Salmaan al-Farisi

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Jannah particularly yearns and longs to meet four of my followers: Ali, al-Miqdad, Ammar, and Salmaan. [Hilyatul Awliya Wa Tabaqat ul Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] In praise of Salmaans quest for Islam the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The Sabiqun (forerunners in responding to Allahs Message) are four: I am the forerunner of the Arabs, Suhayb is the forerunner of the Byzantines, Salmaan alFarisi is the forerunner of the Persians, and Bilal is the forerunner of the Abassinians. [Hilyatul Awliya Wa Tabaqat ul Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] Salmaan was a devout fire-worshipper in Persia who ended up becoming one of the dearest men to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). In his attempt to find his true Creator, and worship Him in worships purest form, he went from being Zoroaster to Christian to Muslim. Till his death, his words and his example hold lessons for all those who desire to follow in the foot steps of the men who became dearest to Allah (subhana wa taala). Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Jibreel, the Trustworthy Spirit, descended upon me, and he told me that Allah, the Most Exalted, particularly loves four people from among my Sahabah. People asked: O Messenger of Allah, who are they? He replied: Ali, Salmaan, Abu Dhar, and al-Miqdad. [Hilyatul Awliya Wa Tabaqat ul Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani]

Custodian of the Fire

The story of Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) begins in Persia, which is why he was called al-Farisi (the Persian). His story, in his own words, told to Abdullah ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) is as follows: I grew up in the area of Isfahan, in Persia, in the town of Jee. I was the son of one of the Dihqans (chiefs) of Jee. My father was a landlord and he loved me more than he loved any other human. He had kept me at home as girls are kept protected and I strived to increase in knowledge of Persian and Zoroastrianism. My father had a great amount of property which he was occupied in taking care of. I was a keeper of the fire, which is never allowed to die out. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] In other words, Salmaans father was a man of authority and a respected member of society. Persians, prior to Islam, were mostly Zoroastrians. Every community had to have a fire that was supposed to be kept lit continuously. He was devoted to the Zoroastrian religion and became well versed in it, so much so that he attained the position of custodian of the fire which they worshipped. Dedicated to serve the fire, Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) enjoyed an important holy position. His duty was to see that the fire remained burning and did not go out for a single hour, day or night.

As his father was very protective of him he would not let him go anywhere. He feared so much to lose Salmaan or have something happen to him that he kept him at home as a veritable prisoner. As a result, Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) knew nothing of the world except the fire.

First Exposure
Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) continues his tale: One day my father was occupied with work at home, so he said to me, O my son! You see that I am busy here, so why dont you go and follow up on the work in the fields. But dont get way laid any where so that I end up having to leave the work of the property and start worrying about you instead. I went out to take care of the estate and passed by a Christian church. They were praying at that time. I inclined towards them and was impressed by their method of prayer. I said to myself, By God! This religion is better than our religion. I remained with them until the sun set. I ended up not having gone to the fields nor had I returned home to my father. As I felt drawn to their religion, I asked the Christians where it had its origins. They replied that the Christian religion originated in Shaam (Greater Syria). [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Because of my delay in reaching home my father had sent people out to look for me. When I returned home my father said, Young man! Where were you? I sent people out to look for you! I replied, I happened to pass by a community that was praying in a church. I liked their religion and have come to the conclusion that their religion is better than ours. My father said, Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better than their religion! I said, By God, not at all! My father feared for me and so he imprisoned me. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Young people are generally more honest with themselves and look more objectively at things as they have less to lose. We see in this straightforward exchange the honesty and simplicity of Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) not just with himself but also with his father. Since he had been kept so sheltered Salmaan al-Farisi didnt play any tricks or know any word games. Social interaction can lead us to become hypocritical. Salmaans father was dismayed. Afraid that his son might leave their religion he put a chain on his feet to prevent him from going anywhere. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) says: I managed to sneak a message out to the Christians. I told them of my agreement with their religion and asked them to inform me if anybody planned to travel to Shaam. They did so. I took the shackles off my feet and set out with them. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] The desire to recognize Allah, to be closer to Him and understand His Will was very strong in Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu). It is what impelled him to leave the only land, family, and way of life he knew. Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) set out in search of the truth and after testing his sincerity, Allah (subhana wa taala) brought him to the religion that would answer all his questions and give him peace of mind and soul.

