Chapter 6: Musnad of Abu Muhammad Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah - مُسْنَدُ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ
Muhammad bin ‘AbdurRahman bin Mujabbar narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that `Uthman (رضي الله عنه) looked out at those who were besieging him. He greeted them with salam but they did not respond to him. `Uthman (رضي الله عنه) said:
“Is Talhah among the people?” Talhah said: “Yes.” He said: “Verily, to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return! I greet people among whom you are and they do not return the greeting.” Talhah said: “I returned the greeting.” `Uthman said: “This is not the way to return the greeting, I made you hear me but you did not make me hear you. O Talhah, I adjure you by Allah, did you hear the Prophet (ﷺ) say: “The blood of a Muslim is not permissible except in one of three cases: if he disbelieves after believing, or he commits zina after having been married, or he kills a soul and may be killed in return.” Talhah said: “Yes, by Allah.” `Uthman said takbeer, then he said: “By Allah, I have never denied Allah since I came to know Him. I never committed zina during the Jahiliyyah or in Islam. I abstained during the Jahiliyyah because I hated it and in Islam so as to maintain my chastity. And I have never killed anyone in return for which killing me would become permissible.”
Chapter 6: Musnad of Abu Muhammad Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah - مُسْنَدُ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ
It was narrated from Talhah bin `Ubaidullah that Two men came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and they both became Muslim, but one of them strove harder in worship than his companion. The one who strove hard in worship went out on a military campaign and was martyred. The other one remained for a year after that, then he died. Talhah said:
“I saw in a dream that I was at the gate of Paradise, and I saw them both. Someone had come out from Paradise and he gave permission to the one who died last (to enter); then he came out and gave permission to the one who had been martyred. Then they both came back to me and said to me: Go back, for your time has not yet come.” The next morning, Talhah told the people about that and they were amazed by it. News of that reached the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: “Why are you amazed?` They said: “O Messenger of Allah, this one strove harder in worship and then was martyred for the sake of Allah, but the other one entered Paradise before him?” He said: `Did he not remain for a year after (the other one) died?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “Did he not live until Ramadan came and fast it?” They said: “Yes.” He said: `Did he not pray this many rak`ahs during that year?` They said: “Yes.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Verily, the distance between them is the distance between heaven and earth.”
I sat with an old man of Banu Tameem in the mosque of Basrah who had a document in his hand. That was at the time of al-Hajjaj. He said to me: “O slave of Allah, do you think that this document could help me in any way with this governor?” I said: “What is this document?” He said: “This is a document from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) which he wrote for us to say that no transgression should be committed against us with regard to our zakah.” I said: “No, by Allah, I do not think that this document will help you at all. But what is the story about this document?” He said: “I came to Madinah with my father when I was a young boy, with some camels of ours to sell. My father was a friend of Talhah bin `Ubaidullah at-Taimi, so we stayed with him. My father said to him: “Come out with me and sell these camels of mine for me.” Talhah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden townsmen to sell for Bedouins. But I will go out with you and sit with you. Offer your camels for sale and if a man comes and makes you an offer and I think he is honest and sincere, I will tell you to sell to him. So we went out to the marketplace and showed the mounts that we had for sale, and Talhah sat nearby. People made offers to us, then when a man offered what we wanted, my father said to Talhah: “Shall I sell to him?” He said: “Yes, I am sure he is honest. So sell to him.” So we sold to him. Then when we took our money and ended our business, my father said to Talhah: “Ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for a document for us, stating that no one should transgress against us with regard to our zakah.” (Talhah) said: “This is your right and it is the right of every Muslim.” He said: “Nevertheless, I would like to have a document from the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ).” So he took us out and brought us to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), this man is a man of the desert and is a friend of ours. He would like you to write a document for him, stating that no one should transgress against him with regard to his zakah.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `That is his right and it is the right of every Muslim.” He said: “O, Messenger of Allah, he would like to have something from you in writing concerning that.” So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wrote this document for us.”
When the verse, `Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be disputing before your Lord” (az-Zumar [39:31]) was revealed, az-Zubair said: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), (is this) in addition to our disputes in this world?” He said: `Yes.` When the verse, `Then on that Day you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)” (at-Takathur [102:8]) was revealed, az-Zubair said: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), what delights will we be asked about? All we have is the two black ones - dates and water.” He said: `This will certainly take place.”
I heard `Umar (رضي الله عنه) say to ‘Abdur-Rahman, Talhah, az-Zubair and Sa`d: “I adjure you by Allah, by Whose power heaven and earth exist (Sufyan said on one occasion: by Whose leave heaven and earth exist), do you know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `We (Prophets) are not to be inherited from; what we leave behind is charity`. They said: “By Allah, yes.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Verily, for a man to carry a rope and gather firewood, then come and sell it in the marketplace and make himself independent of means thereby, so that he can spend on his (needs), is better than him asking people, whether they give him anything or not.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned both of his parents together for me on the Day of ‘Uhud (i.e., in the phrase “may my father and mother be sacrificed for you`.]
On the day of al-Khandaq, `Umar bin Abi Salamah and I were in the fort where the wives of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were, the fort of Hassan. He would lift me up and I would lift him up. When he lifted me up, I saw my father go past on his way to Quraizah, as he was fighting alongside the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of al-Khandaq. He said: “Who will go to Banu Quraizah and fight them?” I said to him when he came back: “O my father, I recognized you when you were going to Banu Quraizah.” He said: “O my son, by Allah, the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) mentioned both his parents together for me when he said: May my father and mother be sacrificed for you.`
It was narrated from az-Zubair bin al-`Awwam that a man gave a mare called Ghamrah or Ghamra` [for jihad], then he found a horse or a colt for sale which was said to be from that mare, but he was told not to buy it.
