quite often with overweight luggage! We'd have fun discussing the various scenarios to expect at the airport when our bags are weighed. He would say, "Well if Abu Hakeem can get away with it, so will I... inshaa'Allaah!". In 2001 before Hajj, Abu Talhah called me and said, "I've got some news.. I'm going Hajj, inshaa'Allaah." I replied, "Maashaa'Allaah Dawood! Excellent news!" He said, "Would you like to come along?" I responded, "Love to Dawood, but can't really afford it right now. Maybe next year." So he said, "I will arrange the tickets.. just say yes." I said, "I don't want to put anyone through difficulty." He said, "So you're coming, inshaa'Allaah." I said, "Yes! Inshaa'Allaah." Generous and giving till the last, rahimahullaah. It was the most enjoyable and memorable Hajj I have performed. We stayed in some strange apartments (!!), and never left each others side throughout the nearly four weeks, and we used to often recall that Hajj (and reminisce and smile) - that we performed alongside several other brothers: Abu Amaan, Abu Hammaad, Jamaal ad-Deen, Abu Abdul-Kareem, Maqsood, Abdul-Hameed and others. After that Hajj, there was never a time that Abu Talhah went to Makkah and Madinah except that myself, Abu Hakeem and Abu Iyaad accompanied him. He was from the founders of al-Maktabah as-Salafiyyah and a pillar of its early success, as his translations and research were an invaluable part of the da'wah. It is amazing looking back at where we began in the early 90's