Mu'jam al-Saghir

Hadith Commentary:
A period of ten years is quite long, yet throughout this entire duration, Anas radi Allahu anhu was never scolded, threatened, or addressed harshly by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
This is evidence of his excellent character, and indeed, it is a fact that no one more gentle-hearted and well-mannered than him has ever been born in this world.
May Allah send thousands upon thousands of blessings and peace upon this beloved Messenger.
Ameen, thumma ameen.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
A period of ten years is quite long, yet during this time, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) never scolded Anas (radi Allahu anhu), nor did he ever speak harshly to him. This is a clear proof of his excellent character, and in reality, there has never been anyone in the world more gentle-hearted, cheerful, and pleasant in speech than him.

(2)
This hadith demonstrates the moral greatness of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), but he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) never showed leniency in religious matters, because these matters pertain to enjoining good and forbidding evil (amr bil ma‘ruf wa nahi ‘anil munkar). In any case, he would always treat his servants with kindness and encourage them.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Anas radi Allahu anhu was under the guardianship of his mother, Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha. She considered it a blessing that her son should serve the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam day and night, as this entailed goodness in both this world and the Hereafter. With this motivation, she presented Anas radi Allahu anhu for the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and at that time her esteemed husband, Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu, was also with her. Therefore, sometimes the incident is attributed to the mother and sometimes to her husband, Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu.

(2)
Another similar incident is also narrated, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu while going to Khaybar: "Find a child for me who can serve me during the journey," so he presented Anas radi Allahu anhu. (Fath al-Bari: 12/316) In any case, it is permissible to take service from slaves and children; there is no harm in this. However, teachers in madrasahs should refrain from taking service from children, because this is an age of trials and corruption.

Hadith Commentary:
Abu Talhah, who was the stepfather of Anas radi Allahu anhu, dedicated him to the service of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was setting out for a military expedition. From this, the objective of the chapter is established.

Anas radi Allahu anhu is truly deserving of a hundred congratulations, for he had the opportunity to serve the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam for a full ten years, both during travel and at home. He closely observed the noble character of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and until the Day of Judgment, he will remain remembered in the world as the servant of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (radi Allahu anhu wa ardah).

This Abu Talhah is Zayd ibn Sahl al-Ansari, the husband of Umm Sulaym (the mother of Anas).

All the narrators of this hadith are from Basra, as Qastallani has stated.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
From this hadith, it is understood that when an orphan possesses the ability to serve, it is permissible to take him along on a journey.
Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu was the stepfather of Anas radi Allahu anhu because he had married his mother, Umm Sulaym radi Allahu anha.
Anas radi Allahu anhu was ten years old when he was dedicated to the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and then for ten years, he had the opportunity to serve the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in both travel and residence.
He closely observed the noble character of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and until the Day of Judgment, he will be recognized as the servant of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
When Anas radi Allahu anhu passed away, he was over one hundred years old.
(2)
The details of Anas radi Allahu anhu becoming a servant are as follows: his mother, Umm Sulaym, presented him for the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Sawm, Hadith: 1982)
Then, Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu, with her permission, selected him to serve the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam during the journey to the Battle of Khaybar.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Jihad wa’l-Siyar, Hadith: 2893)

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: (1)
Allah, the Exalted, has hands, but just as it is not possible to know the reality of His Essence, it is also not possible to know the modality of His hands. However, it is necessary to affirm that they are befitting and appropriate to His majesty, and are not like those of the creation. Therefore, there is no need for interpretation (ta’wil) or likening (tashbih).

(2)
Spending in permissible and correct avenues becomes a cause for receiving from Allah, the Exalted, as Allah says:
﴿وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ﴾ “Whatever you spend of anything, He will replace it.” This has been mentioned in a hadith qudsi as follows:
“O son of Adam, spend, I will spend on you.”
Therefore, one should not refrain from spending in avenues of goodness and righteous deeds.
The constriction and expansion of provision, as well as honor, humiliation, rise, and fall—all are in His control alone; these are not in the control of people themselves.

Benefits and Issues:
Some young children are such that if they are given encouragement and confidence in their tasks, their practical lives become very successful in this way.
However, not all children are so intelligent or very sensible; to teach them manners, some degree of reprimand is also necessary.
Hazrat Anas radi Allahu anhu was among the former type of children; despite being a child, he never gave the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam any reason for complaint, and the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was the embodiment of compassion and mercy.
He always treated Hazrat Anas radi Allahu anhu with kindness and affection.

Benefits and Issues:
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was a magnificent example of forbearance and noble character, and he was thoroughly aware of the psychology of children.
Furthermore, Anas (radi Allahu anhu) also never gave the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) any occasion that would have been burdensome or disagreeable to his temperament and disposition.