::: SALMAAN AL-FAARISIY :::
(Salman al
Farsi)
The Seeker after Truth
From Persia comes our hero this
time, and from Persia many came to
embrace Islam in the long run, and
it made some of them extraordinary,
unsurpassable in faith and knowledge
in religion and worldly affairs.
It is one of the wonders of Islam
and its greatness that it never
enters a country on Allah's earth
but that it exerts invaluable
influence on all its potentialities
and forces, bringing forth the
latent genius of its people and
followers. From there came forth
Muslim philosophers, physicians,
jurists, astronomers, inventors, and
mathematicians.
Behold, they reached all heights,
broke all frontiers, until the first
era of Islam flourished with great
geniuses in all fields of
intellectual activity such as
administration and science. Verily,
they came from various nations, but
their religion remained one.
The Prophet (PBUH) had prophesied
this blessed spread of his religion.
Indeed, he had been so promised by
his Almighty Lord. He had pointed to
the time, place, and day, and he had
seen in his mind's eye the banner of
Islam fluttering in all comers of
the earth and over the palaces of
its earthly rulers.
Salmaan Al-Faarisiy (The Persian)
bore witness to this and was firmly
connected with what happened. That
was on the Day of Al-Khandaq (The
Trench) in the year A.H. 5, when the
leaders of the Jews approached
Makkah to stir up the polytheists
and form an alliance against the
Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims,
asking the polytheists to enter upon
a treaty for decisive battle to
eradicate this new religion.
The ungodly war was planned: the
Quraish army and allies would attack
Al-Madinah from outside, while the
Bani Ouraidhah would attack from
within, behind the ranks of the
Muslims, who would then fall prey
and be crushed. One day the Prophet
(PBUH) and the Muslims were taken
unaware by a huge well-armed army
marching on Al-Madinah. The Qur'aan
depicts the scene thus:
<When they came against you from
above you and from below you and
your eyes turned away and your
hearts reached to your throats, and
you imagined vain thoughts about
GOD; in that place the believers
were tried and shaken most severely
> (33:10-11).
Twenty-four thousand fighters under
the command of Abu Sufyaan and 'Uyainah
Ibn Hisn were advancing on Al-Madinah
to storm it and to lay siege to it
in order to get rid of Muhammad, his
religion, and his Companions. This
army did not represent the Quraish
alone, for they were in alliance
with all the tribes, and all had
vested interests that were
threatened by Islam. It was a last
and decisive attempt embarked on by
all the enemies of the Prophet (PBUH),
based upon individual, collective,
and tribal interests.
The Muslims found themselves in a
precarious situation. The Prophet (PBUH)
assembled his Companions for
consultation. Certainly they were
gathered to reach a decision on
defence and battle, but how could
they put up a defence? And then a
long- legged man with flowing hair
for whom the Prophet (PBUH) bore
great love, Salmaan Al-Faarisiy,
held up his head and took a look at
Al-Madinah, which was surrounded by
hills, mountains, and exposed open
country which could be easily broken
through by the enemy.
Salmaan had much experience, in
warfare and its tactics in his
native Persia. So he proposed to the
Prophet (PBUH) something which the
Arabs had never seen before in
warfare. It was the digging of a
trench in the exposed places around
Al-Madinah.
And Allah knows what could have been
the position of the Muslims in that
battle had they not dug the trench,
which was no sooner seen by the
Quraish than they were stunned by
despair. The forces of the enemy
still remained in their tents for a
month, unable to take Al-Madinah,
until Allah sent them one night a
storm which devastated their tents
and tore them asunder.
Then Abu Sufyaan announced to his
forces that they should return to
where they had come from. They were
despondent and frustrated.
During the excavation of the trench,
Salmaan took his place among the
Muslims while they dug and removed
the sand. The Prophet (PBUH) was
also taking part in digging where
Salmaan was working in a group.
Their pickaxes could not smash a
stubborn rock, in spite of the fact
that Salmaan was of strong build and
hardworking. A single stroke of his
would break a rock to pieces, but he
stood in front of this stubborn one.
He let all those around him try to
break it, but in vain. Salmaan went
to the Prophet (PBUH) to ask him to
divert the trench around that
stubborn and challenging rock.
The Prophet (PBUH) returned with
Salmaan to see the rock himself.
When he saw it, he called for a
pickax and asked the Companions to
keep back from the splinters. He
said, "In the name of Allah," and
then raised his blessed, firm hands
gripping the pickaxe and let it
fall.
The rock broke, making a great
light. Salmaan said that he himself
saw that light shining upon Al-Madinah.
