Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "

The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding his uncle Anas ibn al-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him), that Anas was not with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) — I mean Anas ibn al-Nadr — at Badr. This was because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set out for the expedition of Badr not intending to fight, but only to intercept the Quraysh caravan. With him were only three hundred and a few men, along with seventy camels and horses that took turns riding them. Many of the Companions stayed behind because it was not an expedition for battle and no one had been called to it; only the light-footed among the people went out. Anas ibn al-Nadr said to the Prophet (may prayer and peace be upon him), making it clear to him that he had not been present with him in the first battle in which he fought the polytheists, and he said "By Allah, if I encounter a battle, Allah will surely see what I do". When Uhud came, which was a year and a month after the expedition of Badr, the people went out and fought with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The victory was with the Muslims at the beginning of the day, but when the archers left the position where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had placed them and descended from the mountain, the polytheists' cavalry charged the Muslims from behind, mixed with them, and the Muslims were routed. When the Muslims were routed, Anas ibn al-Nadr (may Allah be pleased with him) advanced and said "O Allah, I seek Your pardon for what these people have done", meaning his companions, and "I disavow You of what these people have done", meaning the polytheists. Then he (may Allah be pleased with him) advanced, and Sa'd ibn Mu'adh met him. He asked him where he was going, and he said "O Sa'd, I truly smell the scent of Paradise from beyond Uhud". O Allah, this is from Your grace. This was a real perception, not an imagination or illusion. But it was a karamah (a miracle granted to a righteous person) from Allah for this man that he smelled the scent of Paradise before he was martyred (may Allah be pleased with him), so that he would advance and not hold back. So he advanced and fought, and he was killed (may Allah be pleased with him); he was martyred. We found eighty-odd wounds on him, between sword cuts, spear thrusts, or arrow shots, until his skin was torn apart. No one recognized him except his sister, who recognized him by his finger (may Allah be pleased with him). So the Muslims thought that Allah had revealed this verse concerning him and those like him: . And there is no doubt that he and those like him (may Allah be pleased with them) enter into this verse in a primary sense, for they were true to the covenant they made with Allah. Anas said "By Allah, Allah will surely see what I do". So he did, and he performed a deed that no one performs except one upon whom Allah has bestowed such a gift, until he was martyred. In this, or in this hadith, is a witness to the chapter, which is the striving of a person against himself to obey Allah. For Anas ibn al-Nadr strove against himself with this great striving, so that he advanced after the Muslims were routed and defeat set in, fighting the enemies of Allah until he was killed a martyr (may Allah be pleased with him). And Allah grants success.