Virtues of Abu Talhah Zayd bin Sahl al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him)

It is narrated from Ibn Ishaq that he said: Abu Talhah Zayd bin Sahl bin al-Aswad bin Haram (may Allah be pleased with him) took part in the Battle of Badr. And it has reached me that he passed away during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) led his funeral prayer in the year thirty-three (33) AH.

It is narrated from a man of the family of Abu Talhah that Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to recite these verses: "I am Abu Talhah and my name is Zayd, and every day there is some prey upon my weapon."

Muhammad bin Umar states that the name and lineage of Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) is Zayd bin Sahl bin al-Aswad bin Haram bin Amr bin Zayd Manah bin Adi bin Amr bin Malik bin al-Najjar.

Yunus bin Muhammad al-Zafari from his father, Muhammad bin Salih from Asim bin Umar, and Ma'mar from al-Zuhri, state regarding those who took part in the Pledge of al-Aqabah that among them was Abu Talhah Zayd bin Sahl bin al-Aswad bin Haram bin Zayd Manah bin Adi bin Malik bin al-Najjar (may Allah be pleased with him). He took part in the Battle of Badr, he left descendants, and he was counted among the renowned archers from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is said that he was a man of light brown complexion and medium height. He passed away in Madinah in the year thirty-four (34) AH; Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) led his funeral prayer, and at that time he was seventy years old.

It is narrated from Urwah, regarding the names of those of Banu Amr bin Malik bin al-Najjar who took part in the Pledge of al-Aqabah and then in the Battle of Badr, that Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) was among them, and his name is Zayd bin Sahl bin al-Aswad bin Haram bin Amr bin Zayd Manah.

Ali bin al-Husayn (Zayn al-Abidin) states, regarding the hadith about digging the grave, that he said: "It was Abu Talhah Zayd bin Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) who used to dig the graves (in Madinah)."

Yahya bin Ma'in states that the name of Abu Talhah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) is Zayd bin Sahl.

Muhammad bin Sirin narrates from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is my maternal uncle, so whoever of you wishes, let him bring forward his maternal uncle." By this he (peace and blessings be upon him) meant Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), the husband of Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her). The narrator said that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said this to show his honour and nobility.