WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:18.219 Mawaddah Association is pleased 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:22.219 to present to you vignettes from the lives of the Companions, 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:25.219 authored by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:27.260 may Allah have mercy on him. 00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:31.699 Abu Talhah al-Ansari, 00:00:31.699 --> 00:00:34.759 may Allah be pleased with him. 00:00:47.049 --> 00:00:49.049 Zayd ibn Sahl al-Najjari— 00:00:49.049 --> 00:00:51.049 known by his kunyah Abu Talhah—learned 00:00:51.049 --> 00:00:54.049 that al-Rumaysa' bint Milhan al-Najjariyyah, 00:00:54.049 --> 00:00:57.049 known by her kunyah Umm Sulaym, 00:00:57.049 --> 00:01:00.049 had become eligible for marriage following the death of her husband. 00:01:00.049 --> 00:01:03.049 He flew with joy at this news. 00:01:03.049 --> 00:01:05.049 And no wonder, 00:01:05.049 --> 00:01:09.049 for Umm Sulaym was a noble woman, chaste, dignified, 00:01:09.049 --> 00:01:12.049 wise, and possessed of complete virtue. 00:01:12.049 --> 00:01:15.049 So he resolved to hasten to propose to her 00:01:15.049 --> 00:01:18.049 before anyone else preceded him, 00:01:18.049 --> 00:01:21.049 among those who aspired to marry women like her. 00:01:21.049 --> 00:01:25.049 Abu Talhah was confident that Umm Sulaym 00:01:25.049 --> 00:01:28.049 would not prefer anyone over him among her suitors. 00:01:28.049 --> 00:01:31.049 For he was a man of complete manhood, 00:01:31.049 --> 00:01:33.049 of prominent status, 00:01:33.049 --> 00:01:34.049 and immense wealth. 00:01:34.049 --> 00:01:37.049 Moreover, he was the horseman of Banu al-Najjar 00:01:37.049 --> 00:01:40.049 and one of the recognized archers of Yathrib. 00:01:40.049 --> 00:01:43.079 Abu Talhah set off for the house of Umm Sulaym, 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.079 and while he was on his way, 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.079 he recalled that Umm Sulaym had heard the words of 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.079 this Meccan caller, 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:52.079 Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr, 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.079 and had believed in Muhammad and followed his religion. 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:58.079 But he soon said to himself, 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:00.079 "What of it? 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.079 Was not her husband who died 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:05.079 clinging to the religion of his forefathers, 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:09.080 turning away from Muhammad and the call of Muhammad?" 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:12.080 Abu Talhah reached the home of Umm Sulaym 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.080 and asked permission to enter, 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.080 and she permitted him. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:18.080 Her son Anas was present. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.080 So he proposed marriage to her, 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:21.080 and she replied, 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:24.080 "Indeed, one like you, O Abu Talhah, is not turned away. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:26.080 But I will not marry you, 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.080 for you are a disbelieving man." 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:33.210 Abu Talhah thought that Umm Sulaym was merely making excuses to refuse him, 00:02:33.210 --> 00:02:36.210 and that she had preferred another man over him, 00:02:36.210 --> 00:02:39.210 one with more wealth or a grander clan. 00:02:39.210 --> 00:02:41.210 So he said to her, 00:02:41.210 --> 00:02:45.240 "By Allah, this is not what prevents you from accepting me, O Umm Sulaym." 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:46.240 She said, 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:49.240 "And what prevents me then?" 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.240 He said, 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:52.240 "The yellow and the white— 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.240 gold and silver." 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.240 She said, 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:57.370 "Gold and silver?" 00:02:57.370 --> 00:02:59.370 He said, "Yes." 00:02:59.370 --> 00:03:00.370 She said, 00:03:00.370 --> 00:03:03.400 "Rather, I call you to witness, O Abu Talhah, 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:05.400 and I call Allah and His Messenger to witness, 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:07.400 that if you accept Islam, 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:11.400 I will accept you as a husband without any gold or silver, 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.400 and I will make your Islam my dowry." 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:18.560 As soon as Abu Talhah heard the words of Umm Sulaym, 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:20.560 his mind turned to his idol, 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.560 which he had fashioned from precious wood 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:25.560 and designated for himself, 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:28.560 as the chieftains of his people used to do. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:31.560 But Umm Sulaym wanted to strike the iron 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:33.560 while it was still hot, 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:35.560 so she followed up by saying, 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:38.560 "Do you not know, O Abu Talhah, 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:41.560 that your god which you worship besides Allah 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.560 grew out of the earth?" 