What Do We Learn from the Prophet’s Treatment of Anas Ibn Malik?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Question
What do we learn from the Prophet’s treatment of Anas Ibn Malik?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
Our master Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him), the noble Companion who served the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) for ten years, experienced many lessons and wisdoms that every Muslim, in general, and every educator, in particular, should learn from and apply in their lives.
Among these lessons, we learn the importance of gentleness, kindness, and mercy in dealing with servants, employees, those under our responsibility, and our children—especially the young ones. We also learn to consider their need for permissible play and amusement, and to engage in playful banter with them. Additionally, we learn to train our children to bear responsibilities, perform tasks, and keep secrets.
Moreover, we understand the significance of not neglecting to pray for their preservation, understanding, provision, longevity, and other prayers that encompass the blessings of this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows best.
Explanation and Details
Before answering the question, we must begin with a brief biography of this noble Companion, our master Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him and grant him satisfaction)
Biography of Anas Ibn Malik
He is Anas Ibn Malik Ibn Nadr al-Ansari al-Khazraji from Banu Najjar. He was the servant of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and was proud of that, and he was nicknamed Abu Hamza. His mother was Umm Sulaym Bint Milhan.
He went out with the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) to Badr when he was a boy serving him. He was ten years old when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) came to Madina as a migrant, and it is said he was nine or eight years old.
Zuhri narrated that he (Anas Ibn Malik) said: “The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) arrived in Madina when I was ten years old, and he passed away when I was twenty years old.”
He was one of the Companions who narrated many hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), having narrated 2,286 hadiths.
There is a difference in the time of his death; it is said he died in 93 AH, and his age was precisely 103 years. He was the last of the Companions to die in Basra and was buried near it. [Jazari, Asad al-Ghaba]
What Do We Learn from the Prophet’s Treatment of Anas Ibn Malik?
After this necessary introduction, we return to answering the question: What do we learn from the Prophet’s treatment of Anas Ibn Malik?
First
We learn gentleness and kindness in dealing with servants, employees, and others under our responsibility:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) said:
“I have never touched silk or velvet softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), nor have I smelled a scent sweeter than the scent of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). I served the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) for ten years, and he never said to me ‘Uff’ (an expression of annoyance), nor did he ever say to me about anything I had done, ‘Why did you do that?’ or about anything I had not done, ‘Why did you not do such-and-such?’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
In another narration, he said: “I served the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) for nine years, and I never knew him to say to me about anything I did, ‘Why did you do that?’ nor did he ever criticize me for anything.” [Muslim]
Second
We learn gentleness, kindness, and mercy in dealing with children, especially considering their need for play.
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) says:
“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was one of the best people in character. He sent me one day for a need, and I said: ‘By Allah, I will not go,’ but in my heart, I intended to go where the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) had ordered me to go. I went out and passed by some boys playing in the market. Suddenly, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) caught me by the neck from behind. I looked at him and he was smiling. He said: ‘O Unays (Anas), did you go where I commanded you to go?’ I said: ‘Yes, I am going, O Messenger of Allah.’” [Ibid.]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would often joke with him, saying: “O you with two ears.” [Jazari, Asad al-Ghaba]
Third
We learn to train children to bear responsibilities, be trustworthy, and keep secrets:
Thabit narrated that Anas (Allah be pleased with him) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) came to me while I was playing with some boys. He greeted us and sent me on an errand. I was delayed because of my mother. When I returned, she asked: ‘What kept you?’ I said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) sent me on an errand.’ She asked: ‘What was his need?’ I said: ‘It is a secret.’ She said: ‘Do not tell the secret of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) to anyone.’ Anas said: ‘By Allah, if I were to tell anyone, I would have told you, O Thabit.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) also said:
“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) came to Madina when I was eight years old. My mother took my hand and brought me to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is no man or woman among the Ansar but has given you a gift, and I have nothing to give you except my son. Take him to serve you as long as you wish.’ I served the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) for ten years. He never hit me, insulted me, or frowned at me. The first thing he advised me was:
‘O my son, keep my secret, and you will be a believer.’
My mother and the wives of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would ask me about the secret of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), but I would not tell them. I will never disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) to anyone.” [Abu Ya‘la]
Fourth
Praying for children’s blessings in wealth, offspring, lifespan, and other blessings.
Qatada reported that Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Umm Sulaym said to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), ‘Anas is your servant; pray to Allah for him.’ He said: ‘O Allah, increase his wealth and offspring, and bless him in what You give him.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]
From his progeny (Allah be pleased with him), he had eighty male descendants and two daughters. When he died, he had a total of 120 children and grandchildren.
These are the key lessons we learn from the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) treatment of Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him).
Conclusion
Know that we must reflect and contemplate the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) treatment of his Companions, especially the youth among them. We should strive to apply these lessons and educational methods in our lives, particularly in our interactions with our sons and daughters. We ask Allah (Most High) to protect our children and yours, and the children of all Muslims, and to make them a source of joy, guidance, and benefit to the world. Amin.
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