From Iran to Syria to Iraq to Turkey

Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) says: We reached Shaam where I asked the whereabouts of their greatest religious scholar and went to him. I told him my story and said that I would like to serve him and pray with him. He allowed me to stay and so I attached myself to his service. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] This is what an intelligent person does. When they need important information they try to get it straight from the source. This is why when Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) reached Shaam he asked for the person who was the authority in their religion and was told of a bishop in a particular monastery. Whoever is sincere in seeking guidance needs to do the same. They need to go to the authentic narrations of Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam); they need to go to the literal words of their Creator in the form of the Quran; and they need to go to the compilations in which are preserved the lives of the best generation of Muslims (the Sahabah), vouched so by Allah. These are the highest authorities we should seek Islam from. The way to become close to Allah (subhana wa taala) is to see what He says about Himself in the Quran. The way to become dear to Him is by trying to be like His Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and the Sahabah; because they are the ones whom Allah (subhana wa taala) says earned His eternal Pleasure and were pleased with Him. When we want to top a class we try to learn from the best teachers and keep the company of the best students those who seek excellence themselves. So if we are true in our desire to enter Jannah, shouldnt we do the same? Shouldnt we try to keep the company of those who made it there - Rasul Allah and the Sahabah? We can do so by studying their modes of behaviour, the things they worked for in life, the things they rejected, their aims, their hopes, their failures, the things that made them happy, and the things that made them sad. What do we do instead? We get our Islam from TV, from movies, from here-say, from third rate scholars, and then say that we were seeking guidance! The Qadr of Allah (subhana wa taala) was that the man whom Salmaan was referred to was in fact a very corrupt Christian. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) says: He used to command people to give in charity and when people would donate he would keep it with himself. In this way he accumulated seven pots of gold and silver with himself. Then he died and I informed the people about him and showed them the stolen wealth. So they refused to bury him and stoned him instead. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) had traveled all the way from Persia to Shaam searching for the truth but ended up in the wrong hands. He was directed to a bishop who was perceived by the people as being righteous while he was in fact evil. He would hold out the promise of blessings to them but when they gave anything to spend in the path of Allah he would hoard it for himself. His character was in shambles. But the true face of this man was known only to Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu). Did this deter him from looking any further for the truth? No. Somebody who sincerely wants the truth will keep looking for it. Such incidents will not turn them away from their search. We can say that this was a test from Allah (subhana wa taala) to see how determined he really was. Another person might have said that I tried but truth is nowhere to be found.

Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was not thrown off course by his experience because deep down inside every human being knows what is right and what is not. When Allah (subhana wa taala) created Adam (alaihis salam) He also created all the souls who were to come into existence till the Day of Judgement. He (subhana wa taala) then asked all of us, Am I not your Lord? All of us replied, Yes. We do testify! Allah (subhana wa taala) mentions this incident in the Quran [7:172] as a reminder of the pledge we made with Him, committing ourselves to worship none but Him. Good souls listen to that inner voice of truth while bad ones suppress it and follow their desires. When Abu Jahl decided not to follow Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) it was not because he did not believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, but because he did not want to give up his evil ways or his authority. Similarly, when the majority of the Jews in Madina refused to accept Islam it was because of their superiority complex over the Arabs and their resultant jealousy that the Messenger of Allah should be from among the Bani Ismail and not the Bani Ishaq as they had been expecting. Otherwise, they recognized Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) clearly from the descriptions of him present in their scriptures. A person accepts the truth in this world only when they desire to accept it, and can rid themselves of biases. On the Day of Judgement, however, everyone will have to confront it. In place of the corrupt bishop the people brought a righteous and ascetic Allahfearing person, who longed for the Hereafter. Allah (subhana wa taala) put the love of the new bishop in Salmaan al-Farisis heart and he remained in his service for a long time. We can say that this was probably a reward for him from Allah (subhana wa taala) for his persistence. When this bishop was about to die, Salmaan asked him to guide him to another person like him so that he could continue to learn. The bishop told him that there were not too many on earth who were on the right path, but that there was a bishop in Mosul (in present day Iraq) who was on the same religion. Then the bishop died. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] After the death of the bishop Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) traveled to Mosul in search of the man. Traveling in those days was not easy but it was easier for Salmaan to travel than to suppress his desire for following in the rightly guided way. He found him and told him how he had been referred to him. The man allowed him to stay. He was a righteous man and Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) remained with him till the time of his death approached. Once again Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) asked to be guided to a righteous person. I dont know of anyone who follows our way except for a man in Amuriya (in present day Turkey), he said. So yet again, Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) set out to seek the company of the righteous. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] We see that Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was tenacious in his search for the truth and determination to live in the company of the rightly guided. He did not get disheartened or give up easily. In days when traveling was not without severe hardships, Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) went from his homeland in present day Iran to Syria, then to Iraq, and then to Turkey.

