Abdullah Sert Hocaefendi, in his readings of al-Shifāʾ al-Sharīf, relates how the supplication the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made for Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) at the request of Umm Sulaym brought blessing to his life.
These special moments in the life of Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) demonstrate the effect of supplications (dua, supplication) on life.
The Supplication the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Made for Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)
The mother of Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him), Umm Sulaym, said to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him):
“O Messenger of Allah! My son Anas is your servant. Pray for him!”
Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah also made the following supplication:
“O Allah! Grant Anas abundant wealth and offspring, and bless them for him!”
The Narration and Details of the Event
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this event as follows: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) came to our house to visit my mother, Umm Sulaym. My mother offered him oil and dates. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Put your oil in its skin and your dates in their container; I am fasting.”
Afterwards, he went to a corner of the house and performed supererogatory prayer. Anas and his family also joined him in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for Umm Sulaym and her family. Umm Sulaym, his mother, said:
“O Messenger of Allah! Pray for my beloved one as well!”
When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, she replied:
“My servant Anas!” Upon this, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), wishing for him to attain all happiness in this world and the Hereafter, made the following supplication:
“O Allah! Grant Anas abundant wealth and offspring, and bless them for him!”
Anas added the following about his life: “Now I am the wealthiest among the Muslims of Medina. According to what my eldest daughter Umayya has said, by the time al-Hajjāj came to Basra (in the year 75/694), more than 120 of my children had passed away.” (Bukhārī, Ṣawm 61, no. 1982; Daʿawāt 19, 26, 46, 47, nos. 6334, 6344, 6378, 6380; Muslim, Masājid 268, no. 660; Faḍāʾil al-ṣaḥāba 141-142, nos. 2480-2481; Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, Musnad, III, 188.)
The Narration of ʿIkrima
According to the narration of ʿIkrima (d. 105/723), one of the Successor (tābiʿīn) commentators, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“By Allah, I have a great deal of wealth. Today I have more than 100 sons and grandsons.” (Muslim, Faḍāʾil al-ṣaḥāba 143, no. 2481.)
Another Narration
According to another narration, Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Today, I do not know anyone else who has attained the comfort and means that I have. With these two hands of mine, I have buried 100 of my children. My miscarried children and grandchildren are not included in this number.” (Ṭabarānī, al-Muʿjam al-kabīr (Salafī), XXV, 123, no. 300.)