Imam, Mufti, Qur'an Reciter, Hadith Narrator, Abu Hamza Al-Ansari Al-Khazraji Al-Najjari Al-Madani, the servant and relative of Allah's Messenger ﷺ through women, his student, follower, and the last of his companions to pass away. May Allah be pleased with him.
His Name, Lineage, and Birth
Anas Ibn Malik Ibn Al-Nadr Ibn Dhamdham Ibn Zayd Ibn Haram Ibn Jundub Ibn ‘Amir Ibn Ghanm Ibn Malik Ibn Al-Najjar Al-Ansari Al-Nadhari. His mother was Umm Sulaym bint Milhan Ibn Khalid Ibn Zayd of Banul Najjar, and he was nicknamed Abu Hamza. His grandfather, Al-Najjar, was named Taym Allah Ibn Thalaba Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Al-Khazraj, tracing his lineage back to Qahtan. Umm Sulaym was also the mother of his brother, Al-Bara Ibn Malik. Anas Ibn Malik said, “If we are not from Al-Azd, then we are not from the Arabs,” indicating his Azd ancestry. He was born in Madinah and converted to Islam as a child. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave him the nickname Abu Hamza. He served the Prophet ﷺ in his household from the age of 10, earning the title of the Prophet's servant. The Prophet ﷺ prayed for him, saying, “O Allah! increase his wealth and offspring, and bless for him, and bring him into Paradise.” He lived a long life and was blessed with many children and grandchildren.
His Conversion to Islam and Upbringing
Anas Ibn Malik was born in Madinah during the pre-Islamic period, which was yet confined to Mecca before the Prophet ﷺ migrated. His father died shortly after the migration, upset with his wife for converting to Islam. Anas's mother took over his upbringing, teaching him the Shahada from a young age. He believed in the Prophet ﷺ even before seeing him. When the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah, Allah granted Anas the honor of accompanying and serving the Prophet ﷺ, who became like a father, teacher, and mentor to him. Anas spent ten years under the Prophet's ﷺ care, later cherishing the memories of those years throughout his life, whether traveling or staying, in health or illness, in hardship or ease. He was the Prophet's ﷺ faithful servant, serving him diligently in all his states from the time of migration until the Prophet’s ﷺ death.
Anas reported, When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to Medina, Abu Talha took hold of my hand and brought me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “Allah's Messenger, Anas is a prudent young boy.” Despite his young age, the Prophet trusted him with some of his secrets, which Anas kept even after the Prophet’s death. He loved and remained loyal to the Prophet ﷺ, always eager to follow his example.
His Participation in Jihad
Anas Ibn Malik did not participate in the battles of Badr and Uhud because of his young age but attended them as a servant of the Prophet ﷺ. He took part in the Battle of the Trench at fifteen, witnessed the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and pledged allegiance under the tree. He participated in the Battle of Khaybar and its siege. Scholars differ on his presence in the Battle of Mu'tah, but he witnessed the Battle of Hunayn. After the Prophet's ﷺ death, Anas continued his jihad, participating in the Ridda Wars, the Battle of Yamama, the conquests of Iraq, the Battle of Qadisiyyah, and the siege of Tustar. Anas Ibn Malik remained a mujahid until he passed away. He was known for his abundant worship, which did not prevent him from taking care of his appearance. He was very humble and submissive, often tearful, and deeply loved the Prophet ﷺ.
His Knowledge
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was intelligent and wise, skilled at reading and writing. He was generous, brave, an excellent archer, and deeply loved the Prophet ﷺ and his four caliphs. He transitioned from armed jihad to intellectual and scholarly jihad, becoming one of the major narrators of hadith. The Sunnah was preserved through him as he learned and memorized it directly from the Prophet ﷺ. His close association with the Prophet ﷺ and long life allowed him to teach many people. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen by Allah to be among the preservers and transmitters of the Sunnah, becoming one of the prominent hadith scholars. Only two others narrated more hadiths than him. His extensive narration was due to his close companionship with the Prophet ﷺ and his long lifespan, which gave him abundant time to teach and spread the Sunnah.
In Basra, he stayed for over sixty years, teaching the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. He trained a generation of scholars in Basra who became leading figures among the Tabi'un and had a significant impact on Islamic history. Some of his notable students include Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Muhammad ibn Sirin, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, and others.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) didn't limit himself to the hadith he directly received from the Prophet ﷺ but also narrated from many other companions. His love for the Sunnah led him to travel in search of hadith. If he heard a hadith from a Tabi'i and didn't memorize it, he would travel to the companion who narrated it from the Prophet ﷺ to learn it directly from him.
He was very cautious in narrating hadith, fearing errors. He would narrate with restraint to avoid mistakes and would conclude his narration with the name of the Prophet ﷺ. He used writing to aid his memory and would repeat his words three times to ensure his students remembered them, following the example of the Prophet ﷺ. He urged his students to apply the knowledge they learned and worked to instill confidence in them, ensuring they fully benefited from his teachings. Therefore, he became a reliable authority on the truth in Iraq, standing against corrupt ideologies and deviant beliefs. He relied heavily on his vast knowledge of the Sunnah to understand and resolve various issues. He disliked hypothetical questions about things that had not occurred, preferring not to rely on personal reasoning for deriving rulings. Instead, he leaned towards ease and facilitation in his approach.
His Death
Anas Ibn Malik passed away in Basra in the year 93 AH. This is the consensus among most scholars, though some suggest 91 or 92 AH. He was the last of the Prophet's ﷺ companions to die in Basra, Iraq, at the age of 103. He died in his palace and was buried two Parasang away from Basra. During his illness, people asked if they should call a doctor for him, but he replied, “The doctor has made me ill.” He requested to be dictated the Shahada and died saying it.
Anas Ibn Malik played a crucial role in serving the Prophet ﷺ, teaching and transmitting his Sunnah; however, he did not abandon his part in jihad. He participated in jihad alongside the Prophet and after his death, making him a diligent servant, an active teacher, and a dedicated warrior, seeking Allah's pleasure in all his endeavors. He serves as a model for those who follow in his footsteps.
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