Await the Prophet

He says: I arrived in Amuriya (part of the Eastern Roman Empire) and informed this bishop about myself. He told me to stay with him. Salmaan started living with him and he also did some business as a result of which he was able to save some money and buy some goats and cows. When the bishop was about to pass away Salmaan asked him who he would recommend him to go to. The bishop said: I do not know of anybody who is like us but the time is close for the coming of the prophet who will be on the religion of Ibraheem (alaihis salam). He will migrate to the land which has date palm trees. He possesses clear signs by which you can recognize him. Between his shoulders is the seal of prophethood. He eats from what is presented to him as a gift. He does not eat from what is given as charity. If it is possible for you, then try to reach him. Having said this, the bishop passed away. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn alAthir] Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) had been told that he would find this prophet in the land of the Arabs. So when a caravan of the Bani Kalb happened to pass by, he offered them his goats and cows in exchange for taking him to their city. They took him to Wadi al-Qura (a place between Madina and Syria) but then broke their agreement and sold him as a slave to a Jew. When Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) saw the date palm trees over there he felt that he had arrived at the right place. He stayed with the Jew who had bought him until a Jew of the Bani Quraizah bought him and took him to Madina. As soon as he saw Madina, he knew that this was it. Madina, the city of date palm groves, perfectly fit the description of the land of the Prophets immigration that the bishop at Amuriya had given. So he kept working as a slave in his masters date palm plantation while he waited for the arrival of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) went from being the keeper of the fire in his land, a high and honorable position, to working as a slave in Madina while waiting for the arrival of the last Prophet of Allah. Words cannot describe the strong desire that Salmaan al-Farisi had for the truth. This is something that one can only feel. May Allah (subhana wa taala) give us all that kind of desire for the truth. Ameen. Allah (subhana wa taala) commissioned Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) with Islam but I did not find out. For thirteen years the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was busy calling people to Islam in Makkah but Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) did not find out about it because of the harsh duties which slavery had imposed upon him. The Prophet he had been waiting so long for had been charged with his mission.

The Prophet Arrives in Madina

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) arrived in Madina and was staying with the tribe of Umru bin Auf. Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) says: I was at the top of a date palm tree when my masters nephew arrived and said, May God destroy the Banu Qeela! I just passed by them while they were gathered around a man who has come from Makkah and claims to be a Prophet. By Allah! When I heard this I became so happy that I started to shiver violently with happiness, so much so that I almost fell off the palm! So I quickly climbed down and asked him to repeat what hed said. My master gave me a terrible blow. What do you have to do with this! Continue with your work! he shouted. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir]

I continued with my work till nightfall. Then I took some dates which I had gathered and came with them to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was with his Sahabah at Quba. I went to him and said: I have accumulated something that I would like to give in charity. It has reached me that you are a righteous man and that you have companions with you who are in need. I see that you are more deserving of it than others. With this I placed the dates in front of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told his Sahabah to eat but he himself did not eat of it. The Sahabah began to eat and I said to myself, This is one sign! and returned. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) went from Quba to Madina. I gathered some more dates and brought these to him, and said, I honour your piety and have brought this as a gift for you. It is not charity. Of this gift of dates, both he and his Sahabah ate. I said to myself, This is the second sign of his being the awaited prophet! and I returned home. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Then I came to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) again one day. He was following a funeral into Baqi Gharqad. His Sahabah were around him. I greeted him and then went behind him to look for the seal of prophethood. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) understood my intention and lowered the cloth on his shoulders a little. I saw the seal of prophethood, kissed it, and began to cry. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told me to sit in front of him and I recounted to him my entire tale, just as I am now recounting it to you O Ibn Abbas! The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was pleased to hear about me, and wanted his Sahabah to also hear my tale. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir]

