Class 5 – Talhah, Zubayr, AbdurRahman AlAuf and Bilal (RadhiAllahu Anhum)
Class 5
Talhah, Zubayr, AbdurRahman AlAuf & Bilal
(RadhiAllahu Anhum)
TALHAH BIN UBAIDULLAH
—–“A Martyr walking on Earth”—–
Who Was He? ﷺ
He was Talhah bin Ubaidullah Al-Quraishi, At-TaimiI, Al Makki, Abu Muhammad. He was one of the ten given the glad tidings of Paradise. He became a Muslim following the invitation of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. He had good looks and when he walked, he was swift. He was one of the richest Companions.
Adh-Dhahabi said: “He was one of the first groups of people to accept Islam. He was tortured for the sake of Islam and then he made hijrah. It is agreed upon that he was absent at the Battle of Badr while he was away on a trade mission to Syria. He was really pained at his absence from the battle. The Prophet ﷺ gave him a share from the spoils of the war.”
His Virtues
- From Jabir who reported that Talhah met the Prophet ﷺ one day and the Prophet ﷺ said, “A martyr walking on the face of the earth.”
- Jabir R.A., said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Whoever is please to look at a martyr walking on the surface of the earth, then let him look at Talhah ibn Ubaidullah.”‘
His Benevolence
Su’da bint Auf, Talhah’s wife, said: “Talhah entered upon me one day and I saw that he was worried, so I said: ‘What is wrong with you?’
He said: ‘The wealth in my possession has increased considerably and it is becoming worrisome to me.’
I said to him, ‘What is your stress, distribute it.’ So he distributed it until it remained not even a dirham.”
Talhah ibn Yahya said: “I asked the storekeeper of Talhah; how much was the money?” He said: “Four hundred thousand.”
He used to be known as Talhah Al-Khair (the good) because of his generosity and benevolence.
His Struggle in the Path of Allah
Talhah was very fortunate. He witnessed all the battles with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ except Badr as was indicated earlier. On the day of Uhud, Talhah demonstrated great skills. On that day, he stood by the Prophet ﷺ, shielding him with his hand and his finger was stunted in that bid. He sustained about twenty-four cuts on his body. It is also said that his cuts numbered seventy-five between piercings, blows and shots. On that day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ named him Talhah Al-Khair.
Whenever Abu Bakr mentioned the day of Uhud, he would say, “All of that day was for Talhah.”
From Jabir, who reported that when it was the day of Uhud and the people fled, the Prophet ﷺ was on the flank where there were twelve other men. Among them was Talhah. The disbelievers accosted them and the Prophet ﷺ said, “Who will face these people?” Talhah said, “I will face them.” Then the Prophet ﷺ said, “Someone other than you.” So another man got up and said, “I will take them up.” And the Prophet ﷺ said, “You can go.” So he fought with the disbelievers until he was killed. Soon they were accosted by the disbelievers again and the Prophet ﷺ once again said, “Who will face them?” Talhah said, “I will.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Someone else other than you.” Another man got up and said, “I will be for them .” And the Prophet ﷺ said, “You can go.” So he fought with the disbelievers until he was killed.
The situation kept repeating itself until only Talhah remained with the Prophet ﷺ. Then he said, “Who will face these people?” Talhah said, “I will face them.” Tallah fought against them, the battle of eleven people until his fingers were cut off. Upon that he said “Hasi” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Had you said Bismillah, the Angels would have lifted you while the people are watching.” Thereafter Allah repelled the Mushrikeen.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him on that day “Paradise has been made compulsory for Talhah.” This is so because on that day, the Prophet ﷺ had on two sets of armor and he wanted to climb over a boulder and he was not able to, due to the armor he was wearing. Talhah bent for him so the Prophet ﷺ was lifted on his back until he climbed the boulder. As a result the Prophet ﷺ said Awjaba Talhah (i.e Paradise has become compulsory for him).
