1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:18,219 Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:22,219 to present to you vignettes from the lives of the Companions, 4 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:25,219 authored by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,219 --> 00:00:27,260 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:31,699 Abu Talhah al-Ansari, 7 00:00:31,699 --> 00:00:34,759 may Allah be pleased with him. 8 00:00:47,049 --> 00:00:49,049 Zayd ibn Sahl al-Najjari— 9 00:00:49,049 --> 00:00:51,049 known by his kunyah Abu Talhah—learned 10 00:00:51,049 --> 00:00:54,049 that al-Rumaysa' bint Milhan al-Najjariyyah, 11 00:00:54,049 --> 00:00:57,049 known by her kunyah Umm Sulaym, 12 00:00:57,049 --> 00:01:00,049 had become eligible for marriage following the death of her husband. 13 00:01:00,049 --> 00:01:03,049 He flew with joy at this news. 14 00:01:03,049 --> 00:01:05,049 And no wonder, 15 00:01:05,049 --> 00:01:09,049 for Umm Sulaym was a noble woman, chaste, dignified, 16 00:01:09,049 --> 00:01:12,049 wise, and possessed of complete virtue. 17 00:01:12,049 --> 00:01:15,049 So he resolved to hasten to propose to her 18 00:01:15,049 --> 00:01:18,049 before anyone else preceded him, 19 00:01:18,049 --> 00:01:21,049 among those who aspired to marry women like her. 20 00:01:21,049 --> 00:01:25,049 Abu Talhah was confident that Umm Sulaym 21 00:01:25,049 --> 00:01:28,049 would not prefer anyone over him among her suitors. 22 00:01:28,049 --> 00:01:31,049 For he was a man of complete manhood, 23 00:01:31,049 --> 00:01:33,049 of prominent status, 24 00:01:33,049 --> 00:01:34,049 and immense wealth. 25 00:01:34,049 --> 00:01:37,049 Moreover, he was the horseman of Banu al-Najjar 26 00:01:37,049 --> 00:01:40,049 and one of the recognized archers of Yathrib. 27 00:01:40,049 --> 00:01:43,079 Abu Talhah set off for the house of Umm Sulaym, 28 00:01:43,079 --> 00:01:46,079 and while he was on his way, 29 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:49,079 he recalled that Umm Sulaym had heard the words of 30 00:01:49,079 --> 00:01:51,079 this Meccan caller, 31 00:01:51,079 --> 00:01:52,079 Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr, 32 00:01:52,079 --> 00:01:55,079 and had believed in Muhammad and followed his religion. 33 00:01:55,079 --> 00:01:58,079 But he soon said to himself, 34 00:01:58,079 --> 00:02:00,079 "What of it? 35 00:02:00,079 --> 00:02:03,079 Was not her husband who died 36 00:02:03,079 --> 00:02:05,079 clinging to the religion of his forefathers, 37 00:02:05,079 --> 00:02:09,080 turning away from Muhammad and the call of Muhammad?" 38 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,080 Abu Talhah reached the home of Umm Sulaym 39 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,080 and asked permission to enter, 40 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,080 and she permitted him. 41 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,080 Her son Anas was present. 42 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,080 So he proposed marriage to her, 43 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,080 and she replied, 44 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,080 "Indeed, one like you, O Abu Talhah, is not turned away. 45 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,080 But I will not marry you, 46 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,080 for you are a disbelieving man." 47 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:33,210 Abu Talhah thought that Umm Sulaym was merely making excuses to refuse him, 48 00:02:33,210 --> 00:02:36,210 and that she had preferred another man over him, 49 00:02:36,210 --> 00:02:39,210 one with more wealth or a grander clan. 50 00:02:39,210 --> 00:02:41,210 So he said to her, 51 00:02:41,210 --> 00:02:45,240 "By Allah, this is not what prevents you from accepting me, O Umm Sulaym." 52 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:46,240 She said, 53 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,240 "And what prevents me then?" 54 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:50,240 He said, 55 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,240 "The yellow and the white— 56 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,240 gold and silver." 57 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:55,240 She said, 58 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,370 "Gold and silver?" 