On the day Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq رضي الله عنه embraced Islam, he began to invite people towards Islam. Allah Ta‘ala made him the means of many other Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم entering into the fold of Islam. Among those Sahaabah who embraced Islam through Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq رضي الله عنه was Hazrat Talhah bin Ubaidillah رضي الله عنه.
Hazrat Talhah رضي الله عنه explains:
Once, I travelled to Busraa for the purpose of trade. One day, I was in the market place of Busraa when I heard a monk calling out from his monastery, “Find out if there is anyone present here who is from the residents of the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah.” I responded, “I am a resident of the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah.”
The monk asked, “Has Ahmed صلى الله عليه وسلم appeared yet?” I asked the monk for further clarification saying, “Who are you referring to (by the name Ahmed)?” The monk replied, “The son of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdil Muttalib. This is the month in which he will appear. He will appear in the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah and migrate to a rocky land (a mountainous area) that has abundant date palms. He is the last of the Ambiyaa عليهم السلام and the final Nabi. Do not delay in following him.”
The conversation with the monk had a profound effect on my heart. I immediately returned to Makkah Mukarramah and asked the people whether anything new had transpired in my absence, when I was out on journey. They replied, “Yes, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the trustworthy, has claimed prophethood, and the son of Abu Quhaafah (Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه) has joined him.”
Without delay, I went to Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه who took me to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. On arriving in the blessed presence of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, I embraced Islam and also gave him a detailed account of what had transpired between myself and the monk at Busraa. (Al-Isaabah 3/430-431)
(Ihyaauddeen.co.za)