His Martyrdom
In spite of the fact that Talhah, Allah be pleased with him, did not attain martyrdom in the Battle of Uhud yet the Prophet ﷺ, the truthful and whose words come true, had prophesied his martyrdom. Talhah reported that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to an ignorant Bedoin Arab:
“Ask him about the one whose death has been decreed, who is the person?” They (the Companions) were not bold enough due to their awe and respect for him.
The Bedouin asked him and the Prophet ﷺ turned away from him. He asked him again and he turned away from him for the second time. Again the Bedouin repeated his question and again the Prophet (~) turned away from him. Then I appeared through the door of the mosque while I was wearing a green cloth. When the Prophet ﷺ saw me, he said: “Where is the one who asked about the one whose death was decreed?” The Bedouin said, “Here I am, O Messenger of Allah.” [He said,] “This is one of those whose death has been decreed.” There are many battles in which Talhah fought side by side with the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ died while he was pleased with him.
During the crisis of ‘Othman, he stood clear of it. Some people accused him of prejudice. For this reason, he was present at the Battle of Jamal. ‘Ali met with him and advised him, consequently, he withdrew from the front line toward the rear where a stray arrow hit him on the knee. It is also reported that the arrow hit him on the neck. He died as a result. Adh-Dhahabi said: “The crime of the killer of Talhah is similar to that of the killer of ‘ Ali.”
Talhah bin Mutraf reported that when he arrived at the corpse of Talhah, he alighted from his riding beast, he sat him up, wiped sweat from Talhah’s face and beard, after his death demonstrating his love and respect for him. “Woe be to me! I wish I had died twenty years before this.”
Qays bin Ubadah reported: “I heard ‘Ali on the Day of Camel, saying to his son Al-Hasan: ‘0 Hasan, it would please me that I had died twenty years earlier.”‘ ‘Ali also said: “Give the killer of Talhah the tidings of Hellfire.”
AZ-ZUBAYR BIN AL – AWWAM
The first to unsheathe his sword in the Path of Allah.
Who Was He?
He was Az-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam bin Khuwailid, a disciple of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the son of his aunt, Safiyyah bint Abdul Muttalib. He was one of the ten given the tiding of Paradise and the first to unsheathe his sword in the path of Allah. He accepted Islam at the hands of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and that occurred closely after Abu Bakr himself became a Muslim. He was the fourth or the fifth person to accept Islam. He used to spend a lot in the path of Allah.
His Virtues
- Az-Zubay R.A. reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ held me by the hand and said, ‘Every Prophet has a disciple and my own disciple is Az-Zubayr, the son of my aunt.'”
- Urwah reported from ‘ A’ishah that she said to him: “0 son of my sister, your father, i.e., Az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr are among ‘those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger Muhammad ﷺ after being wounded.”‘ (Aal–Imran:172)
His Endurance of Harm in the Path of Allah
An orphan of Urwah says: Az-Zubayr migrated while he was eighteen years of age. His uncle would hang him and put heat on him while he (Az-Zubayr) kept saying: “I will never return to Kufr, ever!”
Urwah said: “Az-Zubayr accepted Islam while he was a boy of eight years. A rumor went round that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been kidnapped in the upper part of Makkah. Az Zubayr rushed out with a sword in his hand. At this time, he was just a boy of twelve. Whoever saw him was surprised. They said: ‘A boy with a sword.’ When he got to the Prophet ﷺ, he asked him: ‘What is the matter with you, 0 Zubayr?’ Az-Zubayr said: ‘I have come to strike whoever has kidnapped you with my sword.’ The Prophet ﷺ prayed for him and his sword.”
I say, who is there for Islam now, 0 men, while the sanctuary of the deen is being violated and its purity is being desecrated? Where are the youths of Islam today? Where is our sense of honor? Where is our manliness when all the powers of the Earth are gathered to wipe out the faces of the deen and to humiliate its people?
Hisham bin Utwah said: “On the morning of the Battle of Jamal, Az-Zubayr gave a testament to his son, ‘Abdullah. He said: ‘There is no part of the body (i.e. his own) except that it has received an injury while fighting alongside the Prophet ﷺ, even his private part.”‘
Jibril Assumes His features
Hisham bin Urwah reported from his father that Az-Zubayr was wearing a yellow turban on the Day of Badr and Jibril came down in the semblance of Az-Zubayr.