The Prophet (PBUH) raised the pickax
and gave a second blow and the rock
broke more. At that moment the
Prophet (PBUH) said loudly, "Allahu
Akbar - Allah is the Greatest - I
have been given the keys to Rome;
its red palaces have been lit for me
and my nation has vanquished it."
The Prophet (PBUH) struck his third
blow. Then the rock shattered and
its glittering light was seen! The
Prophet (PBUH) told them that he was
now looking at the palaces of Syria,
San'aa' and others like them, and
the cities of the world over which
the banner of Islam would flutter
one day. The Muslims shouted in deep
faith, "This is what Allah and His
Prophet have promised us!"
Salmaan was the originator of the
project to dig the trench, and he
was associated with the rock out of
which poured some secrets of the
unseen and of destiny. When he
called the Prophet (PBUH) to break
it, he stood by the side of the
Prophet (PBUH), saw the light, and
heard the glad omen, and he lived to
see the prophecy fulfilled and
abided in its living reality. He saw
the great capitals of Persia and
Rome (Byzantium), the palaces of
Sanaa', Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. He
saw every place trembling with the
blessed ecstasy which was issuing
forth from the high minarets in all
parts of the world, spreading the
light of guidance and g6odness.
And here he is sitting there in the
shade of a tree before his house in
Al-Madinah telling his guests about
his great adventures in the quest
for truth, explaining to them how he
abandoned the religion of his
Persian people for Christianity and
then for Islam. How he abandoned his
father's wealth and estate and threw
himself into the arms of the
wilderness in the quest for the
release of his tension and soul. How
he was sold in a slave market on his
way to search for truth. How he met
with the Prophet (PBUH) and how he
came to believe in him. Now let us
approach his great court and listen
to his grand tale, which he is
recounting.
I come from Isfahan, from a place
called Jai, and I was the most
beloved son of my father, who was a
figure of high esteem among his
people. We used to worship fire. I
devoted myself to fire worship until
I became custodian of the fire,
which we lit and never allowed to be
extinguished.
My father had an estate. One day, he
sent me there. I passed by a
Christian church and heard them
praying. I went in and saw what they
were doing. I was impressed by what
I saw in their prayers. I said,
"This is better than our religion."
I did not leave them until sunset,
nor did I go to my father's estate,
nor did I return to my father until
he sent people to search for me.
I asked the Christians about their
affair and prayers, which impressed
me, and about the origin of their
religion. They answered, "In Syria."
I said to my father when I returned
to him, "I passed by people praying
in a church of theirs, and I was
impressed by their prayer, and I
could see that their religion is
better than ours." He questioned me
and I questioned him, and then he
put fetters on my feet and locked me
up.
Then I sent to the Christians saying
I had entered their religion, and I
requested that whenever a caravan
came from Syria, they should tell me
before its return in order for me to
travel with them, and so they did.
I broke loose from the iron fetters
and went away. I set out with them
for Syria. While I was there, I
asked about their learned man, and I
was told that he was the bishop,
leader of the church. I went to him
and told him my story. I lived with
him, serving, praying, and learning.
But this bishop was not faithful in
his religion, because he used to
gather money from the people to
distribute it, but he would keep it
for himself. Then he died.
They appointed a new leader in his
place. I have never seen a man more
godly than he in his religion, nor
more active in his bid for the
Hereafter, nor more pious in the
world, nor more punctual at worship.
I loved him more than I had ever
loved any other person before.
When his fate came, I asked him, "To
whom would you recommend me? And to
whom would you leave me?" He said,
"O my son, I do not know anyone who
is on the path I am and who leads
the kind of life I lead, except a
certain man in Mosul."
When he died, I went to that man in
Mosul, and told him the story, and I
stayed with him as long as Allah
wished me to stay. Then death
approached him. So I asked him, "To
whom would you advise me to go to?"
He directed me to a pious man in
Nisiibiin." So I went to him and
told him my story. I stayed with him
as long as Allah wished me to stay.
When death overtook him, I asked him
as before. He told me to meet a
person at Amuriah in Byzantium. So,
to Byzantium I went and stayed with
that man, earning my living there by
rearing cattle and sheep.
Then death approached him, and I
asked him, "To whom should I go?" He
said, "O my son,1 know no one
anywhere who is on the path we have
been on so that I can tell you to go
to him. But you have been overtaken
by an epoch in which there will
appear a prophet in the pure creed
of Ibraahim (Abraham). He will
migrate to the place of palm trees.
