The Story of Hazrat Abu Talha Zaid ibn Sahal

Few men had accepted Islam at the hands of the women. Instead,
you could count them on your fingers. That verily was the
pledge/way of the Arabs. It had made the existing women
unnecessary for the people.
Until Islaam had come, it then raised the rank of the women and gave
her an existence and a rank. This was disliked, and it was Hazrat
Umme Sulaim bint Mulhaan who married Hazrat Malik ibn An-
Nadar , the father of Hazrat Anas ibn Malik who was then
killed. Then came a man, Hazrat Abu Talha Zaid ibn Sahal from the
Banu An-Najaar. He was one of their few archers and person of
extreme riches. He came to her proposing whilst he doubted that she
would reject him, but she had said: “As for me, I desire you (to marry
you) and your likeness will not be rejected, however you are a
disbelieving man, and I a believing woman. If you accept Islaam,
then that is my mahr (bridal dower) and I will not ask you for
anything besides that.”
She thereafter said to him: “O Abu Talhah, do you not know that
your god, the one which you are worshipping is a piece of wood
which grew from the ground that an Abyssinian carpenter had made
it for you?”
He said: “Yes” She said: “Are you then not ashamed

that you are worshipping a piece of wood which an abysinnia carved for you? If you accept Islaam,

I will not reject you at all.”

Hazrat Abu Talha was trying to make up mind and looking into
his matter. He returned looking at his idol remembering how he cut
his piece of wood from a tree from his land and how he gave it to a
Abyssinian slave to make this god from it.
He quickly returned to Hazrat Umme Sulaim and sought her to
indicate to him the conditions of entering Islaam. He could not wait
to raise his voice: “There is none worthy of Worship besides Allah,
Muhammad is the Rasul of Allah “ so much so that the Sahabah
said: “By Allah, we did not know of a mahr (bridal dower) better
than the mahr (bridal dower) of Umme Sulaim”
Hazrat Abu Talha went with the caravan of Imaan proceeding to
pledge allegiance to Rasulullaah r in the second pledge. He
then accepted Islam and pledged allegiance (took bay`at) He was
one of the twelve leaders. So much so that when Rasulullaah
migrated to Madinah he kept close to him and was one of the sincere
lovers who followed him.
The life of Hazrat Abu Talha was filled with different
scenes/situations. You will see him as a mujaahid in one place,
spending in the path of Allah in another, smiling and laughing or as
a fasting slave. Like this you will continue to see him.
Hazrat Abu Talha was wealthier than most Ansaar. And his
wealth was beloved to him it was an orchard filled with dates,
fruit and pleasant/sweet water which was in front of the Musjid.
Rasulullaah r used to enter it and drink from the good pleasant water
in it. The saying of Allaah was then revealed: “
“You’ll will never obtain piety until you’ll spend from what you’ll
love.” (Surah: Aale Imraan, verse: 92)

