Children

From her marriage with Abu Talhah (ra), she had two more sons, Abdullah and Abu Umair. This was the same Abu Umair who had kept a pet bird named Nughair. Once, when the bird suddenly disappeared or died, the Holy Prophet (sas) jokingly said to the worried boy, ‘O Abu Umair! Look what Nughair has done to you!’1

When Hazrat Abu Umair (ra) passed away at a young age, the Holy Prophet (sas) prayed for Hazrat Umme Sulaim (ra) to have another child. Hence, Abdullah was born and from him, the lineage of Hazrat Umme Sulaim (ra) and Abu Talhah (ra) continued. On his birth, Hazrat Umme Sulaim (ra) sent the infant Abdullah with his older brother Anas to visit the Holy Prophet (sas) to get his prayers and blessings. When the Holy Prophet (sas) saw baby Abdullah in Anas’s arms he said, ‘It seems that Umme Sulaim has had a child.’ This was the same child whom the Prophet (sas) had prayed for. With the baby affectionately in the Holy Prophet’s (sas) arms, he sent for the best and most famous dates of Madinah, called ajwah. When the Holy Prophet (sas) fed Abdullah some of the date that he had chewed on and softened, Abdullah began to suckle on it. The Holy Prophet (sas) said, ‘See how the Ansaar love their dates! Even a baby is thoroughly enjoying the taste!’ The Holy Prophet (sas) then named him ‘Abdullah’ and prayed for blessings on him2. According to some references, Hazrat Abdullah (ra) later had nine sons, all of whom memorized the entire Holy Quran.