“We have never known a man to have given a more virtuous dowry than the one given by Abu Talha to Umm Sulaym RadhiAllahu anhumaa, for the dowry which she required was that he accepts Islam!” Said by the people of Madinah about Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu.

By no means shall you attain to righteousness until you spend out of what you love; and whatever thing you spend, Allah surely knows it. (3:92)

The entire City of Madinah at the time of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, could fit into Masjid Nabawi as it is now. On the northern edge of Madinah, opposite the Prophet’s Masjid was the rich fertile garden owned by Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu, where the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would stop to drink from its sweet well-water and eat from its dates.
According to the scholars, the five small domes situated at the back of Masjid Nabawi, as seen in the photo, indicate the approximate position of Bayruha, one of Abu Talha’s RadhiAllah anhu beloved properties. He was the richest man in Medina amongst the Ansar. One narration from Sahih Bukhari states: When the following Divine Verse was revealed:

You will not attain righteousness till you spend in charity of the things you love’ (3.92)

Abu Talha RadhiAllah anhu got up in front of Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Allah says in His Book, ‘You will not attain righteousness unless you spend in charity that which you love,’ and verily, the most beloved to me of my property is Bayruha, so I give it in charity and hope for its reward from Allah. O Allah’s Apostle! Spend it wherever you like.” Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam appreciated that and said, “That is perishable wealth, that is perishable wealth. I have heard what you have said; I suggest you to distribute it among your relatives.” Abu Talha RadhiAllah anhu said, “I will do so, O Allah’s Apostle.” So, Abu Talha RadhiAllah anhu distributed it among his relatives and cousins. The sub-narrator (Malik) said: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “That is a profitable wealth,” instead of “perishable wealth”.
And according to another narration it is reported that: ‘Abu Talha RadhiAllah anhu was once offering his Salaat in this garden. His attention was drawn towards a beautiful bird that flitted about, but could not find a way out of the dense foliage. For a short moment, he followed the bird with his eyes, and forgot the number of his rakaat. Upon this mishap, his sorrow knew no bounds. He repaired to the Prophet’s SallAllahu alaihi wasallam presence straightway and submitted thus: “0 Prophet of Allah, this garden of mine has been the cause of a diversion in my Salaat. I give it away in the cause of Allah. Kindly spend it as may appear proper to you.”‘ Such devotion to inspire us, Insha’Allah.
Incidents involving Abu Talha are numerous, let’s reflect upon some of them.
Anas bin Malik RadhiAllahu anhu narrated: “Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu had a child who was sick. While Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu was out, the child died. When he returned home, he asked,

“How does my son fare?”

Umm Salaym RadhiAllahu anha his wife replied, “He is quiet and in peace.”
Then she brought supper for him and he took his supper and slept with her.
In the morning the following conversation ensued:

Umm Salaym RadhiAllahu anha asked her husband,

“When a person is entrusted with something, should it be returned upon demand to the owner?” Whereupon Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu replied, “It must be delivered up, he has no right to keep it.”
It was then that Umm Salaym RadhiAllahu anha said, “Our son was entrusted to us by Allah Ta’ala, Who has taken him back.”

Abu Talha RadhiAllahu was grief stricken and immediatetly sought solace with Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and relayed the story. The Prophet
SallAllahu alaihi wasallam enquired, “Did you sleep with your wife last night?” Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu said, “Yes”. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “O Allah! Bestow your blessing on them as regards that night of theirs.”
Umm Sulaym RadhiAllahu anha gave birth to a boy. Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu took the child to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and Umm Sulaym RadhiAllahu anha sent some dates along with the child. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam took the child on his lap and asked if there was something with him. Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu, “Yes, a few dates.” The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam took a date, chewed it, took some of it out of his mouth, put it into the child’s mouth and did Tahneek for him with that, and named him ‘Abdullah.”
Abu Talha and his wife RadhiAllahu anhumaa were subsequently blessed with nine sons, all honoured as being Hafiz of the Quran.

Subhanallah, such love for Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, which in turn brings Allah Ta’ala’s Love abundantly showering the lovers of Allah Ta’ala and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. O Allah, make us to be such lovers! Ameen.

