‘Uthman, al-Zubayr, ‘Abd al-Rahman, Sa‘d, and Talhah Accept Islam

Ibn Ishaq said: Among those who accepted Islam through Abu Bakr’s invitation, as it reached him, were ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, and Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd Allah. Abu Bakr brought them to the Messenger of Allah; they responded, accepted Islam, and prayed with him. The Messenger is reported to have said that whenever he invited someone to Islam, that person hesitated and deliberated, except Abu Bakr, who did not hold back or waver when he invited him.

Ibn Hisham notes that the words “through his invitation” come from a source other than Ibn Ishaq, and explains a rare verb as delaying or holding back. The editor supplies genealogical and biographical information for the Companions, drawing on established biographical dictionaries; differing names, kunyas, dates, and reports are retained as variants rather than harmonized.

The source gives the lineages and biographies of ‘Uthman, al-Zubayr, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas, and Talhah. It records that ‘Uthman migrated to Abyssinia with Ruqayyah and missed Badr while caring for her, though another report says he was ill. Al-Zubayr was among the early Muslims and took part in the migrations and battles; reports differ over his age when he accepted Islam. ‘Abd al-Rahman also made both migrations, fought at Badr, and was sent to Dumat al-Jandal. Sa‘d is described as one of the ten promised Paradise, and the Prophet prayed that his aim and supplication be answered. Talhah’s kunya was Abu Muhammad al-Fayyad; he was martyred at the Battle of the Camel.

The notes provide variant genealogies, mothers, kunyas, dates, and accounts of each man’s migrations and deaths. They record that al-Zubayr was said to have been the first to draw his sword in Islam and that he gave away his income from his dependants. Dates of death and ages differ among reports; the source preserves those disagreements.