O Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh, the Paradise, by the Lord of the Ka‘bah, I smell the fragrance of Paradise near Mount Uhud

Explanation

Anas ibn Mālik recounts that his paternal uncle Anas ibn An-Nadr was not with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the battle of Badr, because the Prophet had not come out with the intention to fight, rather wanted to target the trade caravan of Quraysh. There were only three hundred-odd men with him, with seventy camels and horses that they took turn riding. Many of the companions remained behind because no one was summoned to battle, and a very small number of men went out with the Prophet. Anas ibn An-Nadr said to the Prophet that he did not witness the battle of Badr with him in his first fight against the polytheists, and that: "If Allah gives me a chance to fight them, no doubt, Allah will show how (bravely) I will fight." Then when the battle of Uhud took place, one year and one month after the battle of Badr, the Muslims marched out to fight with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Muslims were in the winning position in the beginning of the battle, however, later on, when the polytheists were retreating and showing defeat, some of the archers left their assigned posts which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them not to leave without receiving a command. As a result, the Muslim army was vulnerably exposed and the polytheists attacked them from behind. Some Muslims fled while others remained and fought. Anas ibn An-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him) advanced towards the polytheists, saying: "O Allah, I apologize to You for what these have done," meaning his companions who had fled; "and I denounce what these have done", meaning the polytheists who fought the Prophet and his companions. As he advanced, he passed by Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh who asked him: "Where are you going?" Anas said: "O Sa‘d, I really smell the fragrance of Paradise near Mount Uhud." He literally smelt the fragrance of Paradise. He was not imagining it. This was part of Allah's favor on that man who smelled the fragrance of Paradise before he was martyred, which motivated him to go forward, not to retreat like others, until he was eventually killed. Sa‘d later said: "O Messenger of Allah, what he did was beyond my power", meaning that he exerted an effort in fighting that Sa‘d was not capable of. Over eighty wounds were found on his body caused by the strikes of swords, spears and arrows, to the extent that his skin was severely damaged and no one was able to identify him except his sister who recognized him from his fingers. The Muslims believed that Allah revealed the following verse about him and those who resemble him: {Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration} [Sūrat al-Ahzāb: 23]. There is no doubt that Sa‘d and those who are like him (may Allah be pleased with them) are primarily intended by this verse, because they indeed were truthful regarding their covenant with Allah. Anas ibn An-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "If Allah gives me a chance to fight them, no doubt, Allah will see how (bravely) I will fight." He, indeed, did that! He fought like no one else could except he whom Allah favored with what He favored Anas until he won martyrdom.