Salman the Persian or Salman al-Farsi, born Ruzbeh, was a companion of the
Islamic prophet Muhammad and the first Persian convert to Islam. During some of
his later meetings with the other Sahabah, he was referred to as Abu
Abdullah. He is credited with the suggestion of digging a trench around
Medina when it was attacked by Mecca in the Battle of the Trench. He was raised
as a Zoroastrian, then attracted to Christianity, and then converted to
Islam after meeting Muhammad in the city of Yathrib, which later became Medina.
According to some traditions, he was appointed as the governor of Al-Mada'in
in Iraq. According to popular Shia tradition, Muhammad considered Salman as
part of his household. He was a renowned follower of Ali ibn Abi Talib after the
death of Muhammad. Birth and early life
Salman was a Persian born either in the city of Kazerun in Fars Province, or
Isfahan in Isfahan Province, Persia. In a hadith, Salman also traced his
ancestry to Ramhormoz. The first sixteen years of his life were devoted to
studying to become a Zoroastrian magus or priest after which he became the
guardian of a fire temple, which was a well-respected job. Three years later in
587 he met a Nestorian Christian group and was so impressed by them. Against
the wishes of his father, he left his family to join them. His family
imprisoned him afterwards to prevent him but he escaped.
He traveled around the Middle East to discuss his ideas with priests,
theologians and scholars in his quest for truth. During his stay in Syria, he
heard of Muhammad, whose coming has been predicted by Salman's last Christian
teacher on his deathbed. Afterwards and during his journey to the Arabian
Peninsula, he was betrayed and sold to a Jew in Medina. After meeting Muhammad,
he recognized the signs that the monk had described to him. He converted to
Islam and secured his freedom with the help of Muhammad. Abu Hurairah is said
to have referred to Salman as "Abu Al Kitabayn" and Ali is said to have
referred to him as Luqman al-Hakeem Career
It was Salman who came up with the idea of digging a great trench around the
city of Medina to defend the city against the army of 10,000 Arabian
non-Muslims. Muhammad and his companions accepted Salman's plan because it was
safer and there would be a better chance that the non-Muslim army would have a
larger number of casualties. Salman participated in the conquest of
the Sasanian Empire and became the first governor of Sasanid capital after its
fall at the time of the second Rashidun Caliph. According to some other sources,
however, he was disappeared from public life after Muhammad's death; until 656
when Ali became Caliph, and appointed Salman as the governor of Al-Mada'in at
the age of 88. While some sources gather Salman with
the Muhajirun, other sources narrate that during the Battle of the Trench,
one of Muhajirun stated "Salman is one of us, Muhajirun", but this was
challenged by the Muslims of Medina. A lively argument began between the two
groups with each of them claiming Salman belonged to their group and not to the
other one. Muhammad arrived on the scene and heard the argument. He was amused by
the claims but soon put an end to the argument by saying: "Salman is neither
Muhajir nor Ansar. He is one of us. He is one of the People of the House."
Death When exactly Salman died is unknown,
however it was 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. His
tomb is located in Al-Mada'in, or according to some others in Isfahan,
Jerusalem and elsewhere. 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 Salman is also well known as prominent
figure in Sufi traditions. Sufi orders such as Qadriyya and Baktashiyya and
Naqshbandi have Salman in their Isnad of their brotherhood. In the
Oveyssi-Shahmaghsoudi order and Naqshbandi order, Salman is the third
person in the chain connecting devotees with Muhammad. He also founded Futuwwa
along with Ali ibn abi Talib. Bahá’í view
In the Kitáb-i-Íqán, Bahá'u'lláh honours Salman for having been told about the
coming of the prophet Muhammad: As to the signs of the invisible heaven,
there appeared four men who successively announced unto the people the joyful
tidings of the rise of that divine Luminary. Rúz-bih, later named Salmán,
was honoured by being in their service. As the end of one of these approached,
he would send Rúz-bih unto the other, until the fourth who, feeling his death
to be nigh, addressed Rúz-bih saying: 'O Rúz-bih! when thou hast taken up my body
and buried it, go to Hijáz for there the Day-star of Muhammad will arise. Happy
art thou, for thou shalt behold His face!'
Notes See also
List of non-Arab Sahabah Sulaym ibn Qays
References External links
Salmān al-Farsi