Buying His Freedom

Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) was not able to participate with the Muslims in either the battle of Badr or Uhud. So the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) to try to buy his freedom from his Jewish master. Salmaan kept requesting his master to name his price till his master agreed to free him in exchange for 300 date palm trees and 40 ounces of gold. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told the Sahabah to help their brother by providing him with date palm seedlings. So the Sahabah (radi Allahu anhum) began to bring seedlings to him. Some brought five, some ten, whatever each could manage, until Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) had 300 with him. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told him to make holes for the seedlings but not to plant them himself. So Salmaan al-Farisi began to make the holes for the seedlings with the help of the Sahabah (radi Allahu anhum). Then Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) planted all 300 seedlings himself. Salmaan would bring the seedling to him and Rasul Allah would lower it into the ground and level the earth over it. Due to the Barakah of Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) not a single seedling died. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Now Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) needed 40 ounces of gold. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told him that he would help him with that as well. After a little while someone brought a piece of gold to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) which

was the size of an egg. He had gotten it from a mine. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked for Salmaan al-Farisi and gave it to him to give to his master. When it was weighed it turned out to be exactly 40 ounces. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) said: Allahs Messenger helped me with an egg of gold. Even if I had weighed it against the mountain of Uhud, it would have been heavier than the mountain. With this taken care of, Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) became a free man again! [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] The manner in which the Sahabah (radi Allahu anhum) came together to help Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) to overcome the difficult financial situation he was in, provides us with an excellent example of what the ties of brotherhood in Islam entail. Salmaan al-Farisi was a Persian man who had ended up in slavery. He was not ethnically related to the Sahabah. But the Sahabah (radi Allahu anhum) honoured their bond of Islam more than any other bond and so did not leave Salmaan to deal with his situation alone. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked all the Muslims to help him and each did according to his ability. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) joined Salmaan al-Farisi in brotherhood with Abu Dardaa (radi Allahu anhuma). The Prophet had paired each Muhajir with an Ansaar. The Ansaar were the settled inhabitants of Madina while the Muhajireen had immigrated and left extended family and wealth behind for the sake of being with the Muslim community in Madina. The Ansaar acted as the best of blood brothers to the Muhajireen and this greatly helped them to settle down.

Mastermind of the Trench

Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) was to play an important role in the struggles of the growing Muslim state. Ghazwa Ahzab (The Battle of the Allies, also known as The Battle of the Trench) was the first Ghazwa that Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was able to participate in. After this he was present in every Ghazwa alongside the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] For Ghazwa Ahzab, it was Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) who suggested digging a trench (khandaq) around Madina to keep the Quraish army at bay. The allies had 10,000 men while the fighting force of the Muslims was a meager 3000. The trench along with Madinas natural fortifications rendered the allied cavalry useless and locked the two sides in a stalemate. When Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Makkans, saw the trench, he said, This strategm has not been employed by the Arabs before. This innovation in military strategy proved to be very useful to the hugely outnumbered Muslims in defending themselves, their families and their city from the vast number of Kuffar who had gathered from all over Arabia to exterminate them and the fledgling Islamic State. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) was a strong man. While the Muslims were digging the trench the Muhajireen and the Ansaar both claimed Salmaan as being one of them. On hearing them Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) declared: Salmaan is one of my household; i.e. he is one of the Ahl-e-Bait. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir] Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was one of the closest people to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Aisha (radi Allahu anha) narrates that he would sit with the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) at night and he was so dear to him that I was

concerned he might replace even me in closeness to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir]

Salmaan Sends a Proposal

Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) decided to marry a woman from the tribe of Bani Laith. He took Abu Dardaa (radi Allahu anhu) with him to ask for her hand in marriage on his behalf. When they arrived at that familys house Salmaan waited outside while Abu Dardaa sought permission and entered to speak to her father. Abu Dardaa spoke highly of his friend Salmaan al-Farisi, his illustrious qualities, his early acceptance of Islam and his lofty companionship of Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Abu Dardaa then informed the family of Salmaans intention. The girls father replied: We will not give our daughter in marriage to Salmaan, but should it be your wish, we will be honoured to give her hand to you in marriage! Abu Dardaa felt favoured and honoured to accept the offer. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] When Abu Dardaa came out of the house hours later he said to Salmaan (radi Allahu anhuma): Something else happened here today, and I am ashamed to tell you about it! Salmaan asked: What is it, and why were you there so long? When Abu Dardaa told him the story Salmaan congratulated him and remarked: I am the one who should be ashamed of himself before you my brother, for seeking to betroth a woman Allah has destined to be your wife! [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] We need to look at the sincerity of the Sahabah, how pure their hearts were! Compare this to the meanness and pettiness in us today. What would our reactions have been were we in Salmaans place? Could we have resigned ourselves happily to Allahs Qadr?

