- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) related: A son of Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) fell ill. While Abu Talhah was out, the child passed away. When he returned he asked, “How is my son?” Umm Sulaym—the boy’s mother—answered, “He is quieter now than he has ever been.” She then served him supper; he ate, and afterwards had marital relations with her. When they had finished she said, “Bury the child.”
The next morning Abu Talhah went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him what had happened. The Prophet asked, “Did you spend the night together?” He replied, “Yes.” The Prophet then said, “O Allah, bless the two of them.” She later conceived and gave birth to a boy. Abu Talhah said to me, “Carry him to the Prophet ﷺ,” and he sent some dates along with the baby. The Prophet asked, “Have you brought anything with him?” I said, “Yes, a few dates.” He took the dates, chewed them, placed the chewed pulp in the child’s mouth, performed the taḥnīk, and named him ʿAbd Allāh. (Agreed upon)
In another report collected by al-Bukhārī, Ibn ʿUyaynah said: A man from the Anṣār remarked, “I later saw nine sons of that very ʿAbd Allāh, and all of them had memorized the Quran.”
Muslim’s version states: A son of Abu Talhah by Umm Sulaym died. She said to her family, “Do not inform Abu Talhah about his son until I am the one who tells him.” When he came home she served him supper, and he ate and drank. She then adorned herself for him more beautifully than ever before, and he was intimate with her. Once she was sure he had eaten his fill and satisfied his desire, she said, “O Abu Talhah, what would you say if…"