God’s People

They will be of good cheer on meeting God While still a young man, Talhah ibn Bara’ came to the Prophet to swear allegiance to him and to accept Islam. “I am at your behest,” he vowed to the Prophet. “I will do exactly as you command.” “Even if I tell you to sever your relations with your parents?” the Prophet asked. (Talha used to look after his mother with great affection.) Talha ibn Bara’ at once prepared himself to carry out the Prophet’s command. “Talha,” the Prophet said to him, “Our religion does not teach one to sever ties. I just wanted you to be absolutely certain of your faith.” Talha ibn Bara’ came within the fold of Islam and remained a fine Muslim till the day he died. When he was suffering his final illness, the Prophet came to visit him and found him in a state of unconsciousness. “I think that Talha’ s soul will be taken up tonight,” he said. He departed then, asking to be informed when Talha regained consciousness. It was midnight before he did so, and he said that the Prophet should not be disturbed at that late hour. “He might be bitten by some harmful creature, or some enemy might do him an injury if he comes out at night,” he protested. Talha passed away that very night and the Prophet was not informed until after the morning prayer. The Prophet prayed, “Lord, meet him in such a way that both he and You are of good cheer on meeting each other.” (AL-TABARANI)