Salmaan Gets Married

Later on Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) got married to a most beautiful and rich woman from Kinda. After the wedding ceremony which took place at a relatives house, Salmaans friends walked with him in a procession to the brides house. When they arrived at her door, Salmaan turned to his companions and said: Now you may return to your homes, may Allah reward you for coming to bless this wedding. Hence, Salmaan did not invite them to enter his brides house, nor did he introduce her to them as per the so-called civilized popular customs of the culture of the time in Persia. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] It is amazing to see how the customs inspired by the Shaitaan are the same now as they were at the time of Salmaan al-Farisi! Actually, since Shaitaan is the same, it should not be surprising that his attempts at corrupting us are the same. Many Muslims feel no compunction in having non-Mahram men look at their made up bride. They feel no need to keep this delicacy for their eyes alone but allow all manner of flies to contaminate this dessert that Allah (subhana wa taala) has given specially to them. Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was not such a man. He

valued the morality of Islam and did not hesitate to ask others to respect his practice of it. When Salmaan looked at the dwellings of his wealthy wife and found the house fully draped, he commented: Are your walls damaged by humidity or something so that you had to cover them, or was the Kabah, the House of Allah Almighty, moved to Kinda? Hence, Salmaan did not enter the house until all the decorative curtains were taken down except for the curtain covering the main entrance door. Finally, when he entered the house, he found it excessively furnished as well, and he asked: To whom does this furniture and its fineries belong? The family of the bride replied: To you and to your wife! Salmaan responded: My bosom friend (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not advise me thus. My bosom friend (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) advised me not to append more accessories and furnishings than a traveler would carry with him for a short journey. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] When we compare this to the overly furnished and decorated houses of the Muslims today it becomes clear that as a community we have decided to focus on the life of this world and not that of the everlasting Akhirah. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and the Sahabah sent as much as they could ahead of them, to build as bright a future for themselves as they could. For most Muslims now the future means at most old age, so narrow has their vision become. Allah (subhana wa taala) sent Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to broaden our visions, to show us the vastness of Jannah and its everlasting beauty, but we insist on clinging to the life of this world. He informed us that our earthly existence was only a very small bridge between our life in Alam-e-Arwah (state of existence when we were souls) to our next existence in Alam-e-Barzakh. But we build houses on this bridge as though it were our final destination! Salmaan then saw several servants in the house, and he asked: What are these female servants doing here? The family of the bride replied: They are here to serve you and your wife! Salmaan pondered for a moment and said: My bosom friend (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not advise me thus. He advised me to only keep the woman I wed in my house. Should I become attracted to their silkiness and femininity, and should I victimize any of them, they would have brethren, and my sin will be equal to theirs (i.e. their brothers would take revenge on me and I would be responsible for their sin too). [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] Do we bother to consider the ramifications of our pleasure loving lifestyles? Do we stop to think as Salmaan al-Farisi did at every turn whether something is good for us or not? Or do we rush headlong to grab every luxury possible? Salmaans (radi Allahu anhu) love of Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) put a break on everything for him till he judged what his beloved friend Rasul Allah would have thought about it. That was his yard stick by which he measured the worthiness of deeds. A simple test to understand what the driving force in your life is, is to check what your first thought is when a situation presents itself to you. What is the first thing that goes through your mind? Is it your business, your family, your colleagues, your friends, your job, your superiors, or is it Is this going to bring me Allahs Pleasure, or What did Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) say about this? Checking your thoughts will let you know whether you are Akhirat oriented or Dunya oriented.

