Abdul Rasool Syed
SALMAN, The Persian, originally named Ruzbeh, a great companion of Holy Prophet (SAW) was born into an affluent family in Jayyan near Isfahan in Persia. His father, the Chief of his town and a Zoroastrian priest, loved his son so much that he, out of fear of losing him, confined him in house. Initially, Salman (RA) was a follower of the Magian religion and was assigned the task of keeping the “holy fire “alive which people of his tribe worshipped. But Salman (RA) was not satisfied with his ancestral religion. He was, in fact, absorbed in quest for truth. One day, his father sent him to oversee the affairs of the estate. On his way, Salman (RA) passed by a Christian church and heard the sound of melodious prayer. He entered the church and got impressed by Christian mode of worship. On his return, Salman (RA) told his feelings about Christianity to his father who was a staunch Magian. His father enraged and chained him up inside the house. The Christians had told Salman (RA) that the grand priest lived in Syria, so Salman (RA) asked to be informed of the next caravan leaving for Syria. When he got news, he broke the shackles and escaped.
In Syria, he sought out the leading bishop, became a Christian and entered into his service in the church. He, however, found the bishop to be corrupt and exposed his practices after the bishop’s death. The bishop was replaced by a pious man who was greatly devoted to worship day and night. After his death, Salman (RA) attached himself to various Christian religious figures, in Mosul, Nisibis and elsewhere. The last one had told him about the appearance of a Prophet in the land of the Arabs (the city full of palm-trees) who would have a reputation for strict honesty, one who would accept a gift but would never consume charity (sadaqah) for himself. He would also have the seal of the prophethood on his back. Salman (RA) then paid people from the Kalb, an Arab tribe in Ammuriyah, to take him to Arabia. The tribe broke the agreement and sold him as a slave to a Jew. The Jew sold Salman (RA) as a labourer to his nephew of the Banu Qurayzah who took him to Yathrib (later called Madinah), the city of palm trees. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived in Madinah, Salman was overjoyed and wanted to see him but his master hit him and refused to let him go.
When Salman (RA) eventually managed to see the Prophet (peace be upon him), he offered dates he said was meant for charity, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused to eat it. Salman (RA) visited him again with some dates and presented it to him as a gift. Then the Prophet (SAW) accepted it and ate them along with his companions. Then when Salman went to look at the Prophet’s back, the Messenger of Islam (SAW) lowered his cloak so Salman (R.A) could see the mark on his back. Realizing this was the Holy Prophet (SAW), Salman (R.A) fell to his knees, kissed the prophet’s feet and started crying. This is how he ultimately reached the truth and embraced the true faith (Islam). Salman (R.A) was noted for his vast knowledge and wisdom. Ali (R.A) said of him that he was like Luqman, the Wise. And Kab al-Ahbar said: ‘Salman is bursting with knowledge and wisdom. He is an ocean that does not dry up.’ Salman (R.A) had knowledge of both the Christian scripture and the Quraan in addition to his earlier knowledge of the Zoroastrian religion. Salman (R.A) also had a credit of translating the Holy Quraan into Persian language during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (SAW). He was thus the first person to translate the holy book into a foreign language.
Salman (RA) proved to be an innovator during the Battle of Khandaq when he suggested that Muslims dig a defensive trench on the front-lines against the large pagan force attacking Madinah. This helped keep the Muslims safe and Allah later granted them victory. Salman (RA) is also remembered as the barber of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Almost every barber shop in Turkey is adorned with plates with inscription of following verse: Every morning our shop opens with the Bismillah-Hazret-i Salman-i Pak is our pir and our master. It is narrated in book of traditions that the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Allah has commanded me to love four men, for He too loves them. They are Ali, Abu Dhar, Miqdad and Salman.’ It has also come in another Hadith that ‘Each Prophet had seven helpers and protectors, I was given fourteen. Ali, Hasan and Hussain, Hamzah, Abu Bakr, Umar, Masaab Ibn Ameer, Bilal, Salman, Amar, Abdullah Ibn Masood, Abu Dhar and Miqdad.’ Salman (RA) led a very ascetic life and had only one O’clock which he wore and slept on. He received a salary of 5,000 dirhams, which he distributed among the poor as charity. He died in Ctesiphon during the Caliphate of Caliph Uthman. He is said to have written the following poem on his enshrouding cotton: “I am heading toward the Munificent, lacking a sound heart and an appropriate provision, While taking a provision (with you) is the most dreadful deed, if you are going to the Munificent”…
— The writer, an Advcate, based in Quetta Balochistan.
