Salman the Persian

Salman the Persian or Salman al-Farsi (Persian: سلمان فارسی‎, born روزبه Rouzbeh, Turkish: Selman-ı Farisî, Arabic: سلمان الفارسي)‎ was one of the most loyal companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. In addition, Salman was the first Persian convert to Islam. During some of his later meetings with the other Sahabah, he was referred to as Abu Abdullah ("Father of Abdullah"). According to some traditions, he was appointed as the governor of Mada'in in Iraq. According to popular Shia tradition, Muhammad considered Salman as part of his household (Ahl al-Bayt). He was a renowned follower of Ali ibn Abi Talib after the death of Muhammad.

Birth place

Salman was born either in the city of Kazerun in Fars Province, or Isfahan in Isfahan Province, Persia.

Titles

Abu Hurairah is said to have referred to Salman as "Abu Al Kitabayn" (The father of the two books, i.e., the Bible and the Quran) and Ali is said to have referred to him as Luqman al-Hakeem (Luqman the wise - reference to a wise man in the Quran known for his wise statements)

Traditional Biography

According to some tradition, Salman, whose original name in some traditions is said to be Rouzbeh, was said to be born into a Zoroastrian priestly family. He said to have converted to Christianity at a young age. Shia tradition relates that he heard from the priests of the coming of another prophet and started searching for him and after going through many hardships, and phases, was captured as a slave and brought into Medina. Muhammed is said to have bought him and freed him.

Battle of the Trench (Khandaq)

It was Salman who came up with the idea of digging a great trench around the city of Medina to defend the city and its people from the army of 10,000 non-Muslims of Arabia. Muhammad and his companions agreed and accepted Salman's plan because it was safer and there would be a better chance that the non-Muslim army of Arabia would have a larger number of casualties. The attack that the Muslims had expected, is known as the Battle of the Trench.

While some sources gather him with the Muhajirun, other sources narrate that during the Battle of the Trench, one of Muhajirun stated "Salman is one of us, Muhajireen", but this was challenged by the Muslims of Medina known in Arabic as the Ansar. A lively argument began between the two groups, each of them claiming that Salman belonged to their group, and not to the other group. Muhammad arrived on the scene, and heard the argument. He was amused by the claims, but he soon put an end to their arguments by saying: "Salman is neither Muhajir nor Ansar. He is one of us. He is one of the People of the House, ahl al-Bayt."

Death

When exactly Salman died is unknown, however it is probably during Uthman ibn Affan's reign or the second year of Ali's reign. One source states that he died in 32 AH/652 or 653 AD in the Julian calendar, while another source says he died during Uthman's era in 35 AH/655 or 656 AD. Other sources state that he died during Ali's reign.

A Prophetic Narratation

A measure of Salman's scriptual attainment can be gleaned by the following prophet's narrations or Hadith. The second narration implies that Salman could also read Hebrew.

Narrated Abu Juhaifa:

The Prophet made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda.' Salman paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda' and found Um Ad-Darda' dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied, "Your brother Abu Ad-Darda' is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world." In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda' came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu Ad-Darda' to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda' said, "I am fasting." Salman said, "I am not going to eat unless you eat." So, Abu Ad-Darda' ate(with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abu Ad-Darda' got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda' slept. After sometime Abu Ad-Darda' again got up but Salman told him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer. Salman told Abu Ad-Darda', "Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on you." Abu Ad-Darda' came to the Prophet and narrated the whole story. The Prophet said, "Salman has spoken the truth."

Narrated Salman al-Farsi:

I read in the Torah that the blessing of food consists in ablution before it. So I mentioned it to the Prophet (peace be upon him). He said: The blessing of food consists in ablution before it and ablution after it.

There are Ahadiths narrated by Salman, two of which read as follows:

"The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven."

"The Messenger of Allah (ï·º) was asked about fat, cheese, and furs, so he said: 'The lawful is what Allah made lawful in His Book, the unlawful is what Allah made unlawful in his Book, and what He was silent about; then it is among that for which He has pardoned.'" [Abu 'Eisa said:] There is something on this topic from Al-Mughirah, and this Hadith is Gharib, we do not know of it being Marfu' except from this route. Sufyan and others reported it from Sulaiman At-Taimi, from Abu 'Uthman, from Salman as his own saying. It is as if the Mawquf narration is more correct. I asked Al-Bukhari about this Hadith and he said: 'I do not think it is preserved. Sufyan reported it from Sulaiman At-Taimi from Abu 'Uthman, from Salman in Mawquf form.' Al-Bukhari said: "Saif bin Harun is Muqarib (Average) in Hadith, and as for Saif bin Muhammad from 'Asim, his narrations are left."]

Quotation

I am Salman, the son of Islam from the children of Adam.

Works

He translated part of the Quran into Persian, thus becoming the first person to interpret and translate the Quran into a foreign language.

Shia view

Shias, Twelvers in particular, hold Salman in high esteem for a hadith attributed to him, in which all twelve Imāms were mentioned to him by name, from Muhammad.

Ali Asgher Razwy, a 20th-century Shia Twelver Islamic scholar states:

If anyone wishes to see the real spirit of Islam, he will find it, not in the deeds of the nouveaux riches of Medina, but in the life, character and deeds of such companions of the Apostle of God as Ali ibn Abi Talib, Salman el-Farsi, Abu Dharr el-Ghiffari, Ammar ibn Yasir, Owais Qarni and Bilal. The orientalists will change their assessment of the spirit of Islam if they contemplate it in the austere, pure and sanctified lives of these latter companions.

Sufi view

Sufis refer to him often; in the Oveyssi-Shahmaghsoudi order and Naqshbandi order, Salman is the third person in the chain connecting devotees with Muhammad.

See also

• List of non-Arab Sahabah
• Sulaym ibn Qays

References

External links

• Salmān al-Farsi (رضي الله عنه)