(The Life of Ummu Sulaim [radhiyallahu ‘anha] #3)
As seen previously, Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had great concern for the Deen of her son, Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). It was on account of this concern that she had risked the wrath of her husband and made her son recite the kalimah, entering him into the fold of Islam.
It was this same motherly concern for the Deen and upbringing of her son that prompted Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) to take Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), when he (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was still a young boy of ten years, and ask Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to accept him as a khaadim (special attendant).
Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions, “When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) arrived in Madeenah Munawwarah, my mother took me to him. She used half her scarf to clothe the lower half of my body, and the other half to make a shawl for the upper half of my body.
When we came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), she said, ‘O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! The other men and women of the Ansaar have given you gifts. I do not have anything to give you besides my son, Unais (small Anas). I brought him to you so that he may serve you. Thus, accept him from me so that he may serve you for as long as you wish, and make du‘aa for him.’
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) therefore made du‘aa for me saying, ‘O Allah! Grant him abundant wealth and children!’ By Allah! My wealth is indeed abundant, and my children and grandchildren are almost a hundred in total.”
(Saheeh Muslim #6376 and Majma‘uz Zawaaid #1494)
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also made du‘aa for the forgiveness of Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and for him to enjoy a lengthy life. Hence, it is reported that Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) lived for approximately ninety-nine to one hundred and seven years. (Fat-hul Baari vol. 11, pg. 174)
In another narration, Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to Madeenah Munawwarah when I was ten years old, and he left the world when I was twenty years old. My ‘mother and aunt’ (Ummu Haraam [radhiyallahu ‘anha]) would constantly urge and encourage me to serve Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” (Saheeh Muslim #5290)
On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) visited the home of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha). In her eagerness to honour Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) as a blessed guest and entertain him, Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) immediately presented him with dates and ghee. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Return your ghee to its vessel, and your dates to its container, for I am fasting.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter stood in a corner of the home and performed nafl salaah, after which he made du‘aa for Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and her family.
Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) then said to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I have a special request!” When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) enquired as to what it was, she replied, “(A special du‘aa for) your khaadim (attendant), Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).” At her request, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made a special du‘aa for Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) describes this du‘aa and its acceptance saying, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) neither left any goodness of the Hereafter or this world, except that he made du‘aa for me to be blessed with it. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said in his du‘aa, ‘O Allah! Bless him with wealth and children, and grant him barakah (blessings) in it.’ I am thus among those Ansaar who possess the most wealth.”
Furthermore, due to the special du‘aa that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made for him to have abundant children, it is reported that before Hajjaaj bin Yusuf came to Basrah (in the year 75 A.H. when Anas [radhiyallahu ‘anhu] was over eighty years old), Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had already buried more than one hundred and twenty of his own children (not grandchildren)!
(Saheeh Bukhaari #1982 and Fat-hul Baari vol. 4, pg. 287)
Abul ‘Aaliyah (rahimahullah) has mentioned that Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had an orchard that would bear fruit twice in the year (whereas the norm is that trees bear fruit once a year, during season), and there was sweet basil in his orchard from which the fragrance of musk could be perceived. (Sunan Tirmizi #3833)
Lesson:
Every mother wants the very best for her child. However, not every mother knows what is truly best for her child. Hence, many mothers place all emphasis on their son’s or daughter’s secular education, thinking this to be the key to securing a bright future.
Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) correctly understood that there could be no greater investment for her son than for him to be placed in the blessed company and service of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Her wisdom and foresight in this regard undoubtedly paid off, as Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), on account of his mother’s efforts, enjoyed the exclusive du‘aa of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), which benefited him in this world and the next.
Similarly, every mother should aspire for her child to be blessed with the opportunity to spend time in the company of the pious rightly guided ‘Ulama and in the service of Deen, as it is hoped that he will win their coveted du‘aas. Furthermore, this environment will have a positive effect on the child and will be a means of barakah for him.