.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 530).

During the turbulent years of fitnah in Islam, Anas RA was courageous in the face of the Tyrant Hajjaj. He was not directly involved with any side of the conflict and spent all his tim ein spreading the knowledge he gained from Prophet ﷺ but he was not the one to keep silent when he saw any transgression. Hajjaj defamed the severed head of Prophet’s ﷺ beloved grandson Hussain RA, in front of Anas RA.

Anas RA rebuked him by saying :

This head looks like the head of the Prophet PBUH.

Hajjaj saw this as an offense and branded his neck and hands and confiscated all his property. He was publicly humiliated and disrespected.

But nothing could deter Anas RA from speaking up against tyranny.

• Anas wrote a letter to the Abd-Al_Malik, the Ummayad Caliph, informing him of the injustice he had suffered.
• The caliph, in turn, ordered Hajjaj to return Anas’s property and apologize to him.

His Death

Despite his long life, Anas (RA) never forgot the Prophet ﷺ, saying in his old age: “There is not a single night that passes except I see my beloved ﷺ in my dream.” (Ibn Sa‘d, Tabaqāt).

Anas ibn Mālik (RA) passed away in Basra around 93 AH, being the last of the Companions who had directly served the Prophet ﷺ. With his death, a living link to the Prophet ﷺ’s household ended, but his narrations remain a vital source of the Sunnah for the Ummah

He was buried in al-Basrah, and his funeral was attended by a large gathering (Ibn Saʿd 7/23).

His Legacy

Anas ibn Mālik (RA) was:

• The servant of the Prophet ﷺ for a decade.
• A narrator of over 2,200 hadiths.
• A witness to the daily life and character of the Prophet ﷺ.
• Honored by the Prophet’s duʿāʾ for wealth, children, and forgiveness.
• One of the last companions to die in Basrah, linking the next generation to the Prophet ﷺ.

His life is a model of devotion, humility, and love for the Prophet ﷺ.