Abu Talha ibn Thabit

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Harith ibn Rab'i (Arabic: حريث بن ربيع‎) was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Hi full name was Zayd ibn Sahl ^[1], known as Abu Talha ibn Thabit ^[2] al-Ansari ^[3].

1 Biography
2 See also
3 References

[edit] Biography

[edit] Family

He married Umm Sulaym, the mother of Anas ibn Malik. They had a son named Abdullah ibn Abu Talha ^[1] and another one that did not survive ^[4].

[edit] 610 – 632: Muhammad's era

Abu Talha was one of the richest of the Ansar in Madinah. He owned a water well known as the Ha Well. It was close to the Prophet’s Mosque and Muhammad used to drink from it ^[2].

USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts writes:

“

When it was known that Umm Sulaym had become a widow, one man, Zayd ibn Sahl, known as Abu Talhah, resolved to become engaged to her before anyone else did.

He was rather confident that Umm Sulaym would not pass him over for another. He was after all a strong and virile person who was quite rich and who possessed an imposing house that was much admired. He was an accomplished horseman and a skilful archer and, moreover, he belonged to the same clan as Umm Sulaym, the Banu Najjar ^[1].

”

A narration attributed to Anas ibn Malik reports:

“

the son of Abu Talba who was born of Umm Sulaim died. She (Umm Sulaim) said to the members of her family: Do not narrate to Abu Talha about his son until I narrate it to him. Abu Talha came (home) ; she presented to him the supper. He took it and drank water. She then embellished herself which she did not do before. He (Abu Talha) had a sexual intercourse with her and when she saw that he was satisfied after sexual intercourse with her, she said: Abu Talha, if some people borrow something from another family and then (the members of the family) ask for its return, would they resist its return? He said: No. She said: I inform you about the death of your son. He was annoyed, and said: You did not inform me until I had a sexual intercourse with you and you later on gave me information about my son. He went to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and informed him what had happened. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: May Allah bless both of you in the night spent by you! He (the narrator) said: She became pregnant. Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) was in the course of a journey and she was along with him and when Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came back to Medina from the journey he did not enter (his house) (during the night). When the people came near Medina, she felt the pangs of delivery. He (Abu Talha) remained with her and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) proceeded on. Abu Talha said: O Lord, you know that I love to go along with Allah's Messenger when he goes out and enter along with him when he enters and I have been detained as Thou seest. Umm Sulaim said: Abu Talha, I do not feel (so much pain) as I was feeling formerly, so better proceed on. So we proceeded on and she felt the pangs of delivery as they reached (Medina) and a child was born and my mother said to me: Anas, none should suckle him until you go to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) tomorrow morning. And when it was morning I carried him (the child) and went along with him to Allah's Messenger (may peace beupon him). He said: I saw that he had in his hand the instrument for the cauterisation of the camels. When he saw me. he said: This is, perhaps, what Umm Sulaim has given birth to. I said: Yes. He laid down that instrument on the ground. I brought that child to him and placed it in his lap and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) asked Ajwa dates of Medina to be brought and softened them in his month. When these had become palatable he placed them in the mouth of that child. The child began to taste them. Then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: See what love the Ansar have for dates. He then wiped his face and named him 'Abdullah.

^[4]

”

Sunnis tend to view this as Sahih and have included it in Sahih Muslim

[edit] 632 – 634: Abu Bakr's era

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[edit] 634 – 644: Umar's era

He was given a role by Umar during The election of Uthman. Umar ordered Abu Talha to lead the Muslims in prayer during the interregnum, and also to watch the members of the electoral committee during their deliberations. He also gave him fifty armed men to enable him to carry out his duties. These men were to act, if necessary, as executioners ^[3].