Talhah
ibn Ubaydullah RA
-------------------------
Returning to Makkah in haste after a trading trip to Syria,
Talhah RA 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 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 Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam 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 Alyhi 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!" |