Later, Talhah went to Abu Bakr RA and asked: “Is it true what they say, that Muhammad ibn Abdullah has appeared as a Prophet and that you follow him.” “Yes,” replied Abu Bakr and went on to tell Talhah about Muhammad and what a good thing it would be if he too followed him. Talhah RA in turn told Abu Bakr RA the story of his strange recent encounter with an ascetic in the market-place of Busra in Syria. The ascetic is said to have told Talhah that someone called “Ahmad” would appear in Makkah about that time and that he would be the last of the Prophets. He also told Talhah, so the story goes, that the Prophet would leave the sacred precincts of Makkah and migrate to a land of black soil, water and palm trees…
Abu Bakr RA was astonished by the story and took Talhah RA to Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. The Prophet, peace be on him, explained Islam to Talhah and recited some portions of the Quran to him. Talhah was enthusiastic. He related to the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam his conversation with the ascetic of Busra. There and then, Talhah pronounced the Shahaadah – that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He was the fourth person who had been introduced to Islam by Abu Bakr RA.
The Quraysh were astounded by the young Talhah’s acceptance of Islam. The one who was most dismayed and unhappy was his mother. She had hoped that he would one day be a leader in his community because of his noble character and his outstanding virtues. Some of the Quraysh, anxious and worried, went to Talhah RA as soon as they could to wean him away from his new religion but found him firm and unshakable as a rock. When they despaired of using gentle persuasion to achieve their aim, they resorted to persecution and violence.
Years passed and events of great significance took place. Talhah grew in stature as he bore the pain and suffering of being tested in the path of Allah and His Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam. He gained the unique reputation among Muslims of being called the “living martyr”. The Prophet, peace be on him, also called him “Talhah the Good” and “Talhah the Generous”.
The name of the “living martyr” was earned during the Battle of Uhud. Talhah RA had missed the Battle of Badr. He and Said ibn Zayd had been sent outside Madinah on a mission by the Prophet and when they returned, the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam and his companions were already on the way back from Badr. They were both sad at having missed the opportunity of taking part in the first campaign with the Prophet but were tremendously pleased when he told them they would get the same reward as those who actually fought.
At the Battle of Uhud, when the Muslims fell into disarray at the beginning of hostilities the Prophet became dangerously exposed. There were about eleven men of the Ansar at his side and one Muhajir – Talhah ibn Ubaydullah. The Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam clambered up the mountain hotly pursued by some Mushrikin. The Prophet, peace be on him, shouted: “The one who repulses these people from us will be my companion in Paradise.” “I, O Messenger of Allah,” shouted Talhah RA. After three attempts Rasulullah SAW said “Now, yes,” and Talhah went into battle. By this time, the Prophet’s teeth had been broken, his forehead had been slashed, his lips had been wounded and blood was streaming down his face. He was drained of energy. Talhah plunged into the enemy and pushed them away from the Prophet. He turned back to the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam and helped him a little further up the mountain and put him to lie on the ground. He then renewed his attack and successfully repulsed the enemy.
Thereafter, the Prophet, peace be on him, said: “Whoever is pleased to see a man still walking on earth who had completed his span (of life), let him look at Talhah ibn Ubaydallah.” And, whenever Uhud was recalled, As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, would say: “That day, that entire day, belonged to Talhah.” That was the story of how Talhah RA became to be called the “living martyr”. There were innumerable incidents which led to him being called “Talhah the Good” and “Talhah the Generous”.
Talhah RA was an astute and successful merchant who travelled widely to the north and south of the Arabian Peninsula. It is said that after one of his trips to Hadramawt, he had profits amounting to some seven hundred thousand dirhams.
The name Talhah is also connected with the first Fitnah or civil war among Muslims after the death of the prophet, peace be on him. The seeds of trouble were sown during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan. There were many complaints and accusations against him. Some mischief-makers were not content with accusations only but were determined to finish him off. In the year 35 AH (656 CE) a group of insurgents stormed Uthman’s house and murdered him while he was reading the Quran. It was one of the most shocking events in the early history of Islam. Ali RA was persuaded to accept the responsibility of the Caliphate and all Muslims swore allegiance to him, including Talhah and Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. Talhah RA and Zubayr RA were deeply shocked by the murder of Uthman RA. They were horrified and felt strongly that the murderers should be punished and that justice should be done. But the punishment of the murderers was not an easy task in as much as the crime was not just the work of a few individuals but involved a large number of persons.
In the end both Talhah RA and Zubayr RA withdrew from participation in this civil war. They withdrew immediately when they saw the situation in a different light. But they paid for that withdrawal with their lives. As they withdrew, a man named Amr ibn Jarmouz followed Zubayr RA and cowardly murdered him while he performed Salaah. Talhah RA was killed by an arrow. The murder of Uthman RA had become Talhah’s tryst with destiny. He did not participate in the fighting and killing that followed that came to be known in history as the “Battle of the Camel”. Indeed, if he had known that the Fitnah would have degenerated into such insane hatred and bitterness and resulted in such a bloody outcome, he would have resisted it. He was not keen to fight Ali RA. He was simply appalled by the murder of Uthman RA and wanted to see justice done.
When the numerous dead from the battle were brought together, Ali RA led the funeral prayer for them all, those who were with him and those who were against him. And when he had finished burying Talhah RA and Zubayr RA he bade farewell to them with a heavy heart, a heart filled with tenderness and love. “I really hope,” he said in simple and sublime words, “that Talhah, az-Zubayr, Uthman and I will be among those of whom Allah has said: ‘And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury and rancour; they will be brothers joyfully facing each other on thrones of dignity.’ “(The Quran, Surah al-Hijr, 15:47) Then he looked tenderly and sorrowfully on the graves of his brothers in faith and said: “I have heard with these two ears of mine the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying: “Talhah and az-Zubayr are my companions in Paradise!”
0 Comments