Salmaan looked again and he saw other maidens attending to his wife, and he addressed them by saying: Are you going to stay here all night? Wouldnt you be so kind as to leave me alone with my wife? They replied in the affirmative and they withdrew and left the house. Salmaan followed them to the door, and he locked the main entrance, and closed the curtain behind it. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat alAsfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] When he returned to his bride, Salmaan sat with her for a moment, and he gently anointed her forehead with his hand, prayed for Allahs blessings upon their union, and he said to her: Would you be willing to do something if I ask you? She replied: I am sitting in the company of a sire who must be obeyed. Salmaan then said: My bosom friend (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) advised me that when I join with my family, we should first join together in praying to Almighty Allah, and to do what pleases Him. Following that conversation Salmaan and his bride went to separate quarters in their house for prayer, and they prayed as much as Allah willed. When they concluded their prayers, they joined together in their matrimony, and Salmaan satisfied in her what a husband satisfies with his wife, and she satisfied in him what a wife satisfies in her husband. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] In the morning some of his friends saw him and they asked him: How did you find your Persian wife? Salmaan ignored their question and turned to the other side. His friends insisted on asking the same question again, and Salmaan pretended not to hear it. On the third time, he retorted: Allah Almighty created the curtains, the veils, and the doors to conceal what is behind them. Therefore, must one of you ask a question, it should relate to what he witnesses, and on the other hand, what is veiled to his knowledge, he should refrain from investigating. I heard Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) say: Whoever talks about his wedding night to a friend, the bride and the groom will be like two donkeys mounting one another in the open. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] When Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) became a Muslim, he used the advice of the Prophet of Islam to judge everything. We simply do what weve always seen being done. We dont have convictions strong enough to stand up for them. We either assume whats being done must be right or we simply dont care whether it is right or not. But this is not the attitude of those whom Allah (subhana wa taala) loves and befriends. A mother constantly counsels her children so that they can stay out of danger. She tries to keep the child away from heights, she warns him against trying to touch the fire in the fireplace, she tells him not to play with sharp objects, she educates him not to put acidic or poisonous substances in his mouth. Allah (subhana wa taala) loves us at least seventy times more than our mothers love us. It is out of His desire to see that we do not get harmed that He has spelt out for us the things to do and the things not to do. Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was one of those who cared to stay out of eternal harms way and so he cared to find out and live by all of Allahs guide lines.

Salmaan the Governor of Madain

Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) was appointed the governor of Mada'in (Ctesiphon) near Baghdad. He was commissioned to govern over thirty thousand men, and he was given a salary of five thousand dirhams, most of which he distributed in charity. Once he had spent his wage, he never solicited more. His light infrequent meal sometimes did not exceed more than a handful of dates or grains, and he lived a simple modest life. Salmaan had a single oversized timeworn cloak which he rolled up and held by hand to ease his movement. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] When some people came to Mada'in and saw him working in the palm groves, they said, You are the Amir here and your sustenance is guaranteed and you do this work! Despite being the governor he liked to earn his livelihood by working with his hands. When he earned some money, he used to buy meat, or fish, and invite the deprived ones to share in his meal. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] Once while he was the governor someone mistook him for a labourer and hired him for some work. Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) did not get affronted but completed the work and took the wages decided on. He had no false pride. He understood that the only thing worth being proud of was to be an inhabitant of Jannah. Hence no one on earth should take pride in any position or status when they do not know where they will end up. He did not take pride in anything except being a Muslim. When he would be asked whose son he was, he would say: I am Salmaan, the son of Islam, from the children of Adam.

Souls in Prenatal Existence

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated from Allah's Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) that he said: People are like mines of gold and silver; those who were excellent in Jahiliya (during the days of ignorance) are excellent in Islam, when they have an understanding, and the souls are troops collected together and those who had a mutual familiarity amongst themselves in the store of prenatal existence would have affinity amongst them (in this world also) and those who opposed one of them, would be at variance with one another. [Sahih Muslim] There is no way to know of the world in which souls exist before they come into bodies on earth, and there is no way to know what happens to them after the death of the body they inhabit, except through revelation. It is only through revelation that we find out that those souls who loved each other in the state of prenatal existence find each other out and love each other in this world also. There is a very interesting story regarding Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) narrated from al-Harith bin Umaira: I once went to the marketplace in the city and I met some friends with whom I chatted a little. Somewhere within the range of my view, I noticed a man wearing an old worn garment, and he was sitting in front of his house, busy wielding a red leather belt. When he perceived that I noticed him, he looked at me, nodded his head, and he made a gesture with his hand, and he shouted, O servant of Allah, wait in your place for me! I immediately stood up and I asked my friends, Who is that man? They replied, This is Salmaan! Meanwhile, the man went inside his house, and he came out shortly after that wearing a clean white robe, and he

cheerfully hastened towards me, shook hands with me, and he then said to me, How are you doing? I was in shock, and I said to him, O servant of Allah, who are you? We have never met before this day, nor do we know each other! What do you want? Salmaan replied, But of course! I swear by Him Who holds the destiny of my life that as soon as I saw you, my soul recognized your soul. Are you not al-Harith bin Umaira? I said in amazement, expecting him to explain himself, Indeed I am! He continued, I heard Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) say, Souls are loyal soldiers. Among them, those who recognize the sovereignty of Allah will know one another and live in harmony; while those that negate the sovereignty of Allah, will disagree and be indifferent towards one another. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani]