His Jihad
He took part in many battles like Badr, Uhud, Yarmuk, Hunayn, Khandaq, He played major roles in in the conquest ofvictory over Al-Maqauqis (fortress of Babylonians) and the Battel of Jamal when he gained his martyrdom.
‘Ali bin Abi Talib said: “The bravest of men is Az-Zubayr.
His Benevolence
Abu Na’eem reported in Al-Hulyah (1/90) from Sa’eed bin Abdul Aziz, who said: ” Az-Zubayr bin Al Awwam R.A. had one thousand slaves that paid him tribute and he use to distribute it every night and then he would retmn to his house willie nothing remained with him.”
Ibn Uyainah said: “The wealth of Az-Zubayr was divided into forty million.”
His Martyrdom
Az-Zubayr was martyred on the Day of the Battle of Jamal in which he participated alongside Talhah and ‘A’ishah. May Allah be pleased with all of them. He had taken his leave from the battlefield when ‘ Ali reminded him of what the Prophet ﷺ had said.
Abu Harb bin AI-Aswad Ad-Daylee said: I witnessed that Az Zubayr set in search of ‘Ali (When they met), ‘Ali said to him, “I adjure you by Allah, didn’t you hear the Prophet ﷺ said (to you):
‘You will fight him and you will be the one who is unjust to him?” Az-Zubayr replied, “I remember.” So Az-Zubayr departed.
When Az-Zubayr took his leave, not wanting to fight, his son, ‘Abdullah met him and said : “Coward! Coward!” Az Zubayr replied to his son, “Everyone knows that I am not a coward, rather it was ‘Ali who reminded me of something that I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I have sworn that I will not fight against him.” Then he said:
Abandoning the matters the consequences of which I fear
For the Sake of Allah, is better in this world and in the hereafter.
Ibn Jurmuz stabbed him and killed him. He was buried at Wadai Siba’. ‘Ali along with his companions sat and they were weeping over his death.
Abu Zir said: The murderer of Az-Zubayr sought permission from ‘Ali and ‘Ali: said, “By Allah, whoever kills the son of Safiyyah will definitely enter Hell. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Every Prophet has a disciple and my own disciple is Az-Zubayr.”‘
‘ABDUR RAHMAN BIN AUF
May Allah give ‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf a drink from Salsabil in Paradise!
Who Was He?
He was ‘Abdr Ralunan bin Auf bin ‘Abd Auf bin ‘Abd Al Harith. He became a Muslim long before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered the House of Al-Arqam. He participated in the hijratayn (the two hijrahs) to Abyssinia. He witnessed all the battles fought by the Prophet ﷺ. He stood firmly by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the Battle of Uhud. The Prophet ﷺ prayed behind him in the Battle of Tabuk. He is one of the ten given the glad tidings of Paradise and one of the six members of the Shoorah (committee appointed by ‘Umar to decide on the Khalifah after his death). He was one of the first eight people to accept Islam. Ibn Sirin said: “Abdur Rahman bin
Auf’s name in Jahiliyyah was ‘Abd Al-Ka’bah, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ renamed him: ‘Abdur Rahman.”
His virtues
- Umm Salamah narrated that she heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ say to his wives, “He who treats you generously after I am gone is the sincere and kindly one. 0 Allah, give ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Awf drink from Salsabil in Paradise.”
- ‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got to him while he was leading the people in prayer. He wanted to step back (for the Prophet) but he signaled to him to continue and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed behind’ Abdur Rahman bin Auf.
- Busrah bint Safwan reported that the Prophet ﷺ asked her: “Who is proposing to Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah?” She said, “So and so person and ‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf.” The Prophetﷺ said: “Marry Abdur Rahman bin Auf for he is one of the best Muslims and the best amongst the Muslims is someone like him.”
From His Jihad
Ishaq narrated that’ Abdur Rahman bin Auf had two broken incisors teeth, he was left handed and he limped when he walked. He was injured on the Day of Uhud, so his teeth were broken from the injury. He sustained twenty cuts or more, some of them on his legs which is why he limped.