Hazrat Abu Talha stood then stood up to/in front of Rasulullaah
r saying: “O Rasulullaah r Verily Allaah Ta`aala says:
“You’ll will never obtain piety until you’ll spend from what you’ll
love.”
“O Allaah, verily I love my wealth to be with me
, it was an
orchard filled with dates, fruit and pleasant/sweet water). Verily it is
charity for the sake of Allah. I desire for its reward and its kindness
from the side of Allah. Distributed it, O Rasulullaah r however you
wish.” Nabi r then looked at him happily and delightfully said:
“Excellent, that was profitable wealth. And definitely I heard. Then
go and distribute it to your relatives.” Hazrat Abu Talha
returned and then distributed , (it was an orchard filled with
dates, fruit and pleasant/sweet water) to his cousins (sons of his
uncle).”
Like this he obtained piety when he spent from what he loved.
Rasulullaah loved Hazrat Abu Talha so much so that
Rasulullaah when he shaved his head during the farewell hajj, he
started with the right, thereafter he distributed some of his hair to the
Muslims. From amongst them were those who obtained one hair, and
some of them who obtained two hairs. Until Rasulullaah said:
“Where is Abu Talha?” thereafter he gave him many hairs as a
blessing to him.
Nabi r never used to enter any house from the houses of the Ansaar
except that of Hazrat Abu Talha and Hazrat Umme Sulaim
Hazrat Umme Sulaim spread the mattress for him. Then when he
perspired, he took from his perspiration and then made it a scented
musk.
Hazrat Abu Talha had a sick son. When Hazrat Abu Talha
went travelling, his son passed away during his absence. Hazrat Umme Sulaim then buried him. When Hazrat Abu Talha
returned, he said: “What happened to my son?” She replied:
“He is better than what he was” Thereafter she advanced towards
him the supper. He then ate. She then said to him: “Verily your son
has passed away and they both buried him. In the morning, Hazrat
Abu Talha went to complain to Rasulullaah r about Hazrat
Umme Sulaim .
Rasulullaah then said: “Did you’ll marry in the night (i.e. ….)?”
He said: “Yes”
He said: “May Allah bless you both in that.”
Hazrat Umme Sulaim gave birth to a son. Hazrat Abu Talha
brought him to Rasulullaah and with him were dates. Rasulullaah
took it and placed it in his mouth. Thereafter he made the boy make
Tahneek with it and named him Abdullaah.
Thereafter Hazrat Umme Sulaim gave birth to seven children, all
of them recited the Qur`an with the dua of Rasulullaah r for both of
them.
He t was brave and courageous and an aggressive/attacking
horseman. This was the battle of Uhud, when the mushrikeen
gathered around Rasulullaah intending to kill him, Hazrat Abu
Talha came so that he will stand beside Rasulullaah . Rasulullaah
then raised his head from behind Hazrat Abu Talha in order to
see what was happening around him?
Hazrat Abu Talha stretched shouting:
Rasulullaah he will kill me not you. Hazrat Abu Talha was excellent in archery so much so that he on the day of Uhud broke two
or three bows.
The men used to pass with him was a quiver of arrows. Rasulullaah
then said: “Disperse it Abu Talha” Hazrat Abu
Talha used to shoot/ throw the arrows whilst Rasulullaah would
watch were it would land.
Hazrat Abu Talha used to repeat: “O Rasulullaah , May my
father and mother be sacrificed for you, you will not be
distinguished, an arrow from the arrows of the people neither will
nor afflict you. It will kill me not you,” and Hazrat Abu Talha
provided a shield for Rasulullaah with one shield he used to defend
him. And he was defending him from the arrows of the mushrikeen
even though that cost him his life.
Rasulullaah came out safe and successful and Hazrat Abu Talha
accompanied him. During the battle of Hunain Rasulullaah said:
“Who will kill the one fallen in battle then for him is his
booty/spoils.” Hazrat Abu Talha then killed twenty men. He
then took their booty during on that day. And what bravery and
courage!
Rasulullaah used to say: “The voice of Abu Talha in the army is
better than a hundred (i.e. from complete groups)”
After the death of Rasulullaah . Hazrat Abu Talha t took Jihaad
and fasting as an occupation. He then fasted his entire life until it was
said: “Abu Talha did not break a fast after Rasulullaah in sickness
or travels until he met Allah. Abu Talha lived, after Rasulullaah
for forty years…. How strange?”
In the Khilaafat of Hazrat Uthman ibn Affaan t, Hazrat Uthman
created the first fleet for the Muslims and intended to attack/invad the peninsula from the ebb (of the sea) of the Romans. Hazrat Abu
Talha came out with this army, but he had passed away on the
ship. They did not find an island in which he will be buried, Seven
days had passed and his body was like how it was, it did not change
until they found a place to bury him in it.
Verily we do not know the place in which Hazrat Abu Talha is
buried, except that we know not its places nor his rank and
blessedness for the extraordinary martyrs.