The Ocean of Knowledge

Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) had vast knowledge. That combined with the hardships he had undertaken to become close to Allah (subhana wa taala), made wisdom intuitive to him. People asked Ali (radi Allahu anhu), O prince of the believers, tell us something about your close companions. Ali (radi Allahu anhu) replied, Which one of my companions do you want to know about? They said, The companions of Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) of course! Ali further inquired, All of the companions of Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) are my companions. Which one do you want me to talk about? They replied, Tell us about those of whom you spoke most reverently, and affectionately, and who are most blessed, -tell us about Salmaan al-Farisi! Ali (radi Allahu anhu) then said, Who else besides Salmaan do you expect to be a gnostic of the prophetic caliber of Luqmaan alHakeem? Salmaan is one of us, the family of Ahl al-Bait, the household of Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), and he is a blessed treasure of which we all benefit. He fathomed the primal knowledge and the ultimate one, and he read both the primal book and the last revelation. Surely, Salmaan is an inexhaustible ocean of knowledge. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] A man from the tribe of Bani Abbas once traveled with Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu). When they reached the Dajla, Tigris River, they stopped to drink some water. Salmaan said to his companion, Drink more! The man replied, My thirst is quenched. Salmaan instanced, Do you see how much your drink of water has decreased this river? The man replied with astonishment, And what could a mans drink of water decrease of this giant river? Salmaan replied, Knowledge is like that! It is an ocean, and it does not diminish. Take from it what benefits you. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] What knowledge was Salmaan al-Farisi talking about when he said, Take from it what benefits you? After all, one could easily spend several lifetimes and not even be able to master a quarter of the knowledge currently known to man. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) himself beautifully explained what knowledge is beneficial that one should sweat over. He said: Knowledge is an ocean, and surely ones span of life in this world is too short to encompass all of it, and no one can ever encompass all of it. Get the share of knowledge which is most advantageous for your religious success, and forego the

balance. You do not have to suffer its greater hardships. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] When we look at our own pursuit of knowledge how much of it is for religious success? Is it making us better prepared to answer the three questions well be asked in our graves and the five questions well be asked on the Day of Judgement? For what end are we undertaking its greater hardships? Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) had knowledge of both the Christian scriptures and the Quran, in addition to his earlier knowledge of the Zoroastrian religion. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) translated parts of the Quran into Persian during the life of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). He was thus the first person to translate the Quran into a foreign language. Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) was ascetic but not extreme in his asceticism. He always remained within the boundaries of Islam. He once visited Abu Dardaa and found his wife Ummu Dardaa (radi Allahu anhum) emotionally upset and neglectful of her appearance. Salmaan asked her, What is upsetting you? She replied, It seems that your brother Abu Dardaa has lost interest in this world. He stands up all night in prayers, and he fasts his days! [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] Later on, Salmaan invited Abu Dardaa to visit him, and he presented him with some food. Abu Dardaa replied, I am fasting. Salmaan said, I will not eat until you eat! Abu Dardaa felt some pressure to share food with Salmaan, hence he broke his (nafl) fast and stayed overnight at Salmaans house. In the middle of the night Abu Dardaa woke up to pray, Salmaan was up, and he delayed him for a moment and said, O Abu Dardaa, surely your Lord has rights upon you, your family has rights upon you, and your body has rights upon you! Give each one of them their due rights. Therefore, you may fast, break your fast, sleep, and have marital relations, etc. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] Before dawn Salmaan said to Abu Dardaa, Let us go now. Hence, they refreshed their ablution, prayed two Rakaat at the house, after which they went to join the congregational prayer at the Masjid. As soon as Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) finished leading the prayers, Abu Dardaa went to him and told him what Salmaan had done. Allahs Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) reiterated, O Abu Dardaa, surely your body has rights upon you and he repeated everything exactly as Salmaan had said it. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim al-Asfahani] Abu Dardaa (radi Allahu anhu) settled in Shaam while Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) settled in Iraq, after these lands came under the government of Islam. Abu Dardaa wrote a letter to Salmaan (radi Allahu anhuma) informing him, Allah has since blessed me with wealth and sons and I reside in the holy land. Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) wrote back to him: You wrote to me that Allah has blessed you with wealth and sons, so you should realize that an excess of wealth or offspring is not beneficial; rather, what is good for you is that your forbearance and longanimity (hilm) be in excess and that your knowledge be beneficial (for your Akhirah). You also wrote to me that you have settled in the blessed holy land, although you should know that the earth does not perform deeds on anyones behalf. You need to do deeds as though you see Allah before you. [Usdul Ghabah by Ibn al-Athir]