His Spending in the Path of Allah
- Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best of you is the one who is best to my wives.” As a result, Abdur Rahman endowed a garden to them the value of which was four hundred thousand.
- Qatadah said regarding the cause of revelation of the verse:
“Those who defame such of the believers who give charity (in Allah’s Cause) voluntarily.” (At Tawbah:79)
‘Abdur Rahman gave in charity half of his wealth valued at four thousand dinar.
His Fear of Allah and His Weeping over His Great Wealth
Sa’ d bin Ibrahim reported from his father that food was brought to ‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf to break his fast. He said, “Mus’ab bin Umair was martyred, and he was better than me, yet he was shrouded in a Burda (i.e. a sheet) so that, if his head was covered, his feet became naked, and if his feet were covered, his head became naked.” ‘Abdur Rahman added, “Hamza was martyred and he was better than me. Then worldly wealth was bestowed upon us and we were given thereof too much. We are afraid that the rewards of our deeds have been given to us in this life.” ‘Abdur Rahman then started weeping so much that he left the food.”
His Abstinence From Begging
‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf said, “When we came to Madinah as emigrants, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ established a bond of brotherhood between me and Sad bin Ar-Rabi’. Sad bin Ar-Rabi’ said (to me), ‘I am the richest among the Ansar, so I will give you hall of my wealth and you may look at my two wives and whichever of the two you choose I will divorce her, and when she has completed the prescribed period (menses) you may marry her.”
Abdur Ralunan replied, ‘I am not in need of all that. Is there any marketplace where trade is practiced?’ He replied, ‘The market of Qainuqa.’ ‘Abdur Ralunan went to that market the following day and brought some dried buttermilk (yoghurt) and butter, and then he continued going there regularly.
“A few days later ‘Abdur Rahman came having traces of yellow (scent) on his body. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ asked him whether he had gotten married. He replied in the affirmative.
The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Whom have you married?’ He replied, ‘A woman from the Ansar·.’ Then the Prophet ﷺ asked, ‘How much did you pay her?’ He replied, ‘I gave her a gold piece equal in weight to a date stone (or a date stone of gold)!’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Give a Waleemah (wedding banquet) even if with one sheep.”‘
This is how the Companions struck a balance between the world and the Hereafter. They had firm control of both worlds. He who spends this life lazily preferring unemployment and begging have betrayed his own soul, his children, his community, and his religion.
On His Deathbed
After the noble life spent by ‘Abdur Rahman fighting in the cause of Allah both with his wealth and his sword, it was time for him to take a rest and it is in death that the righteous are praised.
Ibrahim bin ‘Abdur Rahman said: ‘” Abdur Rahman became unconscious until the people around him thought that his soul had been taken. So they arose and covered him up. Just then, he came round saying the takbeer and members of his household also said ‘Allahu Akbar’. Then he said to them, ‘Did I just pass out?’ And they replied, ‘Yes’. He said: ‘You are correct. I was taken in my unconsciousness by two men. I found in both of them some severeness and discourteousness.’ They said, ‘Come along so that we may present you for judgment in the presence of Al-Aziz and Al Ameen (Allah).’ On our way, we came across a man who asked, ‘Where are you taking this man?’ They responded, ‘We are taking him for judgment in the presence of Al-Aziz, Al-Ameen.’ So the man said to them, ‘Take him back for he is among those for whom Allah has decreed happiness and forgiveness while they were yet in their mothers’ wombs. His company will still be enjoyed by his children till when Allah wishes.’ He (i.e. ‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf) lived for a month after that.”
‘Abdur Rahman bin Auf died at the age of seventy-five and ‘Uthman prayed over him. May Allah be pleased with all of them.
BILLAL BIN RABAH
The Prophet’s Muadhin
Who Was He?
He was Bilal bin Rabah, the freed slave of Abu Bakr As Siddiq. He was the Mu’adhiN (The caller to prayer) of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. He was among the forerunners to Islam who were severely tortured for the sake of Allah. He participated in the Battle of Badr and the Prophet ﷺ bore witness for him that he will be in Jannah.