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:45.560 He said, "Yes." 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:46.560 She said, 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:48.560 "Do you not feel ashamed 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:50.560 to worship the trunk of a tree, 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:53.560 having made part of it your god, 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:57.560 while someone else made the other part fuel for himself, 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:01.659 warming himself by its fire or baking his dough upon it? 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:04.659 Indeed, if you accept Islam, O Abu Talhah, 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:06.659 I will accept you as a husband, 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:09.659 and I desire no dowry from you other than Islam." 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:11.689 He said, 00:04:11.689 --> 00:04:13.689 "And who will guide me to Islam?" 00:04:13.689 --> 00:04:14.689 She said, 00:04:14.689 --> 00:04:15.689 "I will guide you to it." 00:04:15.689 --> 00:04:17.879 He said, "How?" 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:18.879 She said, 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:20.879 "You utter the word of truth: 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.879 you bear witness that there is no deity except Allah 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:25.879 and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:27.879 then you go to your house, 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:30.879 smash your idol, and cast it away." 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:34.879 Abu Talhah's face beamed with joy, and he said, 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.879 "I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:40.879 and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:43.910 Then he married Umm Sulaym, 00:04:43.910 --> 00:04:45.910 and the Muslims used to say, 00:04:45.910 --> 00:04:47.910 "We have never heard of a dowry 00:04:47.910 --> 00:04:50.910 more noble than the dowry of Umm Sulaym, 00:04:50.910 --> 00:04:53.910 for she made her dowry Islam." 00:04:53.910 --> 00:04:55.939 From that day on, 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:58.939 Abu Talhah rallied under the banner of Islam 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:02.939 and placed all his formidable capabilities in its service. 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, 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:11.939 accompanied by his wife Umm Sulaym. 00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:14.939 He was also one of the twelve leaders 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:20.939 appointed by the Messenger (peace be upon him) that night over the Muslims of Yathrib. 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, 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:29.939 displaying the most honorable and noble valor. 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) 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:37.939 was the Day of Uhud. 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:40.939 Here is the account of his deeds on that day: 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:46.230 Abu Talhah loved the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:05:46.230 --> 00:05:49.230 with a love that penetrated the core of his heart 00:05:49.230 --> 00:05:51.230 and flowed like blood through his veins. 00:05:51.230 --> 00:05:54.230 He could never satisfy his gaze looking at him, 00:05:54.230 --> 00:05:58.230 nor quench his thirst listening to his sweet speech. 00:05:58.230 --> 00:06:02.230 Whenever he sat with him, he would kneel before him 00:06:02.230 --> 00:06:03.230 and say to him, 00:06:03.230 --> 00:06:05.230 "May my soul be ransomed for your soul, 00:06:05.230 --> 00:06:08.230 and my face be a shield for your face." 00:06:08.230 --> 00:06:10.259 On the Day of Uhud, 00:06:10.259 --> 00:06:14.259 when the Muslims fell back away from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:18.259 the polytheists closed in on him from every side: 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:20.259 they broke his incisor tooth, 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:21.259 fractured his forehead, 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:23.259 wounded his lip, 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:25.259 and caused blood to stream down his face, 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:30.259 to the extent that the alarmists spread the rumor that Muhammad had been killed. 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:33.259 Thus, the Muslims grew weaker and weaker 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:36.259 and turned their backs to the enemies of Allah. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:37.329 At that juncture, 00:06:37.329 --> 00:06:42.329 none stood firm with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) except a small group, 00:06:42.329 --> 00:06:45.329 at the forefront of whom was Abu Talhah. 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, 00:06:51.329 --> 00:06:56.329 while the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood behind him, using him as a shield. 00:06:56.329 --> 00:07:00.329 Then Abu Talhah strung his unbreakable bow 00:07:00.329 --> 00:07:03.329 and nocked upon it his unerring arrows, 00:07:04.329 --> 00:07:08.329 defending the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with them, 00:07:08.329 --> 00:07:12.329 shooting the troops of the polytheists one after another. 00:07:12.329 --> 00:07:15.329 The Prophet (peace be upon him) 00:07:15.329 --> 00:07:19.329 would stretch up from behind Abu Talhah to see where his arrows landed, 00:07:19.329 --> 00:07:23.329 but Abu Talhah would gently push him back out of fear for him, saying to him, 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. 