His Death
According to the most reliable account, Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) died in the year thirty-five after the Hijrah, during the caliphate of Uthman (radi Allahu anhu), at Madain. Baqira, the wife of Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) said: When death approached Salmaan, he was staying in a room on the second floor of the house. His room had four doors, one facing each direction. Salmaan called me and said, O Baqira, today I am having special guests who are neither Jinn nor humans. Leave all the doors wide open, for I do not know through which of the doors they will enter. Salmaan then asked me to bring some powdered musk, mix it in water, and to sprinkle it around his bed. When I had done so he said to me, You may go downstairs now and wait there, when you come up later, you will find me on my bed. I did what he asked me to do, and sometime later, when I went to see him, I found him laying in his bed, his soul had departed, and he looked peaceful, just like someone resting. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim alAsfahani] On Salmaans death all that came out of his house were no more than a days provision for a single person, a saddle blanket, a couple of cooking utensils, and twenty dirhams. [Hilyat-ul Awliya wa Tabaqaat al-Asfiya by Imam Abu Naim alAsfahani] Because of the influential household to which Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) had belonged, he could have become a major figure in the sprawling Persian Empire of his time. But his desire to lead a life that was closest in conformity to that which pleased his Creator, made him renounce a comfortable and affluent life and even suffer the indignities of slavery. His example shows us that if someone is sincere in seeking guidance Allah (subhana wa taala) definitely guides him. Allah (subhana wa taala) says in the Quran: When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. [2:186] Allah (subhana wa taala) says in a hadith qudsi: Take one step towards me, I will take ten steps towards you. Walk towards me, I will run towards you. But we have to take that first step! When Musa (alaihis salam) was running away from Firawn with the Bani Israil, and they became trapped with the sea in front of them and Firawns army behind them, Allah (subhana wa taala) told Musa (alaihis salam) to hit the water with his stick. Hitting water with a stick does not do anything. It is by the will of Allah that the sea parted to make a passage for the Bani Israil, but Allah (subhana wa taala) wanted to impress on us that reliance upon Allah (subhana wa taala) does not exclude us from playing out part, no matter how insignificant it may seem. So for anyone seeking the truth, the first step is the effort that he has to make. In Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) we have an example of a person intent on finding Allah. So Allah (subhana wa taala) rewarded him with guidance due to his perseverance. Allahs guidance is not to be under-estimated. It is a great reward that saves a person from the eternal darkness and punishment of Hellfire. It is a huge

favor on the one who takes that first small step and does not suppress the inner voice which pushes each human being towards the truth we testified to in Alam-eArwah. Another striking facet of Salmaan al-Farisis personality is his desire to stick to the advice and instructions of his Creator and for this to put aside his own preferences and the norms of society. So we see repeatedly his use of the phrase my bosom friend (i.e. the Messenger of Allah) told me or my bosom friend did not tell me so. Then Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) would do only what he knew to be conveyed from Allah (subhana wa taala) through His Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). How many are the preferences of Allah (subhana wa taala) that we know about but dont bother to live our lives by! If you have a car but refuse to drive it, it wont take you anywhere. If you have money but refuse to spend it, it wont buy you anything. Similarly, if you have knowledge but refuse to live by it, it wont entitle you to Jannah. Salmaan al-Farisi gave up everything to follow the commands of his Creator: his national pride, his status, his wealth This is something that we need to think about today as we struggle with our baseless arrogances, our prejudices and our desires. We do not even hesitate to displease Allah (subhana wa taala) to obtain some meager worldly benefits. We bet everything on the gains of this Dunya, whereas Salmaan al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) bet everything on the life of the Akhirah. Building ones Akhirah necessitates that one practice Sabr - calmness in the face of suffering and adversity; self control; patient endurance. This was one of Salmaan alFarisis strengths that allowed him to reach the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and remain faithful to what he learned from him. The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) had placed his hand on Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) and said, By the One in Whose Hands is my soul, even if faith were near Ath-Thurayyaa (Plaeiades, the seven stars), men from amongst these [i.e. Salmans folk] would surely attain it. [Sunan at-Tirmidhi]