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Abu Bakr and Talha

Abu Bakr had, until shortly after his conversion, been a wealthy, influential, and well
respected citizen of Mecca, but now, on account of the boycott, he was no longer
wealthy and his influence had dwindled amongst the unbelievers. There had been a time
when all would turn to him with their troubles when he would either help financially or
give sound advice, but now many of those whom he had helped turned away and
shunned him.

One day, when Abu Bakr and his cousin Talha were taking a stroll, Nawfal -- whose son,
Aswad had embraced Islam under the hand of Abu Bakr – and a company of others
attacked the pair, tied their hands and feet together and left them lying on the road for
passersby to see and mock.

In those days it was customary for the tribe of the injured party to revenge themselves
against the offender, but the leaders of the tribe of Taym, to which Abu Bakr belonged,
chose to ignore the incident which was a clear indication that they now considered him
to be of little or no standing.