Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who says: Sayyiduna Salman al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) related his story to me in his own words. He said: I was a Persian from the people of Isfahan, from a village called Jayy. My father was a great landowner of his village, and I was the most beloved of all Allah’s creation to him. His love for me remained so strong that he confined me to the house, always by the fire, as a girl is kept confined. I strove hard in Magianism, until I became such a servant and companion of the fire that I would keep it burning at all times and would not let it extinguish even for a moment.

My father had a great estate. One day, being occupied with a building, he said to me: “Son! Today I am busy with this building and cannot reach my estate, so you go and check on it.” He also gave me some further instructions regarding it. So I set out for the estate, and on the way I passed by a Christian church. I heard their voices and saw them praying. I did not know what the people were doing, as my father had kept me confined at home. (In any case) when I passed by them and heard their voices, I went to them and began to observe their movements. When I saw them, I liked their prayer and was attracted to their religion. I said: “By Allah! This religion is better than the one we follow.” I asked them: “Where is the origin of this religion?” They said: “In Syria.” Then I returned to my father. (Since I was delayed,) he had sent some people after me to call me back. Because of this preoccupation, I did not pay full attention to his work. When I came to him, he asked: “Son! Where were you? Did I not assign you a responsibility?” I said: “Father! I passed by some people who were praying in a church. I liked what they were doing. By Allah! I stayed with them until the sun set.” My father said: “Son! There is no good in this religion. Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better than this.” I said: “By Allah! Never. That religion is better than ours.” (Because of these feelings,) my father feared for me and put shackles on my feet and confined me at home.

I sent a message to the Christians, asking them to inform me when a Christian caravan of traders came from Syria. (After some days,) when a Christian trading caravan arrived from Syria, they informed me of its arrival. I said to them: “When the people of this caravan have finished their business and want to return to their country, let me know.” So when they wanted to return, they informed me. I removed the shackles from my feet and set out with them, and reached Syria.

When I arrived in Syria, I asked: “Who is the most virtuous person among the people of this religion?” They said: “A priest in such-and-such church.” I went to him and said: “I am attracted to this religion (Christianity), and now I wish to stay with you, serve you in the church, learn from you, and pray with you.” He said: “(Alright) come.” So I entered with him. But he was a very bad man. He would command people to give charity and encourage them, but when they brought many things, he would collect them for himself and give nothing to the poor, until he had gathered seven jars of gold and silver. I hated him for his deeds. Eventually, he died, and the Christians came to bury him. I said to them: “He was a bad man. He used to command you to give charity and encourage you, but when you brought charity to him, he would hoard it for himself and give nothing to the poor.” They asked me: “How do you know?” I said: “I can show you his treasure.” They said: “Then show us.” So I showed them the place of his treasure. They took out seven jars filled with gold and silver. When they saw what had become of the charity, they said: “By Allah! We will never bury him.” So they crucified him and stoned him with stones.

Afterwards, they brought another man in his place. Sayyiduna Salman says: Among those who performed the five prayers, I found him the best. I found him the most disinterested in the world, the most desirous for the Hereafter, and the most diligent in worship, day and night. I loved him as I had never loved anyone before. I stayed with him for some time. Eventually, his death approached. I said to him: “O so-and-so! I have stayed with you and loved you as I have never loved anyone before. Now the command of Allah (death) has come to you, and you are aware of it. To whom do you advise me to go, and what do you command me?” He said: “My son! By Allah, to my knowledge, no one is left who follows this religion. People have perished and changed, and have abandoned most of what they used to follow of the law. But there is a man in Mosul who is on this religion. Go to him.” When he died and was buried, I went to the man in Mosul. I said to him: “O so-and-so! So-and-so advised me at the time of his death to come to you. He told me that you are also on his religion.” He said: “(Alright) you may stay with me.” So I stayed with him. I found him the best man, steadfast on his companion’s religion. (After some time, signs of death appeared on him as well.) When his death approached, I said: “O so-and-so! So-and-so advised me about you and commanded me to stay with you. Now you see what is about to descend upon you from Allah. To whom do you advise me to go, and what do you command me?” He said: “My son! By Allah, to my knowledge, only one man remains on our religion, who is in Nisibis. (After my death,) go to him.” When he died and was buried, I went to the man in Nisibis. I came to him and informed him about myself and the advice of my (previous guide). He said: “Stay with me.” So I stayed with him. I found him on the religion of his two predecessors. He was the best man with whom I stayed. But by Allah, he soon became ready to die. When his death approached, I said to him: “O so-and-so! So-and-so advised me to stay with so-and-so, then he advised me to come to you. Now to whom do you advise me to go, or what do you command me?” He said: “My son! We do not know of any man who is steadfast on our religion, to whom you could go. However, there is a man in Amuriyyah. He is like us in religious matters. If you wish, go to him, for he is steadfast on our religion.” When he died and was buried, I went to the man in Amuriyyah and told him my whole story. He said: “Stay with me.” I stayed with him and found him on the character and religion of his companions.

Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I earned some wealth with him, until I became the owner of some cows and sheep. But signs of Allah’s command (death) began to appear on him as well. When his death approached, I said to him: “O so-and-so! I was with so-and-so, so-and-so advised me about so-and-so, so-and-so advised me about so-and-so, and he advised me to come to you. Now to whom do you advise me to go, and what do you command me?” He said: “My son! I do not know anyone who is steadfast on our religion and whom I could advise you to go to. But now the time of the coming of a Prophet is near. He will be sent with the religion of Abraham. He will appear in the land of the Arabs and will migrate to a city that is between two black stony tracts, and between them are date palms. He will have other signs that will not be hidden. He will eat gifts, but not charity, and between his shoulders will be the seal of Prophethood. If you are able, then go to those lands (of the Arabs).” Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Then he died and was buried. I remained in Amuriyyah as long as Allah willed.

Then a trading caravan of the tribe of Kalb passed by me. I said to them: “If you take me to the land of the Arabs, I will give you my cows and sheep.” They said: “Alright.” So I gave them my cows and sheep, and they took me with them. When they brought me to Wadi al-Qura, they wronged me and sold me as a slave to a Jew. So I stayed with him. When I saw the date palms, I began to hope that this was the city my companion had described, but I was not certain. One day, the cousin of this Jew, who belonged to Banu Qurayza, came from Madinah and bought me and took me to Madinah. By Allah! When I saw Madinah, I recognized it by the signs my companion had described (that this would be the abode of the Seal of the Prophets). I settled there.

Meanwhile, Allah sent His Messenger in Makkah, and he stayed there as long as he was destined to stay. But I did not hear any mention of him, and besides, I was busy with the work of slavery. Eventually, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated to Madinah. By Allah! (One day) I was working at the top of my master’s date palm tree, and my master was sitting below. His cousin suddenly came and said: “O so-and-so! May Allah destroy Banu Qaylah! They are gathered in Quba around a man who has come from Makkah, and they think he is a Prophet.” When I heard this, I was so shaken that I thought I would fall on my master. I came down from the date palm and said to his cousin: “What are you saying? What are you saying?” This angered my master, and he struck me hard and said: “What concern do you have with this? Go, mind your own work.” I said: “Nothing, I just wanted to verify the matter.”

Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I had some wealth that I had collected. When evening came, I took that wealth and went to Quba to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I entered upon him and said: “I have heard that you are a righteous man and your companions are poor and needy. Here is some charity I have, and I thought you were most deserving of it.” Then I placed the wealth near him. But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his companions: “Eat.” He himself withheld his hand and did not eat. I said to myself: (One sign of his Prophethood) has been fulfilled.

Then I left and collected some more wealth. Now the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had moved to Madinah. Then (taking that wealth) I went to him and said: “I think you do not eat charity, so this is a gift, and I wish to honor you with it.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ate from it himself and ordered his companions to eat, so they ate. (Seeing this,) I said to myself: Two signs (have been fulfilled).

(Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) says:) The third time I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he was in Baqi’ al-Gharqad. He had come there for the funeral of a companion, and he was wearing two garments. He was sitting among his companions. I greeted him, then turned to look at his back, to see if the seal (of Prophethood) was there, as my companion had foretold. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw me turning, he realized that I was seeking some sign of his. So he removed his garment from his back, and I saw the seal of Prophethood and recognized it. Then I rushed to him, kissed him, and began to weep. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: “Step back.” So I stepped back.

Ibn Abbas! Then I related to him my whole story, as I have related it to you, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) liked that his companions should also hear this story. Then Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) remained occupied due to slavery and could not participate with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud.

(Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) says:) One day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: “Salman! Make a contract of manumission with your master.” So I made a contract with my master that I would plant three hundred date palm saplings for him, and (in addition) give him forty ounces of gold. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Help your brother (Salman).” People helped me by giving me date palm saplings. Some gave thirty, some twenty, some fifteen, some ten; in short, everyone gave according to his ability, until I had collected three hundred saplings. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: “Salman! Go and dig the holes. When you are finished, come to me, (and I will) plant them myself.” (Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) says:) I dug the holes, and my companions assisted me. When I finished, I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out with me. We would bring the saplings near him, and he would plant them with his own hand. By Him in Whose hand is the soul of Salman! Not a single sapling died among them.

Now I had planted the date palm saplings, but the (forty ounces of) gold remained. From one of the expeditions, a piece of gold the size of a hen’s egg was brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He asked: “Where is the one who made the contract of manumission (Salman the Persian)?” I was called, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Salman! Take this and fulfill your obligation with it.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! What will this do against the debt I owe? (i.e., the debt is much greater).” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Take it; soon Allah will fulfill your debt.” By Him in Whose hand is the soul of Salman! I took it and weighed out forty ounces for my masters, paid their full right, and was freed. Then I was present with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Battle of the Trench, and after that, I missed no battle.