Talha ibn Ubayd Allah
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Talha ibn Ubayd-Allah (d.656) was a sahaba (companion) of Islamic Prophet Muhammad (d.632), best known for his role in the Battle of Uhud and the Battle of the Camel.
Biography
Family
Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah was a cousin of Abu Bakr. 'Amr bin Ka'b was the great grandfather of both of them. [1]
Among his wives was a Syrian Jew [2]
Early Life (597-610)
Assuming he died 64 years old, he was born in 597. [1]
Muhammad's era (610-632)
Talha became a Muslim when he was 18 years old [3], and was one of the first Muslims. He was one of the very few residents of Makkah who could read and write at the advent of Islam. [1]
Assuming he was 64 years old when he died, and he became Muslim when he was 18, he became a Muslim in 615, or seven years before the Migration to Medina.
Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid at one time he bound Abu Bakr and Talha ibn Ubayd-Allah with a rope [4]. Due to this, those two became known as the "Al-Qareenayn", "the two tied together"[5].
Uthman bin 'Ubaydullah used beat him up mercilessly. He followed Muhamamd during the Meccan boycott[1]
He brought the family of Abu Bakr to Madina after Hijrah (Migration). In Madina, he stayed with As'ad bin Zurarah who was among the first batch of converts from Madinah.[1]
He participated in all of the battles in which Muhammad participated personally with the exception of the battle of Badr Muhammad had sent him and Sa'id ibn Zayd to get information on the movement of the Quraysh army. They missed the Quraysh army and by the time they returned, the battle had been won by the Muslims. However, both of them were given their share of the war trophies) of the battle. [1]
He was included in the Battle of Uhud. A Sunni source elaborates:
- This time the Quraysh had specifically targeted the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S. Many prominent Ansar (Helpers-Muslims of Madinah) and Muhajirun (Muslim Migrants from Makkah) including the brave warrior of Islam, Hamzah bin 'Abdul Muttalib R and a cousin as well as an uncle, had achieved Shahadah (Martyrdom) in this battle. Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah R and Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas R kept very close to the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and shielded him.
- Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas R was trying to keep the enemy by shooting ar-rows at them. Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah R literally became a human shield in front of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S from the attacks of Quraysh. He was seriously injured but he continued defendin him. In the process, he llost two of his fingers in a sword attack, one of his arms was disabled by a spear which perched through his palm, received a deep cut in one his legs, was hit in the head by two spears. He had lost a lot of blood but continued to defend the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.
- Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah R had received a total of seventy (70) wounds on his body. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S called him as a person who has achieved Shahadah (Martyrdom) in his life and called him a living Shahid (Martyr).[1]
He participiated in the Farewell Pilgrimage[1]
Abu Bakr's era (632–634)
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Umar's era (634-644)
He was appointed by the second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, to the council electing his successor, which led to the election of Uthman ibn 'Affan in 644.
Uthman's era (644–656)
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Ali's era (656–661)
He was amongst the group that unsuccessfully fought the fourth caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib, in the Battle of the Camel in 656 C.E. to avenge the murder of the preceding caliph, Uthman. During the battle, on of his own soldiers named Marwan ibn Al-Hakam shot Talha with an arrow. He was taken aside and died later of his wound [6].
He became 64 years old. [1]
Legacy
He has a son named Muhammad ibn Talha from a marriage with Hammanah bint Jahsh, the sister of Zaynab bint Jahsh. He died also at the battle of the Camel.[1].
From is marriage with Umm Kulthum bint Abu Bakr, he had three children [1]:
He has also a daughter named Umm Ishaq bint Talhah who married Hasan ibn Ali and had a son named Talha ibn Hassan.[1]
After Hassan died, Umm Ishaq married Husayn ibn Ali and had a daughter named Fatimah bint Husayn.[1]
Sunni view
Sunnis regard him as one of the ten who were promised paradise during their lifetimes by the Prophet Muhammad.
Shi'a view
Shi'a have ambivalent view of him. On one side, he was a great defender of early Islam, fighting side by side with Muhammad and Ali. On the other side, he contested Ali's leadership and then broke his oath of allegiance to Ali.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m http://www.islam4theworld.com/Sahabah/talhah_bn_ubaydullah_R.htm
- ^ Abu Bakr Jasas in his Tafseer Ahkaam al Qur'an Volume 1 page 333, Beirut edition [1]
- ^ (in 615, assuming he was born in 597 CE)
- ^ USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts [2]
- ^ http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=84035&d=28&m=6&y=2006
- ^ [3], [4][5] [6]