His Virtues
- Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said to Bilal at the time of the Fajr prayer: “Tell me of the best deed you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal replied, “I did not do anything worth mentioning except that whenever I performed ablution during the day or night, I prayed after that ablution as much as was written for me.”
- ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said: “Abu Bakr is our chief, and he manumitted our chief’ – meaning Bilal.
- Amr narrated that Abu Sufyan came to Salman, Suhayb, and Bilal in the presence of a group of persons. They said: “By Allah, the sword of Allah did not reach the neck of the enemy of Allah as it was required to reach.” Thereupon Abu Bakr said: “Do you say this to the old man of the Quraish and their chief?” Then he came to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and informed him of this. Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: “Abu Bakr, you have perhaps annoyed them and if you annoyed them you have in fact annoyed your Lord.” So Abu Bakr came to them and said: “0 my brothers, I have annoyed you.” They said: “No, our brother, may Allah forgive you!”
- Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “The similitude of Bilal is that of a bee that ate so much sweet until it also became sweet.”
His Endurance of Torture for the Sake of Allah
Ibn Mas’ud said: “Those who first publicized Islam were seven: Allah’s Messenger, Abu Bakr, Ammar and his mother Sumayyah, Suhaib, Bilal, and Miqdad. As for Allah’s Messenger, Allah protected him with his uncle. As for Abu Bakr, Allah protected him with his people. As for the rest of them, the polytheists seized them, dressed them in steel armor and placed them in the melting heat of the sun. There is not one of them who did not accede to what they wanted except Bilal. He persevered for the sake of Allah. They handed him over to two young boys who dragged him round the mountain paths of Makkah and he kept saying: ‘Ahad! Ahad! (meatting: there is only One God).’
When the sun became scorching, his master, Umayyah bin Khalaf, would place his back on the burning sand of the desert. Then they would place him on his stomach (face down) like a barbecued chicken. They kept reinventing new methods of torture to break his will but Bilal persevered. His master would order for a heavy stone and it would be placed on his chest. Then he would taunt his victim: ‘We will never cease to torture you until you either die or you disbelieve in Muhammad and worship Al-Lat and Al-‘Uzza.’ But Bilal also never ceased to repeat: ‘Ahad … Ahad … “‘
Ibn Kathir said: “When the Adhan was ordained in Al-Madinah, he was the one who used to call the adhan in front of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ while Ibn Umm Makhtoom alternated with him. Bilal used to call the adhaan in a beautiful sonorous voice. He called the adhan on the day of the Conquest of Makkah from the roof of Ka’bah. When Allah’s Messenger ﷺ died, he abandoned the call to prayer and enlisted for Jihiid in Syria.
Revelation of the Qur’an regarding him
Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas narrated: “We were with Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, six of us. The polytheists said: ‘Send away these people, we do not approve that they attend our presence,’ and it was only myself, Ibn Masud, Billal, a man from Hadheel, and two others.” Thus, Allah revealed:
“And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon, seeking His Face.” (Al-An’am:52)
Yearning for Allah’s Messenger
Sa’eed bin’ Abdul Aziz and others reported that Bilal never called the adhan for anyone after Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. He desired to go for Jihad but Abu Bakr sought to prevent him so he said to him: “If you freed me for the sake of Allah then let me be.”
He remained in Sham until ‘Umar arrived Al-Jabiyah and the Muslims requested ‘Umar to ask Bilal to call the adhiin for them. That day he called the adhan and there was no day he ever wept as much as he did that day as a result of his nostalgia for Allah’s Messenger ﷺ.
Al-Waleed said: “We see that the adhan of the people of Sham became an imitation of hisadhan of that day.”
He remained in his military posting until he died in the plague of’ Amwas in the 18th year. (after Hijrah)
Sa’eed bin Abdul Aziz reported: “When Bilal approached death, he said: ‘Tomorrow we shall meet the beloved Muhammad and his party.’ Then his wife said: ‘Woe befalls me!’ Bilal said: ‘Joy befalls me!'”
Yes, 0 master, rejoice, for the believer, death is the bridge that connects a lover with his beloved.