We have never known a man to have given a more virtuous dowry than the one given by Abu Talha to Umm Sulaym, for the dowry which she required was that he accepts Islam!" Said by the people of Madinah about Abu Talha. Zayd ibn Sahl an-Najjari, also known as Abu Talha, got a piece of news, which filled him with joy. He heard that ar-Rumaysa bint Milhan an-Najjariyah, also known as Umm Sulaym, had just become a widow. Now that Umm Sulaym was available for suitors, and given the fact that she was a lady of the highest moral and intellectual qualities, not lacking in any virtue, Abu Talha decided to take the initiative and be the first to ask for her hand, before anyone else, for there were many men who wished to be married to such a remarkable women. He was sure that she would not prefer any of her other suitors to him, for he was a mature man and of high social rank and vast wealth. In addition, he was one of the most chivalrous warriors of Banu Najjar, and one of the best archers in all of Yathrib. Abu Talha set out for the home of Umm Sulaym. While he was on his way, he remembered hearing that Umm Sulaym had listened to the Makkan preacher, Mus'ab ibn Umayr, and had believed in Muhammad, sallal-lahu alayhe wa sallam, and followed his religion. He shrugged the thought off, thinking it to be of no concern. Umm Sulaym's late husband had clung to the religion of his forefathers, refusing to have anything to do with Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and his dawah. When Abu Talha reached the home of Umm Sulaym, he asked permission to enter, and was allowed to go inside. Anas, a son of Umm Sulaym, was with her. Without hesitation, Abu Talha asked for her hand in marriage. "A man like you, Abu Talha is too good to be refused, but I will not marry you, for you are a Mushrik". answered Umm Sulaym. Abu Talha thought that Umm Sulaym was just using this as an excuse, and that she had chosen someone wealthier than he, or from a more powerful tribe, so he asked: "Tell me the truth; why is it that you do not wish to marry me, Umm Sulaym?" "Do you think that there is another reason?" she asked. "Yellow and white: gold and silver," he said. "Gold and silver!" she exclaimed. "This is what I think," he said. Then she said: "I call you to witness, Abu Talha, and I call upon Allah and His Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, to witness that if you accept Islam, I will agree to marry you, and will demand neither gold nor silver. Your Islam will be my dowry." As soon as Abu Talha heard this from Umm Sulaym he began to think of his idol, which was made of rare and precious wood and was his personal totem, in keeping with the customs of the nobility of his tribe. Umm Sulaym wished to strike while the iron was still hot, so she continued: "Abu Talha, do you not know that this deity whom you worship instead of Allah grew out of the earth?" "Of course." he answered. "Do you not feel ashamed to be worshipping part of a tree which you have fashioned into a god, when you know that others have taken the remainder of the tree and used it for fuel with which to warm their themselves or bake their bread? If you become a Muslim, Abu Talha, I will accept you as a husband, and will not ask for dowry other than your acceptance of Islam." she said "How do I go about becoming a Muslim?" he asked. "I will tell you," she answered. "You pronounce the word of truth and bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allah. Then you go home, smash your idol, and throw it away." Abu Talha looked pleased and said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Shortly afterwards, Abu Talha married Umm Sulaym. And the Muslims of Madinah said among themselves: "We have never heard of a dowry more virtuous than that of Umm Sulaym, for acceptance of Islam was what she required as her dowry