If you can be sincere to him, then
do so. He has signs, which will be
manifested: he does not eat of
charity, yet he accepts gifts, and
between his shoulders is the seal of
Prophethood. When you see him, you
will know him."
A caravan passed by me on that day.
I asked them where they had come
from and learned that they were from
the Arabian Peninsula. So I told
them, "I give you these cattle and
sheep of mine in return for your
taking me to your land." They
agreed. So they took me in their
company until they brought me to
Wadi Al-Quraa and there they wronged
to me. They sold me to a Jew. I saw
many palm trees and cherished the
hope that it was the land that had
been described to me and which would
be the future place of the advent of
the prophet, but it was not.
I stayed with this Jew who bought me
until another from Bani Quraidhah
came to him one day and bought me
from him. I stayed with him until we
came to Al-Madiinah. By Allah, I had
hardly seen it when I knew that it
was the land described to me.
I stayed with the Jew, working for
him on his plantation in Bani
Quraidhah until Allah sent His
Prophet, who later emigrated to Al-Madinah
and dismounted at Qubaa' among the
Bani 'Amr Ibn 'Awf. Indeed, one day,
I was at the top of a palm tree with
my master sitting below it when a
Jewish man came. He was a cousin of
his and said to him, "May Allah
destroy Bani Qubaa'. They are
spreading a rumor about a man at
Qubaa' who came from Makkah claiming
that he is a prophet." By Allah, he
had hardly said it, when I was
seized by a tremor, and the palm
tree shook until I almost fell on my
master. I climbed down quickly
saying, "What are you saying? What
news?" My master gave me a nasty
slap and said, "What have you got to
do with this? Return to your work!"
So, I returned to work. At nightfall
I gathered what I had and went out
until I came to the Prophet (PBUH)
at Qubaa'. I entered and found him
sitting with some of his Companions.
Then I said, "You are in need and a
stranger. I have some food, which I
intend to give out as charity. When
they showed me your lodgings, I
thought you most deserve it, so I
have come to you with it." I put the
food down. The Prophet (PBUH) said
to his Companions, "Eat in the name
of Allah." He abstained and never
took of it. I said to myself, "This,
by Allah, is one sign. He does not
eat of charity!"
I returned to meet the Prophet (PBUH)
again the next day, carrying some
food, and said to him (PBUH), "I can
see that you do not partake of
charity. I have something which I
want to give to you as a present." I
placed it before him. He said to his
Companions, "Eat in the name of
Allah" and he ate with them. So I
said to myself, "This indeed is the
second sign. He eats of presents." I
returned and stayed away for a
while. Then I came to him, and I saw
him sitting, having returned from a
burial, and surrounded by his
Companions. He had two garments,
carrying one on his shoulder and
wearing the other. I greeted him,
then bent to see the upper part of
his back. He knew what I was looking
for, so he threw aside his garment
off his shoulder and, behold, the
sign between his shoulders, the seal
of Prophethood, was clear just as
the Christian monk had described."
At once I staggered towards him,
kissing him and weeping. He called
to me to come forward and I sat
before him. I told him my story as
you have already heard me describe
the events.
When I became a Muslim, slavery
prevented me from taking part in the
battles of Badr and Uhud. Therefore
the Prophet (PBUH) advised me, "Go
into terms with your master for him
to free you," and so I did. The
Prophet (PBUH) told the Companions
to assist me, and Allah freed me
from bondage. I became a free
Muslim, taking part with the Prophet
(PBUH) in the Battle of Al-Khandaq
and others.
With these simple clear words,
Salmaan spoke of his great, noble,
and sacrificial adventure for the
sake of Allah, seeking after the
reality of religion that led him to
Allah and helped him to find his
role in this life.
What kind of a noble person was this
man? What great superiority was
achieved by his aspiring spirit,
that restless spirit that withstood
difficulties and defeated them,
confronted the impossible and it
gave way! What devotion to the
truth, and what sincerity that led
its owner voluntarily away from the
estate of his father, with all its
wealth and luxury, to the
wilderness, with all its
difficulties and suffering. He moved
from land to land, town to town,
seeking acquaintances, persevering,
worshipping and searching for his
destiny among people, sects, and
different ways of life. And adhering
all the way to the truth with all
its noble sacrifices, for the sake
of guidance until he was sold into
slavery. He was then rewarded by
Allah the best of rewards, making
him reach the truth and come into
the presence of His Prophet. And
then He granted him longevity,
enough for him to see the banner of
Islam fluttering in all parts of the
world and His Muslim worshippers
filling its space and comers with
guidance, progress and justice!
