Another transmitter related: the two armies lined up opposite one another, and neither Ṭalḥah nor ʿAlī—the two commanders—intended to fight; rather, they hoped to discuss a way to reunite the community. But the rabble on both sides began hurling arrows, the fire of war was ignited, tempers flared, and Ṭalḥah kept calling out, “People, listen!” while the turmoil boiled over. He exclaimed, “Ah—moths to the flame, wolves driven by greed!” Then he prayed, “O Allah, take for ʿUthmān from me today until You are satisfied. We were complacent about ʿUthmān’s affair. Yesterday we were one hand against all others, and today we have become two mountains of iron, each advancing against his companion. Yet what I did concerning ʿUthmān I see no atonement for except that my blood be shed and that I seek retribution for his blood.”

Qatādah narrated—through al-Jārūd ibn Abī Sabrah al-Hudhalī—that Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam glanced at Ṭalḥah on the Day of the Camel and said, “After today I will seek no further revenge.” He then shot Ṭalḥah with an arrow and killed him.

Qays ibn Abī Ḥāzim said: I saw Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam shoot Ṭalḥah that day with an arrow which lodged in his knee; the blood continued to pour until he died. In another chain it is reported that he shot him and said, “This one was among those who helped against ʿUthmān.”

Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Anṣārī narrated from his uncle that Marwān shot Ṭalḥah, then turned to Abān ibn ʿUthmān and said, “We have spared you some of your father’s killers.”

Zayd ibn Abī Unaysah reported from a man that ʿAlī said, “Give glad tidings of the Fire to the one who killed Ṭalḥah.”