The Walking Martyr
Thalhah bin Ubaidillah was one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) guaranteed entry to paradise. A hero of Uhud, he protected the Prophet and earned the title of ‘the martyr walking on the face of the earth.’ On one occasion, Thalhah travelled to Sham as a merchant, journeying with a caravan. Although still young, he had a keen aptitude for strategy in trade; he was shrewd and clever, able to outwit older merchants.
When the caravans reached Basrah, a city in the Sham region, the traders quickly entered the market. It was then that an intriguing event occurred for Thalhah, an event that would change the trajectory of his life entirely.
Suddenly a monk cried out, “O merchants, is there among you anyone from the city of Mecca?” Coincidentally, Thalhah stood not far from the monk and approached him. “Yes, I am from Mecca,” Thalhah replied.
“Has Ahmad appeared among you?” the monk asked him.
“Ahmad? Where is Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Abdul Muthalib? He will this month emerge as the seal of the Prophets. He will migrate to your land, moving from the land of the black-stone with many palm trees. He will go to a fertile land, one that yields water and salt. You should go to meet him, young man!” the monk advised.
The monk’s words left a lasting impression on Thalhah. He immediately saddled his camel and returned to Mecca, disregarding the caravan that remained in the market. Upon arriving in Mecca, Thalhah asked his family, “Has there been any important event in Mecca since I left?”
“There has. Muhammad bin Abdullah claims to be a Prophet. Abu Bakr believes him and has followed what he says,” they replied.
“I know Abu Bakr. He is a generous, kind-hearted, soft-spoken trader. We have been friends for a long time.”
“Many people admire his company because he is an expert in Quraysh history and knows the lineage of the tribe well,” Thalhah murmured.
He then sought out Abu Bakr to seek news of what he had heard. “Is it true that Muhammad bin Abdullah has become a Prophet and that you follow him?”
“Yes,” Abu Bakr replied.
Abu Bakr then recounted the story of Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the first event in the Cave of Hira to the revelation of the first verse. After that, Abu Bakr invited Thalhah to embrace Islam.