What do you expect of the Islam of a
man with such a noble character but
to be a man of such truth! It was an
Islam of the God-fearing and
innocent. In his devotion he was
intelligent, pious, and the person
nearest to Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab.
He once stayed with Abu Ad-Dardaa',
under the same roof. Abu Ad-Dardaa'
used to pray all night and fast all
day. Salmaan blamed him for this
excessive worship. One day, Salmaan
wanted to stop him from fasting and
to say it was supererogatory. Abu
Ad-Dardaa' asked him, "Would you
prevent me from fasting for my Lord
and from praying to Him?" Salmaan
replied, "No, your eyes have a claim
upon you, your family has a claim
upon you, so fast intermittently,
then pray and sleep."
This reached the Prophet (PBUH) who
said, "Salmaan is, indeed, full of
knowledge." The Prophet (PBUH) was
often impressed by his wisdom and
knowledge, just as he was impressed
by his character and religion. On
the Day of Al-Khandaq the Ansaar
stood up and said, "Salmaan is of
us," the Muhaajiruun stood up also
and said, "Salmaan is of us." The
Prophet called to them saying, "Salmaan
is of us, O People of the House
(Prophet's house)."
Indeed, he deserved this honor!
"Ally Ibn Abi Taalib , (May Allah
honor his face) nicknamed him "Luqmaan
the Wise". He was asked about after
his death: "There was a man who was
of the People of the House. Who
among you is like Luqmaan the Wise?
He was a man of knowledge who
absorbed all the scriptures of the
People of the Book. He was like a
sea that was never exhausted!"
He was held in the minds of
Prophet's Companions with all
highest regards and in the greatest
position and respect. During the
Caliphate of 'Umar, he came to Al-Madinah
on a visit and 'Umar accorded him
what he had never accorded to anyone
before when he assembled his
Companions and said, "Come, let us
go out and welcome Salmaan!" They
received him at the border of Al-Madinah.
Salmaan had lived with the Prophet (PBUH)
ever since he met him, and believed
in him as a free Muslim, and
worshiped with him. He lived during
the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, "Umar and
"Uthmaan, in whose era he met his
Lord. In most of these years, the
banner of Islam spread everywhere,
and the treasures of Islam were
carried to Al-Madinah in floods and
distributed to the people in the
form of regular allowance and fixed
salaries. The responsibilities of
ruling increased on all fronts, as
well as duties and the overwhelming
burden of holding official posts. So
where did Salmaan stand in this
respect? Where do we see him in the
time of splendour, plenty, and
enjoyment?
Open wide your eyes. Do you see that
humble man sitting there in the
shade making baskets and utensils
out of palm fronds?
That is Salmaan. Take a good look at
him. Look at his short garment,
which is so short that it is only
down to his knees. That was him in
grand old age. His grant was 4,000
to 6,000 dirhams a year, but he
distributed all of it, refusing to
take a dirham of it, and he used to
say, "I would buy palm fronds with
one dirham to work on and then sell
it for three dirhams. I retained one
dirham of it as capital, spent one
dirham on my family, and gave away
one dirham, and if 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab
prevented me from that, I would not
stop."
What next, 0 followers of Muhammad?
What next, 0 noblest of mankind in
all ages? Some of us used to think,
whenever we heard the conduct of the
Companions and their piety -for
example, Abu Bakr, "Umar, Abu Dhar
and their brethren - that it was
based on the life of the Arabian
Peninsula, where the Arabs find
pleasure in simplicity. And here we
are before a man from Persia, the
land of pleasure, luxury, and
civilization, and he was not of the
poor but of its upper class. What
about him now refusing property,
wealth, and enjoyment, and insisting
that he live on one dirham a day
from the work of his hands? How
about his refusing leadership and
position except for something
relating to Jihaad and only if none
but he were suitable for it, and it
was forced upon him, and he accepted
it weeping and shy? How about when
he accepted leadership, which was
forced upon him, but he refused to
take his lawful dues? Hishaam Ibn
Hasaan relates from Al-Hassan: The
allowance of Salmaan was 5,000. He
lived among 30,000 people and used
to dress in a garment cut into
halves. He wore one and sat on the
other half. Whenever his allowance
was due him, he distributed it to
the needy and lived on the earnings
of his hands!