59 00:02:57,370 --> 00:02:59,370 He said, "Yes." 60 00:02:59,370 --> 00:03:00,370 She said, 61 00:03:00,370 --> 00:03:03,400 "Rather, I call you to witness, O Abu Talhah, 62 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,400 and I call Allah and His Messenger to witness, 63 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,400 that if you accept Islam, 64 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,400 I will accept you as a husband without any gold or silver, 65 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,400 and I will make your Islam my dowry." 66 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,560 As soon as Abu Talhah heard the words of Umm Sulaym, 67 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,560 his mind turned to his idol, 68 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,560 which he had fashioned from precious wood 69 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,560 and designated for himself, 70 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,560 as the chieftains of his people used to do. 71 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,560 But Umm Sulaym wanted to strike the iron 72 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,560 while it was still hot, 73 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,560 so she followed up by saying, 74 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,560 "Do you not know, O Abu Talhah, 75 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,560 that your god which you worship besides Allah 76 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,560 grew out of the earth?" 77 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,560 He said, "Yes." 78 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:46,560 She said, 79 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,560 "Do you not feel ashamed 80 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,560 to worship the trunk of a tree, 81 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,560 having made part of it your god, 82 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:57,560 while someone else made the other part fuel for himself, 83 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,659 warming himself by its fire or baking his dough upon it? 84 00:04:01,659 --> 00:04:04,659 Indeed, if you accept Islam, O Abu Talhah, 85 00:04:04,659 --> 00:04:06,659 I will accept you as a husband, 86 00:04:06,659 --> 00:04:09,659 and I desire no dowry from you other than Islam." 87 00:04:09,659 --> 00:04:11,689 He said, 88 00:04:11,689 --> 00:04:13,689 "And who will guide me to Islam?" 89 00:04:13,689 --> 00:04:14,689 She said, 90 00:04:14,689 --> 00:04:15,689 "I will guide you to it." 91 00:04:15,689 --> 00:04:17,879 He said, "How?" 92 00:04:17,879 --> 00:04:18,879 She said, 93 00:04:18,879 --> 00:04:20,879 "You utter the word of truth: 94 00:04:20,879 --> 00:04:23,879 you bear witness that there is no deity except Allah 95 00:04:23,879 --> 00:04:25,879 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; 96 00:04:25,879 --> 00:04:27,879 then you go to your house, 97 00:04:27,879 --> 00:04:30,879 smash your idol, and cast it away." 98 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:34,879 Abu Talhah's face beamed with joy, and he said, 99 00:04:34,879 --> 00:04:37,879 "I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, 100 00:04:37,879 --> 00:04:40,879 and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." 101 00:04:40,879 --> 00:04:43,910 Then he married Umm Sulaym, 102 00:04:43,910 --> 00:04:45,910 and the Muslims used to say, 103 00:04:45,910 --> 00:04:47,910 "We have never heard of a dowry 104 00:04:47,910 --> 00:04:50,910 more noble than the dowry of Umm Sulaym, 105 00:04:50,910 --> 00:04:53,910 for she made her dowry Islam." 106 00:04:53,910 --> 00:04:55,939 From that day on, 107 00:04:55,939 --> 00:04:58,939 Abu Talhah rallied under the banner of Islam 108 00:04:58,939 --> 00:05:02,939 and placed all his formidable capabilities in its service. 109 00:05:02,939 --> 00:05:08,939 He was one of the seventy who pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) at the Pledge of 'Aqabah, 110 00:05:08,939 --> 00:05:11,939 accompanied by his wife Umm Sulaym. 111 00:05:11,939 --> 00:05:14,939 He was also one of the twelve leaders 112 00:05:14,939 --> 00:05:20,939 appointed by the Messenger (peace be upon him) that night over the Muslims of Yathrib. 113 00:05:20,939 --> 00:05:26,939 Furthermore, he participated with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in all his military expeditions, 114 00:05:26,939 --> 00:05:29,939 displaying the most honorable and noble valor. 115 00:05:29,939 --> 00:05:35,939 Yet the greatest of Abu Talhah's days with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 116 00:05:35,939 --> 00:05:37,939 was the Day of Uhud. 117 00:05:37,939 --> 00:05:40,939 Here is the account of his deeds on that day: 118 00:05:40,939 --> 00:05:46,230 Abu Talhah loved the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 119 00:05:46,230 --> 00:05:49,230 with a love that penetrated the core of his heart 120 00:05:49,230 --> 00:05:51,230 and flowed like blood through his veins. 