Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) had a son from Sayyidah Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) who passed away. She told her family members not to inform Abu Talhah about his son until she herself told him. Eventually, Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) came home, and Sayyidah Umm Sulaym presented the evening meal before him. He ate and drank, then Umm Sulaym adorned herself well for him until he had intercourse with her. When Umm Sulaym saw that he was satisfied and had been intimate with her, she said, “O Abu Talhah! If some people entrust something to the people of a household and then ask for it back, can the household prevent them from taking it?” Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “No, they cannot prevent them.” Sayyidah Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “Then hope for reward from Allah for your son (because the son had passed away).” Upon hearing this, Abu Talhah became angry and said, “You kept me unaware until I became impure with you (i.e., had intercourse), and now you inform me about my son?” He went and informed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about this. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “May Allah bless you in the night you have spent.” Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) became pregnant. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was on a journey, and Umm Sulaym was with him. Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned from a journey to Madinah, he would not enter Madinah at night. When the people neared Madinah, Umm Sulaym began experiencing labor pains, and Abu Talhah stayed with her while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) proceeded. Abu Talhah said, “O Lord! You know that I love to go out with Your Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) when he goes out, and to enter with him when he enters, but You know the reason I have stayed behind.” Umm Sulaym said, “O Abu Talhah! I no longer feel the pain as before, so let us go.” So we set out, and when both of us reached Madinah, Umm Sulaym again began experiencing labor pains and gave birth to a boy. My mother said, “O Anas! Do not let anyone nurse him until you take him to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the morning.” When morning came, I took the child and brought him to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When I arrived, I saw that he had an iron tool for branding camels in his hand. When he saw me, he said, “Perhaps Umm Sulaym has given birth to a boy?” I said, “Yes.” He put the tool down from his blessed hand, and I placed the child in his lap. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called for some dates of Madinah (ajwah), chewed them in his blessed mouth, and when they became soft, he put them into the child’s mouth. The child began to suck on them, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “See how much the Ansar love dates!” Then he passed his hand over the child’s face and named him Abdullah.