As the light of Islam spread slowly among the people of Makkah, Abu Bakr R.A. attempted Da’wah on as many people as possible. He secretly invited all his friends and family to embrace Islam.
Around the same time, a young man called Talha R.A. happened to be in Syria for a trading trip when he heard a monk saying that a man in Makkah was claiming to be the last Prophet of Allah. After returning to Makkah, Talha R.A. went to his cousin Abu Bakr R.A. to ask him about the news and listened with great interest as his cousin explained the message of Islam to him. Talha R.A. was one of the first ten people to accept the message of Allah S.A.W at the age of just 18, and among those that were blessed with the news of Jannah. [1]
He accepted Islam at a time when being a Muslim was a dangerous thing. As the Kuffar of Quraysh began to find out about Islam, many newly converted Muslims were tortured severely and given harsh treatment. Talha R.A., like many others, was treated badly and suffered under the tough hold of the Kuffar but endured everything patiently and remained steadfast in his faith. In fact, it is well known fact that he and Abu Bakr R.A. were tied together as punishment and called ‘Al Qareenayn’ (i.e. the two friends).
After many years of hardship, the Muslims were finally allowed to migrate to Madinah. In Madinah, the Prophet S.A.W decided that each of the Muhajireen would be paired with an Ansar from Madinah. The Ansar were the Sahabah who were residents of Madinah and had a home and settlement there. Talha R.A. was paired with ‘Ubay Bin Ka’ab R.A.
Talha R.A. did not join the Battle of Badr because the Prophet had sent him with Sa’eed bin Zayd to obtain information about the caravan of kuffar headed by Abu Sufyan. He did not take part in the war due to this duty but the Prophet gave him his share from the treasures obtained at the Battle of Badr.
He made up for not being in the previous battle by his bravery in the Battle of Uhud. It was a hard battle and the Prophet S.A.W’s teeth had been broken, his forehead slashed, his lips wounded, and blood was streaming down his face. He was drained of energy. When he saw that the Muslims had fallen into disarray, Talha R.A. flung into action. He plunged into the enemy and pushed them away from the Prophet. In doing so, he paralyzed his arm and wounded himself badly. He turned back to the Prophet, helping him a little further up the mountain and gently laying him on the
ground. Immediately after doing so, he faced the enemy again and fought so hard that the Kuffar were forced to retreat. Abu Bakr R.A. mentioned later that at that moment, he and Abu ‘Ubayd ibn al-Jarrah were far from the Prophet S.A.W.
When they came to assist him, he said, “Leave me and go to your companion (meaning Talha).”
It is said that Talha R.A. had around seventy injuries that day.
When looking back at this battle, Abu Bakr R.A would often say, “That day (of Uhud) was Talha’s day.”
Talhah gained the unique reputation among Muslims of being called ‘Talha the Good’ and ‘Talha the Generous,’ but after the day of Uhud he gained another title, ‘The Living Martyr’.
He was undoubtedly among the most generous of Muslims when it came to spending from his wealth.
An example of his selflessness and generosity is that upon receiving 700 thousand dirhams, he was restless all night. When his wife asked him what the matter was, he replied, “I was asking myself, what does a man who sleeps with all that money in his house think his Lord would do to him if he died?” [2]
His wife advised him to distribute all the money among the poor if that made him feel more at peace and he did so.
Another example of his wealth and generosity is that before the Prophet and Abu Bakr reached Madinah, Talha R.A. had gone to Syria for business. Upon coming back, he met the Prophet and Abu Bakr midway. Noticing their travel-worn clothes and their fast-approaching destination, he gifted them two good Syrian garments to wear upon their arrival.
After the Prophet’s death, at the time of Uthman R.A.’s assassination, Talha R.A. was very heartbroken and went with Ayesha R.A. to make sure that the assassin was found and killed. However, he and Zubair R.A. received a message from Ali R.A. saying that they should not fight, and both of them agreed to refrain from hunting down the killer on their own.
And so it happened that as people were drawing their swords and getting ready to fight, Talha R.A. was running back and forth with his horse and telling people that the two sides won’t be fighting after all. But just as he was telling people to put back their weapons, an arrow directed at him pierced his heart through an opening in his armor, and he was martyred immediately. [3]
When Ali R.A. found out about his death he started to weep and kissed Talha R.A.’s forehead, saying, “I ask Allah S.W.T to make us among those whom Allah talks about in His book:
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ
“And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury: (they will be) brothers (joyfully) facing each other on thrones (of dignity).” [4]
May Allah S.W.T have mercy on his soul.
Author: Maryam Sohaib
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntHGX1kWQz (Omar Suleiman)
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d-R9P4L2yo&t=3854s (Yasir Qadhi)
[4] Surah Al-Hijr, Ayah 47
Nujoom Al Asar 
Ma shaa allah…..well done!
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