00:07:27.329 --> 00:07:29.329 My throat is before your throat, 00:07:29.329 --> 00:07:31.329 my chest is before your chest, 00:07:31.329 --> 00:07:33.329 and may I be made your ransom!" 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) 00:07:39.329 --> 00:07:42.329 in retreat, carrying a quiver of arrows, 00:07:42.329 --> 00:07:45.329 the Prophet would call out to him and say, 00:07:45.329 --> 00:07:48.329 "Scatter your arrows before Abu Talhah, 00:07:48.329 --> 00:07:50.329 and do not flee with them!" 00:07:50.329 --> 00:07:56.389 Abu Talhah continued to defend the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) 00:07:56.389 --> 00:07:58.389 until he broke three bows 00:07:59.389 --> 00:08:03.389 and killed as many of the polytheist soldiers as Allah willed. 00:08:03.389 --> 00:08:05.389 Then the battle cleared, 00:08:05.389 --> 00:08:09.459 and Allah saved His Prophet and protected him with His protection. 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, 00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:19.459 he was even more generous with his wealth in times of giving. 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:24.459 For instance, he possessed an orchard of date palms and grapes, 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:31.459 and Yathrib knew no orchard with grander trees, sweeter fruit, or fresher water. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:35.490 While Abu Talhah was praying beneath its thick shade, 00:08:35.490 --> 00:08:42.490 his attention was caught by a singing green bird with a red beak and dyed legs, 00:08:42.490 --> 00:08:48.490 hopping among the branches of the trees, joyful, singing, and dancing. 00:08:48.490 --> 00:08:52.490 He was delighted by its appearance, and his mind wandered with it. 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— 00:08:57.549 --> 00:09:01.549 whether two units or three, he did not know. 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) 00:09:07.549 --> 00:09:11.549 and complained to him about his soul, which had been distracted from prayer by the orchard, 00:09:11.549 --> 00:09:15.549 its lush trees, and its singing bird. 00:09:15.549 --> 00:09:19.549 Then he said to him, "Bear witness, O Messenger of Allah, 00:09:19.549 --> 00:09:23.549 that I have given this orchard as charity for the sake of Allah Almighty, 00:09:23.549 --> 00:09:27.549 so place it wherever Allah and His Messenger love." 00:09:27.549 --> 00:09:30.649 Abu Talhah lived his life fasting and striving in the cause of Allah, 00:09:30.649 --> 00:09:34.649 and he died likewise, fasting and striving. 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), 00:09:40.649 --> 00:09:43.649 he remained fasting for nearly thirty years, 00:09:43.649 --> 00:09:47.649 breaking his fast only on the days of Eid when fasting is prohibited. 00:09:47.649 --> 00:09:52.679 His life extended until he became an elderly, decrepit man, 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 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:02.679 and traversing the corners of the earth to elevate His word 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:04.679 and honor His religion. 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, 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:14.679 so Abu Talhah began preparing to set out with the Muslim army. 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:16.679 His sons said to him, 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:18.679 "May Allah have mercy on you, father! 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:20.679 You have become an old man, 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:24.679 and you fought alongside the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, and 'Umar. 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:28.679 Will you not rest and let us fight on your behalf?" 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:32.809 He replied, "Indeed, Allah Almighty says: ﴾Go forth, light and heavy!﴿— 00:10:32.809 --> 00:10:34.809 old and young, 00:10:34.809 --> 00:10:36.809 and He did not specify an age for us." 00:10:36.809 --> 00:10:38.809 Then he insisted on setting out. 00:10:38.809 --> 00:10:42.809 While the aged elder and his son 00:10:42.809 --> 00:10:44.809 and while the aged elder, 00:10:44.809 --> 00:10:46.809 Abu Talhah, was aboard the ship 00:10:46.809 --> 00:10:49.809 alongside the Muslim army in the middle of the sea, 00:10:49.809 --> 00:10:54.840 he fell severely ill, and passed away as a result. 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:59.840 So the Muslims set about searching for an island to bury him on, 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:03.840 but they did not find what they sought until seven days had passed, 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:08.840 while Abu Talhah lay shrouded among them, completely unchanged, 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.000 as if he were merely asleep. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.000 And in the open sea, 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.000 far away from family and homeland, 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:18.000 distant from kinsmen and home, 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.000 Abu Talhah was buried. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:23.000 And what did his distance from people matter to him, 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:27.000 so long as he was close to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic? 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:34.700 We have never known a dowry more noble than Abu Talhah's dowry to Umm Sulaym, 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:39.399 for her bridal gift was Islam itself. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:41.399 The women of Medina— 00:11:44.549 --> 00:11:47.549 the founders of this lofty edifice... O poetry, 00:11:47.549 --> 00:11:51.549 aid me to lavish praise upon them; can there be any more deserving?