Hazrat Talha’s (ra) realisation of his Fault & his Martyrdom

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further states:

“When the companion of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Talha (ra), stood against Hazrat Ali (ra) due to a mutual conflict and when he realised that he himself was at fault, he left the battlefield.”

Now this is the account of when Hazrat Talha (ra) stood against Hazrat Ali (ra) and did not pledge allegiance to him. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) explains that initially, he was forced to pledge allegiance and later on, there was a dispute which ensued in a battle. However, when he realised that Hazrat Ali (ra) was in the right, he left the battlefield. Regarding this, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) writes:

“He was returning home when a wretched person, who considered himself to be from the army of Hazrat Ali (ra), killed him. Then, seeking a reward, he went to Hazrat Ali (ra) and said, ‘I have good news for you; I have killed your enemy Talha.’ Hazrat Ali (ra) replied, ‘On behalf of the Holy Prophet (sa), I give you the glad tiding of Hell. I heard the Holy Prophet (sa) say that Talha would be killed by a person who is Hell-bound.’”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 26, p. 385)

With reference to the same incident, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states in another instance:

“Hakim has narrated that Thaur bin Majza told him, ‘On the day of [the Battle of] Jamal, I passed by Hazrat Talha (ra) while he was nearing his final breath’”; the injuries inflicted on him left him on the brink of death, “‘and he asked, “Which party do you belong to?” I informed him that I was from the part of Hazrat Ali (ra), the Leader of the Faithful. Then Hazrat Talha (ra) said, “Extend your hand so that I may pledge allegiance [to Hazrat Ali (ra)] at your hand.” Thus he pledged allegiance at my hand after which he passed away.

“‘I then went to Hazrat Ali (ra) and narrated the entire incident to him, upon which he said, “Allah is the Greatest! God has proven the words of the Holy Prophet (sa) to be true. Allah Almighty did not will for Talha to enter Paradise without having pledged allegiance to me. He was one of the Ashra Mubasharah [ten companions given the glad tidings of Paradise].”’”

(Al-Qaul al-Fasl, Anwar al-Ulum, Vol. 2, pp. 318-319)

Though he had initially pledged allegiance out of compulsion, but as I stated earlier, he pledged allegiance wholeheartedly before his demise. He was pious and virtuous and had also been promised by Allah the Almighty that he would enter Paradise; thus Allah Almighty did not will for his end to come at a time when he was outside the fold of allegiance to the Khilafat and so, he was granted an opportunity and he pledged allegiance to the Khilafat [of Hazrat Ali (ra)].