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Returning to Makkah in haste after a trading trip to Syria, Talhah asked his
family: "Did anything happen in Makkah since we left?" "Yes," they replied.
"Muhammad ibn Abdullah emerged alleging that he is a Prophet and Abu Quhafah
(Abu Bakr) has followed him."
"I used to know Abu Bakr," said Talhah. "He is an easy-going, amiable, gentle
man. He was an honest and upright trader. We were quite fond of him and loved
sitting in his company because of his knowledge of Quraysh history and
genealogy."
Later, Talhah went to Abu Bakr 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 in turn told Abu Bakr 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 was astonished by the story and took Talhah to Muhammad. 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 his
conversation with the ascetic of Busra. There and then, Talhah pronounced the
Shahadah - 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.
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 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. The following story is
related by Masud ibn Kharash:
"While I was making saiy between as-Safa and al-Marwa, there appeared a crowd
of people pushing a young man whose hands were tied behind his back. As they
rushed behind him, they rained down blows on his head. In the crowd was an old
woman who lashed him repeatedly and shouted abuses at him. I asked: 'What's the
matter with this young man?' 'This is Talhah ibn Ubaydullah. He gave up his
religion and now follows the Banu Hashim man.' 'And who is the woman behind
him?' I asked. 'She is as-Sabah bint al-Hadrami, the young man's mother,' they
said.
The Quraysh did not stop there. Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid, nicknamed the 'lion of
the Quraysh" bound Talhah with a rope and with the same rope he tied up Abu Bakr
and then handed them over to the mindless and violent mob of Makkah to be beaten
and tortured. The shared experience no doubt drew Talhah and Abu Bakr closer
together!
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 God and
His Prophet. 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
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 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 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 god," shouted Talhah.
"No, stick to your position," replied the Prophet. A man from the Ansar
volunteered and the Prophet agreed. He fought until he was killed. The Prophet
went further up the mountain with the mushrikin still in close pursuit. "Isn't
there someone to combat these?"
Talhah again volunteered but the Prophet ordered him to maintain his
position. Another person immediately came forward, fought and was killed. This
happened until all who stood by the Prophet were martyred except Talhah.
"Now, yes," signalled the Prophet 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 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. About this occasion Abu Bakr said:
"At that moment, Abu Ubayd ibn al-Jarrah and I were far from the Prophet.
When we came close to him to render assistance to him, the Prophet said: 'Leave
me and go to your companion (meaning Talhah)."
There was Talhah, bleeding profusely. He had numerous wounds, from sword,
spear and arrow. His foot had been cut and he had fallen into a hollow where he
lay unconscious.
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 God be pleased with him,
would say: "That day, that entire day, belonged to Talhah."
That was the story of how Talhah became to be called the "living martyr".
There were unnumerabIe incidents which led to him being called "Talhah the Good"
and "Talhah the Generous".
Talhah 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.
His nights would be anxious and worried on account of this vast wealth. On one
such night, his wife, Umm Kulthum the daughter of Abu Bakr, said to him:
"What's wrong with you, O father of Muhammad? Perhaps I have done something
to hurt you.'?" "No ," replied Talhah. "You are a wonderful wife for a Muslim
man. But I have been thinking since last night: How can a man think of his Lord
and Sustainer when he goes to sleep with this wealth in his house?"
"Why should it bother you so much ," remarked Umm Kulthum. "What about all
the needy ones in your community and all your friends? When you get up in the
morning share it out among them."
"God bless you. You are really marvellous, the daughter of a marvellous man,"
said Talhah to his wife. In the morning, Talhah gathered up the money in bags
and distributed it among the poor Muhajirin and Ansar.
It is related that a man came up to Talhah requesting help and also
mentioning some common family connection between them.
"This family connection someone has mentioned to me before," said Talhah who
was in fact known for his generosity to all members of his clan. Talhah told the
man that he had just sold a piece of land to Uthman ibn Affan for several
thousand dirhams. The man could have the money or the land which could be
re-purchased from Uthman. The man opted for the money and Talhah gave it all to
him.
Talhah was well-known for helping persons who had debt problems, heads of
families who experienced hardship, and widows. One of his friends, as-Saib ibn
Zayd, said of him: "I accompanied Talhah ibn Ubaydallah on journeys and I stayed
with him at home and I have not found anyone who was more generous with money,
with clothes and with food than Talhah."
No wonder he was called "Talhah the Good" and "Talhah the Generous".
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 was persuaded to accept the responsibility of the Caliphate and all
Muslims swore allegiance to him, including Talhah and Zubayr ibn al-Awwam.
Talhah and Zubayr were deeply shocked by the murder of Uthman. 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.
Talhah and Zubayr sought Ali's permission to go to Makkah to perform Umrah.
They met Aishah the wife of the Prophet. She was greatly shocked when she heard
of the assassination of Uthman. From Makkah, Talhah, Zubayr and Aishah set off
for Basrah where large numbers were gathering to seek revenge for the death of
Uthman.
The forces gathered at Basrah seemed to present an open challenge to Ali. As
the caliph of the Muslims and the head of the entire Muslim State, he could not
tolerate any insurrection or armed revolt against the State. But what a
difficult and awesome task he faced! To deal with the revolt, he had to confront
his brothers, his companions and his friends-followers of the Prophet and his
religion, those who often fought side by side with him against the forces of
shirk, those whom he respected and loved.
The forces clamoring for vengeance for Uthman and those supporting Ali met at
a place called Kuraybah, near Basrah. Ali desired to avoid war and settle
matters by peaceful means. He used every means at his disposal to achieve peace.
He clung to every hope of avoiding confrontation. But the dark forces at work
against Islam and how numerous were these, were determined that matters should
come to a terrible and bloody end.
Ali wept. He wept bitterly when he saw Aishah, the "Mother of the Believers"
in her hawdaj or palanquin astride a camel at the head of the army which now
emerged to fight him. And when he saw Talhah and Zubayr, two close companions of
the Prophet, in the midst of the army, he shouted to them to come out to him.
They did and Ali said to Talhah:
"O Talhah, have you come with the wife of the Messenger of Allah to fight
along with her...?" And to Zubayr he said:
"O Zubayr, I implore you, by God, do you remember the day when the Prophet.
peace be on him, passed by you and we were in such and such a place and he asked
you: 'Do you love Ali?' and you said: 'Why shouldn't I love my cousin and one
who follows my religion...?'"
Ali continued talking to them reminding them of the bonds of brotherhood and
faith. In the end both Talhah and Zubayr 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 and cowardly
murdered him while he performed Salat. Talhah was killed by an arrow allegedly
shot by Marwan - a cousin of Uthman who was too blinded by rage and the desire
to seek revenge for his kinsman to respond to the possibility of avoiding war
and bloodshed among Muslims.
The murder of Uthman 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.
He was simply appalled by the murder of Uthman and wanted to see justice done.
Before the beginning of the battle he had said in a voice choked with emotion:
"O Lord, for the sake of Uthman, take from me this day until You are
pleased." Then when Ali faced him and Zubayr, they saw the correctness of his
position and withdrew from the field of battle. Yet, in these difficult
circumstances, martyrdom was reserved for them.
The Battle of Camel came to an end. Aishah, the mother of the believers,
realized that she had precipitated matters and left Basrah for the Sacred Mosque
and then to Madinah distancing herself from the conflict. Ali provided well for
her journey giving her all the comfort and honor due to her.
When the numerous dead from the battle were brought together, Ali 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 and Zubayr 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 God has said: 'And We shall
remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury and rancor; 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!"
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