Why do you think he was doing all
this work and worshipping with all
this devotion, and yet he was a
Persian child of luxury, the
upbringing of civilization? You can
hear the reply from him. While he
was on his deathbed, the great
spirit mounting forth to meet his
Lord, Exalted and Merciful, Sa'd Ibn
Abi Waqaaa. went to greet him, and
Salmaan wept! Sa'd said, "What makes
you weep, 0 Abu 'Abd Allah? The
Prophet of Allah died pleased with
you!" Salmaan replied, "By Allah,1
am not weeping in fear of death, nor
for love of the world. But the
Prophet of Allah put me on an oath.
He said, 'Let any of you have in
this world like the provision of the
traveler,' and here I have owned
many things around me." Sa'd said: I
looked around, and I saw nothing but
a water-pot and vessel to eat in!
Then I said to him, "0 Abu "Abd
Allah, give us a parting word of
advice for us to follow." He said, 0
Sa'd, remember Allah for your cares,
if you have any. Remember Allah in
your judgement, if you judge.
Remember Allah when you distribute
the share." This was the man who
filled his spirit with riches just
as it filled him with renunciation
of the pleasures of this world, its
riches, and pride. The oath which he
and the rest of the Companions had
taken before the Prophet of Allah
was that they must not let the world
possess them and that t ;e , should
take nothing from it but the
provision of the traveller in his
bag.
Salmaan had kept the oath, yet still
his tears ran when he saw his soul
preparing for departure, fearing
that he had gone beyond the limits.
There was nothing around him except
a vessel to eat in and a water-pot,
and yet still he considered himself
lavish! Did I not tell you that he
was the nearest in resemblance to 'Umar?
During the days of his rule over the
Madinah area, he never changed his
way. He had refused, as we have
seen, to receive his salary as a
ruler, but went on making baskets to
earn his living. His dress was no
more than a gown, resembling his old
clothes in simplicity.
One day while on the road, he met a
man arriving from Syria, carrying a
load of figs and dates. The load was
too heavy for him and made him
weary. No sooner did the Syrian see
the man in front of him, who
appeared to be one of the common
people and poor than he thought of
putting the load on his shoulders
and when he reached his destination
he would give him something for his
labour. So he beckoned to the man (Salmaan,
the governor), and he came up to
him.
The Syrian said to him, "Relieve me
of this load." He carried it, and
they walked together.
While on their way, they met a group
of people. He greeted them and they
stood up in obeisance, replying,
"And unto the governor be peace!"
"Who is the governor?" The Syrian
asked himself. His surprise
increased when he saw some of them
rushing towards Salmaan to take the
load off his shoulders. "Let us
carry it, O governor". When the
Syrian knew that he was the governor
of Al-Madinah, he was astonished.
Words of apology and regret fell
from his lips, and he went forward
to grab the load. But Salmaan shook
his head in refusal, saying, "No,
not until I take you to your
destination."
He was asked one day, "What troubles
you in the leadership?" He replied,
"The pleasure of nurturing it and
the bitterness of meaning!"
A friend of his came to him one day
at his house and found him kneading
dough. He asked him, "Where is your
servant? " He replied, "We have sent
her on an errand and we hate to
charge her with two duties."
When we say "his house" let us
remember what kind of house it was.
When Salmaan thought of building it,
he asked the mason, "How are you
going to build it?" The mason was
courteous and yet witty. He knew the
piety and devotion of Salmaan, so he
replied to him saying, "Fear not. It
is a house for you to protect
yourself against the heat of the sun
and dwell in the cold weather. When
you stand erect in it, it touches
your head." Salmaan said to him,
"Yes, that is it, so go on and build
it."
There was nothing of the goods of
this world which could attract
Salmaan for a moment, nor did they
leave any traces in his heart except
one thing, which he was particularly
mindful of and had entrusted to his
wife, requesting her to keep it far
away in a safe place. In his last
sickness, and in the morning on
which he gave up his soul, he called
her, "Bring me the trust which I
left in safe keeping!" She brought
it and behold, it was a bottle of
musk. He had gained it on the day of
liberating the city of Jalwalaa' and
kept it to be his perfume on the day
of his death. Then he called for a
pot of water, sprinkled the musk
into it, stirred it with his hand
and then said to his wife, "Sprinkle
it on me, for there will now come to
me creatures from the creatures of
Allah. They do not eat food and what
they like is perfume."
Having done so he said to her, "Shut
the door and go down." She did what
he bade her to do. After a while she
went up to him and saw his blessed
soul had departed his body and his
frame. It was gone to the Supreme
Master, and it ascended with the
desire to meet Him as he had an
appointment there with the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) and his two
Companions Abu Bakr and Umar and the
noble circle of martyrs!
Long had the burning desire stirred
Salmaan. The time had come for him
to rest in peace.
