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The Islamic Bulletin
Volume I No. 1
Page 6
ram to deliver lectures. One of those present on the occa-
sion was Dada Dharm Adhikari. He posed an intriguing
question: “Swamiji, you have studied many religions of the
world. Which one do you find the best for man?” I replied:
“Islam.” “But”, he said, “Islam is a very much tied up reli-
gion.” I replied: “The very one that is considered free, ties
down man to continual slavery. Man is in need of a religion
that has remained ‘tied-up’, a religion that keeps man under
restraints in this world life, but sets him free in the world
hereafter. In my opinion, it is Islam alone that qualifies to be
the best religion.”
Q: As a soldier of Islam, what message would you like to
convey to the Muslims of the world?
A: It is my solemn request to the Muslim world that they
should constantly keep in view and fulfill the conditions
laid down by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) for walking across
the river of this world so as to reach safely its other side. If
they make the slightest deviation, they are bound to drown
themselves in the river, never to be rescued. There is still
time for the Muslims to concentrate their vision on the
right point. If they act so, they shall, Almighty willing, be
crowned with success in all that they do.
S
tories of
the
sahabah
The Martyrdom of Sahabah Anas bin Nadhr (R.A.A.)
Anas bin Nadhr (raa) was one of the Sahabahs who had
missed the great campaign of Badr. He very much regretted
to have missed the honor of participating in the first and
the most illustrious battle for Islam. He longed for a chance
wherein he could make amends for Badr. He did not have
to wait for long. The battle of Uhud came about in the fol-
lowing year. He joined the army with the most determined
zeal. Despite heavy odds, the Muslims were gaining the upper
hand, when some people made a blunder and the Muslims had
to suffer a reverse.
The Prophet (pbuh) had posted a band of fifty archers to guard
a pass in the rear against the enemy cavalry. They had definite
instructions not to move from their positions until further or-
ders from him. But when the Archers saw the Muslims gaining
victory and the enemy in full flight, they left their positions
believing that the battle was over and it was time to join in the
pursuit and get on to the booty. The leader of the band tried
his utmost to check them by reminding them of the Prophet’s
command and he also tried to solicit them to stay on, but no
more than ten archers listened to him, while the others argued
that the orders were given by the Prophet (pbuh) only for the
duration of the actual fight. The enemy cavalry then noticed
the unguarded pass in the rear, made a flank movement and
forced a passage through it.
The Muslims who were pre-occupied with the booty were
caught unguarded. In such a state of affairs Anas (raa) saw
Sa’ad bin Ma’az (raa) passing in front of him. He shouted to
him: “O, Sa’ad! Where are you going? By Alllah! I smell the
fragrance of Paradise coming from Mount Uhud.” Saying this,
he threw himself into the very thick of the enemy and fought
till he met his martyrdom. After the battle, it was found that
his body had been mauled and mutilated to such an extent
that only his sister could identify him and that barely from the
finger tips. No less than eighty wounds of arrows and swords
were counted on his body.
Those who strive in the Path of The Almighty with sincerity
and devotion taste the pleasure of Paradise even in this world.
This tradition has a number of advantages. Among these, one
is to seek Allah’s mercy and help during trials and tribulations
and to make one’s good and pious deed as an agent for secur-
ing the same; another point is the high merit of service to
parents.
The importance and virtues of chastity, fulfillment of pledge,
return of trust and fair consideration in dealings are also
among good deeds of great merit according to this tradition.
Finally, the sincerity and honesty are of equal importance. In
short, according to Islamic incentive for all good work should
only be the compliance of Allah’s Orders without the anticipa-
tion for any worldly gains, in term of ostentation, publicity or
monetary gains.