He went to visit Abu Talha al-Ansari during his illness. He said, "We found Sahl bin Hunayf with him."Abu Talha called for someone and had a patterned cloth removed from beneath him.Sahl bin Hunayf asked him, "Why are you having it removed?"Abu Talha replied, "Because it has images on it, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about such things what you already know."Sahl said, "Did he not say, 'Except what is embroidered on a garment'?"Abu Talha answered, "Yes, but this is more agreeable to my heart."
حدثنا إسحاق بن عيسى قال حدثنا مالك عن أبي النضر
أنه دخل على أبي طلحة الأنصاري يعوده قال فوجدنا عنده سهل بن حنيف قال فدعا أبو طلحة إنسانا فنزع نمطا تحته فقال له سهل بن حنيف لم تنتزعه قال لأن فيه تصاوير وقد قال فيها رسول الله ﷺ ما قد علمت قال سهل أولم يقل إلا ما كان رقما في ثوب قال بلى ولكنه أطيب لنفسي