One day Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu, noticed that the Prophet’s SallAllahu alaihi wasallam voice was so weak and feeble, that he went to his wife and asked if they had any food. She said they had a few pieces of barley bread, which she wrapped in a head scarf and sent them with Anas bin Malik RadhiAllahu anhu to give to Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He found Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in the mosque with some people. He stood up near them, and Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam asked him, “Have you been sent by Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu?” He said, “Yes.” He asked, “With some food for us?” He said, “Yes.” Then Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to all those who were with him, “Get up!” He set out with all the people accompanying him and proceeded until they reached Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu’s house,

“O Umm Sulaym! Allah’s Apostle has arrived along with the people, and we do not have food enough to feed them all.” She said, “Allah and His Apostle know better.” So Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu went out and met them and invited them into the house. Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam requested Umm Sulaym RadhiAllahu anha to bring whatever she had, so she gave the barley bread to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who ordered that it be crushed into small pieces, Umm Sulaym RadhiAllahu anha pressed a skin of butter on it. Then Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said whatever Allah wished him to say to bless the food and then added, “Admit ten men.” So they were admitted, ate their fill and went out. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then said, “Admit ten more.” They were admitted, ate their full, and went out. He then again said, “Admit ten more!” They were admitted, ate their fill, and went out. He admitted ten more, and so all those people ate their fill, and they were eighty men!!
On another occasion the people of Medinah were frightened, so the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, carrying his sword, borrowed a horse from Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu called Al-Mandub, and rode it, even though it had a reputation of being exceedingly slow in pace. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam returned saying they did not see anything to be afraid of, but commented on how fast the horse was, having the energy as inexhaustible as the water of the sea. After that the horse could not be surpassed in running! SubhanAllah!
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu would hide behind the same shield when in battle with Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu was a distinguished archer. As he let the arrows fly the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would look at the target of his arrows, but Abu Talha would say,

“I would ransom you with my own parents, so do not try to get a look at them, for they may shoot you. I would rather that my own throat and chest be shot than that yours should be, and I would sacrifice myself for you.” SubhanAllah!

According to another Sahih narration by Anas RadhiAllahu anhu, it was Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anh upon the instruction of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, who went down into the grave of one of the daughters of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to bury her. SubhanAllah!

It was a common practice of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum to make alcohol from a mixture of dry and ripe dates, called Fadeikh, They used to gather socially, drinking to the stage of intoxication. One day on the outskirts of Madinah, Anas RadhiAllahu anhu was serving Abu Talha, Abu Ayyub and others RadhiAllahu anhum when an announcer came with the message that liquor was declared unlawful. It was said that a person had been found dead with liquor in their stomach.

Then Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, revealed:

There shall be no sin imputed unto those who have believed and done good works for what they may have eaten as long as they fear (Allah) and believe and do good works. (5: 93)

Without any discussion or debate or even remorse, Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu immediately began poring all the liquor over the ground, with the others assisting. They never reverted to it, nor even asked about this after this revelation. How instant was their resolve to follow the Commands of Allah Ta’ala. Until recently, the ruins of a small Masjid marking the place of this incident was visible, but now no more.

Read more here

Insha’Allah, may we be transported back in time as we glance at the place of Abu Talha’s RadhiAllahu anhu garden, the above photo being one of the five domes marking where his lush garden provided a cool retreat for our Dear and Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May we make time to read more about the lives of the ones Allah Ta’ala has favoured, the ones who spent so much of their lives in the company of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the ones who sacrificed for the entire Ummah, facing trials and tribulations. Allah Ta’ala in His Ultimate Wisdom, presented such circumstances to them, testing them, to make them pure and steadfast in Iman, like burnished gold. Allah Ta’ala was generating in them the power to sacrifice their personal desires and preferences in obedience to His Commands and for the sake of attaining His pleasure.
How much are we ready to reform OUR SELF for the sake of the Ummah?

[This post is a rewrite of one that was long ago gobbled up by the system. While quietly sitting in the courtyard looking at the series of domes decorated with the intricate bands of blue, the heart skips to the love Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu had for our Blessed Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and how we need to also strive to emulate the love the Sahabah RadhiAllahu ahum had for him SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and even more so during the last days of this Mubarak month that commemorates his noble birth and his departure from this worldly existence.]

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.