121 00:05:51,230 --> 00:05:54,230 He could never satisfy his gaze looking at him, 122 00:05:54,230 --> 00:05:58,230 nor quench his thirst listening to his sweet speech. 123 00:05:58,230 --> 00:06:02,230 Whenever he sat with him, he would kneel before him 124 00:06:02,230 --> 00:06:03,230 and say to him, 125 00:06:03,230 --> 00:06:05,230 "May my soul be ransomed for your soul, 126 00:06:05,230 --> 00:06:08,230 and my face be a shield for your face." 127 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:10,259 On the Day of Uhud, 128 00:06:10,259 --> 00:06:14,259 when the Muslims fell back away from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 129 00:06:14,259 --> 00:06:18,259 the polytheists closed in on him from every side: 130 00:06:18,259 --> 00:06:20,259 they broke his incisor tooth, 131 00:06:20,259 --> 00:06:21,259 fractured his forehead, 132 00:06:21,259 --> 00:06:23,259 wounded his lip, 133 00:06:23,259 --> 00:06:25,259 and caused blood to stream down his face, 134 00:06:25,259 --> 00:06:30,259 to the extent that the alarmists spread the rumor that Muhammad had been killed. 135 00:06:30,259 --> 00:06:33,259 Thus, the Muslims grew weaker and weaker 136 00:06:33,259 --> 00:06:36,259 and turned their backs to the enemies of Allah. 137 00:06:36,259 --> 00:06:37,329 At that juncture, 138 00:06:37,329 --> 00:06:42,329 none stood firm with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) except a small group, 139 00:06:42,329 --> 00:06:45,329 at the forefront of whom was Abu Talhah. 140 00:06:45,329 --> 00:06:51,329 Abu Talhah stood before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) like a firmly rooted mountain, 141 00:06:51,329 --> 00:06:56,329 while the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood behind him, using him as a shield. 142 00:06:56,329 --> 00:07:00,329 Then Abu Talhah strung his unbreakable bow 143 00:07:00,329 --> 00:07:03,329 and nocked upon it his unerring arrows, 144 00:07:04,329 --> 00:07:08,329 defending the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with them, 145 00:07:08,329 --> 00:07:12,329 shooting the troops of the polytheists one after another. 146 00:07:12,329 --> 00:07:15,329 The Prophet (peace be upon him) 147 00:07:15,329 --> 00:07:19,329 would stretch up from behind Abu Talhah to see where his arrows landed, 148 00:07:19,329 --> 00:07:23,329 but Abu Talhah would gently push him back out of fear for him, saying to him, 149 00:07:23,329 --> 00:07:27,329 "May my father and mother be ransomed for you! Do not look over them lest they hit you. 150 00:07:27,329 --> 00:07:29,329 My throat is before your throat, 151 00:07:29,329 --> 00:07:31,329 my chest is before your chest, 152 00:07:31,329 --> 00:07:33,329 and may I be made your ransom!" 153 00:07:33,329 --> 00:07:39,329 Whenever a man from the Muslim army passed by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 154 00:07:39,329 --> 00:07:42,329 in retreat, carrying a quiver of arrows, 155 00:07:42,329 --> 00:07:45,329 the Prophet would call out to him and say, 156 00:07:45,329 --> 00:07:48,329 "Scatter your arrows before Abu Talhah, 157 00:07:48,329 --> 00:07:50,329 and do not flee with them!" 158 00:07:50,329 --> 00:07:56,389 Abu Talhah continued to defend the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 159 00:07:56,389 --> 00:07:58,389 until he broke three bows 160 00:07:59,389 --> 00:08:03,389 and killed as many of the polytheist soldiers as Allah willed. 161 00:08:03,389 --> 00:08:05,389 Then the battle cleared, 162 00:08:05,389 --> 00:08:09,459 and Allah saved His Prophet and protected him with His protection. 163 00:08:09,459 --> 00:08:15,459 Just as Abu Talhah was generous with his life in the cause of Allah during times of distress, 164 00:08:15,459 --> 00:08:19,459 he was even more generous with his wealth in times of giving. 165 00:08:19,459 --> 00:08:24,459 For instance, he possessed an orchard of date palms and grapes, 166 00:08:24,459 --> 00:08:31,459 and Yathrib knew no orchard with grander trees, sweeter fruit, or fresher water. 167 00:08:31,459 --> 00:08:35,490 While Abu Talhah was praying beneath its thick shade, 168 00:08:35,490 --> 00:08:42,490 his attention was caught by a singing green bird with a red beak and dyed legs, 169 00:08:42,490 --> 00:08:48,490 hopping among the branches of the trees, joyful, singing, and dancing. 