Faith On Allah... Imaan (Ibadah Book 2)

When heart grows fond

We have all heard of Al ashara al mubashshireena bil jannah (The ten companions of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam, who were granted the happy news of going to Jannah in their lives itself). One of the ten companions is, Talha ibne Ubaidallah radhiallahu anhu. Talha radhiallahu anhu was born approximately fifteen years before the Prophet hood of  Rasoolallah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. He was a man who belonged to one of the higher families of Quraish, nullifying the claims that only weak accepted Islam. No, Islam was accepted by rich and poor, because it's teachings attracted everyone, not just the poor. Talha radhiallahu anhu was a nobleman of Quraish and belonged to a wealthy family, which was respected by the whole Quraish.

Talha radhiallahu anhu used to travel in the whole Arabian peninsula and do businesseven though he was just a teenager then. Once when he had gone to Al Sham with his caravan, for trading, he met a Christian monk over there. The monk asked if there was anyone from the Haram itself. Talha radhiallahu anhu replied that he was. The monk said that he had learned, that a Prophet was going to come from the Haram at around that time. And did Talha knew the Prophet and had he already come? Talha radhiallahu anhu replied that he wasn't sure and asked the name. The monk said Ahmad the son of Abdallah the son of Abdul Muttalib. Talha radhiallahu anhu was shocked. The monk said do not let others beat you in reaching him.

Talha radhiallahu anhu decided that this was much more important than the business deals and so he gathered all his camels and started for Makkah. He reached Makkah and met with Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu, because they were related and also because Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu was known for his honesty. He asked Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu if he had heard about what monk was saying and Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu affirmed it and said that he had followed the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam already. They then went to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam to tell him about what the monk said. Talha radhiallahu anhu accepted Islam there because he was sure of what Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam was saying, as Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam was known as As Saadiq al Ameen, The truthful and the honest. Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam hadn't ever lied about anything than why would he ever lie about the maker, al Khaaliq itself? He was approximately the 8th person to accept Islam.

He was a teenage businessman. How many of us have seen businessman of such young age? You yourself can understand how intelligent he must be. He used his mind to differentiate between the false and truth and accepted Islam. His mother, Al Sa'ba bint Al Hadrami bin Abda, wanted him to become a leader of the Quraish. He had all the qualities to become a leader. But his heart bent more towards Islam and he did what he felt right. A mother's dream was shattered and so, as the meaning of her name was difficult so was she, she made her son's life difficult and asked others to make his life difficult too. From then on started his difficulties. The youth of Makkah began to torture him.

Who was Talha radhiallahu anhu? Abu Bakr radhiallahu anhu used to say that the day of this belonged to Talha radhiallahu anhu. Why did he say that? As we know that on the day of Uhud when some Sahaba radhiallahu anhuma ajmaeen disobeyed His sallallahu alaihi wasallam's command of staying on the hilltop and came down, the disbelievers gained advantage and attacked the Muslims drawing them back. The whole Muslim army fell in chaos. Rasoolallah sallallahu alaihi wasallam was amongst a small group of Muslims composed of some Ansars and Muhajireen. He was injured and sitting on a place on Uhud. Amongst those Sahaba radhiallahu anhuma ajmaeen was Talha ibn Ubaidallah. He was stopped by Rasoolallah sallallahu alaihi wasallam each time he volunteered to go and fight and instead stood guarding. Finally when there were no one left and all the Ansars had been martyred, he went ahead to fight. He fought bravely not allowing any mushrik to pass him. One against many of them and yet he stood like a shield for the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam. He was a living shield. When other Sahaba reached the Prophet and saw him wounded and bleeding, he asked them to see to Talha radhiallahu anhu, who had fallen down.