Talha ibn Ubaydullah

Ancestry and early life Talha was born c. 594, A member of the Taym clan of the Quraysh in Mecca, Talha was the son of Ubayd Allah ibn Uthman ibn Amr ibn Ka'b ibn Sa'd ibn Taym ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib and of al-Sa'ba bint Abd Allah, who was from the Hadram tribe. Talha's lineage meets with that of Muhammad at Murra ibn Ka'b.

Career during Muhammad's era (610–632) Conversion and persecution in Mecca Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall describes how Abu Bakr, after embracing Islam, immediately urged his closest associates to do likewise. Among them were Talha, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, Uthman ibn Affan, and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas. Talha is said to have been among the first eight converts. Talha gave them Syrian garments and mentioned that the Muslim community in Medina had said that their prophet was slow to arrive. As Muhammad and Abu Bakr continued to Medina, Talha returned to Mecca to put his affairs in order. Soon afterwards, he accompanied Abu Bakr's family to Medina, where he settled. Abu Bakr soon reached their location to check Muhammad's condition first, who immediately instructed Abu Bakr to check the condition of Talha, who had already passed out due to his severe blood loss and his hand was left paralysed. Talha is said to be the anonymous believer counted as a "martyr" in . Abu Bakr also called the Battle of Uhud "the day of Talha".

Career during the Rashidun Caliphate (632–656) Defense of Medina and the Ridda Wars

In the third week of July 632, Medina faced an imminent invasion by the apostate forces of Tulayha, a self-proclaimed prophet. Abu Bakr immediately formed organised elite guard units al-Ḥaras wa al-Shurṭa to defend Medina, appointing Talha, Ali ibn Abi Talib and Zubayr each overseeing roughly one-third of the newly organised force.

Strategic Counsel and the Shura Council

Throughout the Rashidun era, Talha served as a high-ranking member of the Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council). While Umar initially intended to lead the army himself, Following the advice of Ali to delegate command rather than leading the expedition himself, Umar appointed Al-Nu'man ibn Muqrin to lead the main force to Nahavand, with reinforcement commands delegated to Zubayr, Tulayha, Amr ibn Ma'adi Yakrib, and others.

Death at the Battle of the Camel

Tomb of Talha ibn Ubayd Allah at Basra, Iraq Talha was killed at the Battle of the Camel on 10 December 656. Several conflicting narratives have been provided to explain how it happened. According to one account, during the battle, Marwan ibn al-Hakam, who was fighting on the same side as Aisha, shot Talha in the thigh. Another account attributes Talha's death to being killed by Ali's supporters while retreating from the field. Talha hugged his horse and galloped off the battlefield. He lay down using a stone as a pillow, while the auxiliaries tried to staunch the blood flow. Whenever they stopped pressing, the bleeding resumed. In the end, Talha said, "Stop it. This is an arrow sent by God." He died of this injury, aged 64. The known descendants of Talha by his various wives and concubines have divided into six lines.

Wealth Talha was a successful cloth merchant who eventually left an estate estimated at 30 million dirhams.