We used to pray Jumu’ah with the Prophet (ﷺ), then we would leave and seek the shade of the fortress, but we would not find any shade except (an area) the width of our feet.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There has come to you the disease of the nations before you, jealousy and hatred. Hatred is the `shaver` (destroyer) that shaves (destroys) religious commitment; it does not shave hair. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread (the greeting of) salam amongst yourselves.”
I said to az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه): “Why don`t I hear you narrating from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as I hear Ibn Mas`ood and so and so, and so and so?” He said: “I never left him since I became Muslim, but I heard something from him: `Whoever tells a lie about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.””
We said to az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه): “O Abu `Abdullah, what brought you here? You let the caliph down until he was killed, then you came seeking vengeance for him?” Az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) said: “At the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman and me, we read the verse: “And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only those) of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all the good and the bad people).” [al-Anfal 8:25]. But we never knew that it referred to us until the turmoil befell us.”
We came from Liyyah with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and when we reached Sidrah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood at one side of Qarnul-Aswad, facing it, then he turned his gaze towards Nakhibah (i.e., a valley) and he waited until all the people had stopped too. Then he said: `Hunting in Wajj and cutting down its plants is haram; it is sacred to Allah.” That was before he came to at-Ta`if and besieged Thaqeef.
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say one day: `Paradise is due to Talhah,` when he did what he did for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)(i.e., when Talhah leaned down and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) climbed on his back.)
My father az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) told me that on the day of Uhud, a woman came running, and when she was about to reach where the slain were, the Prophet (ﷺ) did not want her to see them, and he said, `The woman, the woman!` az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) said: “I thought that she was my mother Safiyyah, so I went running towards her and caught up with her before she reached the slain. She shoved me in the chest, and she was a tough woman.” She said: “Stay away from me, may you have no land!” I said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is urging you (not to go and see them).” She stopped and took out two pieces of cloth that she had with her and said: “These are two pieces of cloth that I have brought for my brother Hamzah. I have heard that he has been killed; shroud him with them.” We brought the two pieces of cloth to shroud Hamzah with them, but we saw beside him one of the Ansar who had been killed, and the same had been done to him as to Hamzah. We did not feel it was appropriate to shroud Hamzah in two pieces of cloth and to leave the Ansari with no shroud, so we said: “One piece for Hamzah and one piece for the Ansari.” We measured (the pieces of cloth) and found that one of them was larger, so we drew lots between them and shrouded each of them in the piece of cloth that was selected for him.
’Urwah bin az-Zubair told me that az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) used to narrate that he referred to the Prophet (ﷺ), a dispute with an Ansari man who had been present at Badr about the streams of the Harrah, with which they both used to irrigate their palm trees. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه): `Water (your trees), then let the water flow to your neighbour.` The Ansari got angry and said: “O Messenger of Allah, it is because he is your cousin!” The face of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) changed colour, then he said to az-Zubair: “Water (your trees), then block the water until it backs up to the bottom of the wall.” So the Prophet (ﷺ) told az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) to take all of his rights in full. Before that, the Prophet (ﷺ) had suggested to az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) something that would be good for both him and the Ansari, but when the Ansari annoyed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he told az-Zubair to take his rights in full in a clear ruling. `Urwah said: “az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) said: By Allah, I think that this verse was revealed concerning that: But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (ﷺ)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission` (an-Nisa` [4:65]).”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `This land is the land of Allah and the people are the slaves of Allah, so wherever you find something good, stay there.`
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recite this verse when he was in ‘Arafah: `Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He always) maintains His creation in justice. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise” (Surah AI-‘Imran [3:18]). And I am one of the witnesses to that, O Lord.”
By Allah, it is as if we can see az-Zubair bin al-`Awwam (رضي الله عنه) when he came to us on a white mule of his and said: “O Umm ‘Ata, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden the Muslims to eat from the meat of their sacrifices after three days.” I said: “May my father be sacrificed for you! What should we do with that which has been given to us?” He said: “As for what has been given to you, it is up to you.”
On the day of al-Ahzab, `Umar bin Abi Salamah and I were put with the women. I looked out and saw az-Zubair on his horse, coming and going from Banu Quraizah two or three times. When he came back I said: “O my father, I saw you coming and going.” He said: “Did you see me, O my son?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: `Who would like to go to Banu Quraizah and bring me news of them?` So I set out and when I came back, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned both his father and his mother for me and said: `May my father and mother be sacrificed for you.”
When we conquered Egypt without a peace deal (i.e., by force), az-Zubair bin al-`Awwam (رضي الله عنه) stood up and said: “O `Amr bin al `As, divide the land.” `Amr said: “I shall not divide it.” az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) said: “By Allah, you will divide it as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) divided Khaibar!” ‘Amr said: “By Allah, I shall not divide it until I write to Ameer al-Mu`mineen.” So he wrote to `Umar (رضي الله عنه) and `Umar wrote back to him (saying}, Leave it so that the third generation (i.e., the offspring of the foetuses currently in their mother`s wombs) may use the income from it to go out on campaign for the sake of Allah.
It was narrated from al Mundhir bin az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه) from his father that The Prophet (ﷺ) gave a share to az-Zubair, a share to his mother, and two shares to his horse.
A man came to az-Zubair bin al-’Awwam (رضي الله عنه) and said: “Shall I kill `Ali for you?” He said: “No; how can you kill him when he has the troops with him?” He said: “I will catch up with him and assassinate him.” He said: “No. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Faith prohibits assassination; no believer should resort to that.”
Al-Hasan said: A man came to az-Zubair bin al-`Awwam (رضي الله عنه) and said: “Shall I not kill `Ali for you?” He said: “How can you kill him when he has people with him?” (and he narrated a similar report.)