His name was Talhah bin Ubaidullah, and nickname was Abu Muhammad, and he was among the first eight persons who accepted Islam. His lineage meets with Abu Bakr (ra) at Ka’b bin Sa’d.
He was known by this name, Talhah, in the pre-Islamic period and also after Islam. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) titled him Talhat-ul-Khair (Talhah ‘the generous’), Talhat ul Fayyadh (Talhah ‘the bountiful’) , and Talhat-ul-Jood ( Talhah ‘the generous’). Each title shows some virtue.
He was black in complexion with thick but straight hair. He was handsome, and he walked with a quick stride. He did not dye his gray hair.
He was one of those whom Abu Bakr (ra) brought to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and they proclaimed the testimony of faith.
Talhah (ra) was always travelling outside of Makkah, and he was outside of Makkah when the Prophet (pbuh) and Abu Bakr (ra) migrated to Madinah. He was passing near Madinah on his way back from Syria with a trade caravan that he saw all the inhabitants of the town camping outside Madinah. He knew that it was not the time for any festival. He inquired about the event and was told that the inhabitants of the town were waiting for the arrival of the Prophet (pbuh). Talhah (ra) immediately left for Makkah to meet the Prophet (pbuh) on the way before his arrival to Madinah. At a place near Madinah, he met them and told the Prophet (pbuh) how anxious the people of Madinah were to meet him. He gave the Prophet (pbuh) and Abu Bakr (ra) new clothes to wear when they entered the city, and continued his trip to Makkah. He resumed his journey to Makkah because he had brought with him goods from Syria for some merchants. He delivered all the goods in his custody to the people for whom he had brought them, and he left the city with his family under the cover of darkness and went to Madinah.
Talhah (ra) did not witness Badr because he was not in Madinah at the time. Had he been there, he would have been one of the horsemen of that day. He was in Syria at that time and went to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) after he returned victorious from Badr. He was given a share in the war spoils and also assured of reward in the hereafter. Thus, he was considered as a participant in the Battle of Badr.
Talhah was one of those who pledged to fight unto death on the day of Uhud to protect Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and he fulfilled his promise, despite all the death and slaughter around him. He received 24 wounds on that day and one of his fingers was paralyzed.
He was extremely generous and honored the ties of kinship.
After the death of Uthman (ra), who was killed by some rebels, Talhah (ra) and some other Companions put pressure on the 4th Caliph Ali (ra) to take revenge for Uthman’s murder.
However, when he joined the army which went to Al-Kufah to fight the army headed by Ali (ra), he could not accept fighting among the Muslims, especially when he was convinced by Ali (ra) that he was wrong. Talhah (ra) courageously changed his mind, and withdrew from the battlefield and tried to settle the dispute. The opposition did not accept such a withdrawal. Some rebels wanted the fire of mutual animosity to remain heated. Therefore, one of the rebels shot an arrow taht cut a vein in his leg and it kept bleeding until his death near Iraq.
He died on Thursday, 10 Jumadi-ul-Akhir, 36 AH.
May Allah be pleased with him.
LIFE 