170 00:08:48,490 --> 00:08:52,490 He was delighted by its appearance, and his mind wandered with it. 171 00:08:52,490 --> 00:08:57,549 But soon he snapped back to himself, only to realize he did not remember how much he had prayed— 172 00:08:57,549 --> 00:09:01,549 whether two units or three, he did not know. 173 00:09:01,549 --> 00:09:07,549 As soon as he finished his prayer, he went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 174 00:09:07,549 --> 00:09:11,549 and complained to him about his soul, which had been distracted from prayer by the orchard, 175 00:09:11,549 --> 00:09:15,549 its lush trees, and its singing bird. 176 00:09:15,549 --> 00:09:19,549 Then he said to him, "Bear witness, O Messenger of Allah, 177 00:09:19,549 --> 00:09:23,549 that I have given this orchard as charity for the sake of Allah Almighty, 178 00:09:23,549 --> 00:09:27,549 so place it wherever Allah and His Messenger love." 179 00:09:27,549 --> 00:09:30,649 Abu Talhah lived his life fasting and striving in the cause of Allah, 180 00:09:30,649 --> 00:09:34,649 and he died likewise, fasting and striving. 181 00:09:34,649 --> 00:09:40,649 It is reported of him that after the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 182 00:09:40,649 --> 00:09:43,649 he remained fasting for nearly thirty years, 183 00:09:43,649 --> 00:09:47,649 breaking his fast only on the days of Eid when fasting is prohibited. 184 00:09:47,649 --> 00:09:52,679 His life extended until he became an elderly, decrepit man, 185 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:58,679 yet his old age did not prevent him from continuing to strive in the cause of Allah 186 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,679 and traversing the corners of the earth to elevate His word 187 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,679 and honor His religion. 188 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:10,679 Among such instances was that the Muslims resolved to embark on a naval expedition during the caliphate of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, 189 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,679 so Abu Talhah began preparing to set out with the Muslim army. 190 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:16,679 His sons said to him, 191 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,679 "May Allah have mercy on you, father! 192 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,679 You have become an old man, 193 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,679 and you fought alongside the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, and 'Umar. 194 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,679 Will you not rest and let us fight on your behalf?" 195 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:32,809 He replied, "Indeed, Allah Almighty says: ﴾Go forth, light and heavy!﴿— 196 00:10:32,809 --> 00:10:34,809 old and young, 197 00:10:34,809 --> 00:10:36,809 and He did not specify an age for us." 198 00:10:36,809 --> 00:10:38,809 Then he insisted on setting out. 199 00:10:38,809 --> 00:10:42,809 While the aged elder and his son 200 00:10:42,809 --> 00:10:44,809 and while the aged elder, 201 00:10:44,809 --> 00:10:46,809 Abu Talhah, was aboard the ship 202 00:10:46,809 --> 00:10:49,809 alongside the Muslim army in the middle of the sea, 203 00:10:49,809 --> 00:10:54,840 he fell severely ill, and passed away as a result. 204 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:59,840 So the Muslims set about searching for an island to bury him on, 205 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,840 but they did not find what they sought until seven days had passed, 206 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:08,840 while Abu Talhah lay shrouded among them, completely unchanged, 207 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,000 as if he were merely asleep. 208 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,000 And in the open sea, 209 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,000 far away from family and homeland, 210 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,000 distant from kinsmen and home, 211 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,000 Abu Talhah was buried. 212 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,000 And what did his distance from people matter to him, 213 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,000 so long as he was close to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic? 214 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:34,700 We have never known a dowry more noble than Abu Talhah's dowry to Umm Sulaym, 215 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:39,399 for her bridal gift was Islam itself. 216 00:11:39,399 --> 00:11:41,399 The women of Medina— 217 00:11:44,549 --> 00:11:47,549 the founders of this lofty edifice... O poetry, 218 00:11:47,549 --> 00:11:51,549 aid me to lavish praise upon them; can there be any more deserving?