From Persia comes our hero this time,
and from Persia many came to embrace
Islam in the long run, and it made some
of them extraordinary, unsurpassable in
faith and knowledge in religion and
worldly affairs.
It is
one of the wonders of Islam and its
greatness that it never enters a country
on Allah's earth but that it exerts
invaluable influence on all its
potentialities and forces, bringing
forth the latent genius of its people
and followers. From there came forth
Muslim philosophers, physicians,
jurists, astronomers, inventors, and
mathematicians.
Behold,
they reached all heights, broke all
frontiers, until the first era of Islam
flourished with great geniuses in all
fields of intellectual activity such as
administration and science. Verily, they
came from various nations, but their
religion remained one.
The
Prophet (PBUH) had prophesied this
blessed spread of his religion. Indeed,
he had been so promised by his Almighty
Lord. He had pointed to the time, place,
and day, and he had seen in his mind's
eye the banner of Islam fluttering in
all comers of the earth and over the
palaces of its earthly rulers.
Salmaan
Al-Faarisiy (The Persian) bore witness
to this and was firmly connected with
what happened. That was on the Day of
Al-Khandaq (The Trench) in the year A.H.
5, when the leaders of the Jews
approached Makkah to stir up the
polytheists and form an alliance against
the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims,
asking the polytheists to enter upon a
treaty for decisive battle to eradicate
this new religion.
The
ungodly war was planned: the Quraish
army and allies would attack Al-Madinah
from outside, while the Bani Ouraidhah
would attack from within, behind the
ranks of the Muslims, who would then
fall prey and be crushed. One day the
Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims were
taken unaware by a huge well-armed army
marching on Al-Madinah. The Qur'aan
depicts the scene thus:
<When
they came against you from above you and
from below you and your eyes turned away
and your hearts reached to your throats,
and you imagined vain thoughts about
GOD; in that place the believers were
tried and shaken most severely >
(33:10-11).
Twenty-four
thousand fighters under the command of
Abu Sufyaan and 'Uyainah Ibn Hisn were
advancing on Al-Madinah to storm it and
to lay siege to it in order to get rid
of Muhammad, his religion, and his
Companions. This army did not represent
the Quraish alone, for they were in
alliance with all the tribes, and all
had vested interests that were
threatened by Islam. It was a last and
decisive attempt embarked on by all the
enemies of the Prophet (PBUH), based
upon individual, collective, and tribal
interests.
The
Muslims found themselves in a precarious
situation. The Prophet (PBUH) assembled
his Companions for consultation.
Certainly they were gathered to reach a
decision on defence and battle, but how
could they put up a defence? And then a
long- legged man with flowing hair for
whom the Prophet (PBUH) bore great love,
Salmaan Al-Faarisiy, held up his head
and took a look at Al-Madinah, which was
surrounded by hills, mountains, and
exposed open country which could be
easily broken through by the enemy.
Salmaan
had much experience, in warfare and its
tactics in his native Persia. So he
proposed to the Prophet (PBUH) something
which the Arabs had never seen before in
warfare. It was the digging of a trench
in the exposed places around Al-Madinah.
And
Allah knows what could have been the
position of the Muslims in that battle
had they not dug the trench, which was
no sooner seen by the Quraish than they
were stunned by despair. The forces of
the enemy still remained in their tents
for a month, unable to take Al-Madinah,
until Allah sent them one night a storm
which devastated their tents and tore
them asunder.
Then
Abu Sufyaan announced to his forces that
they should return to where they had
come from. They were despondent and
frustrated.
During
the excavation of the trench, Salmaan
took his place among the Muslims while
they dug and removed the sand. The
Prophet (PBUH) was also taking part in
digging where Salmaan was working in a
group. Their pickaxes could not smash a
stubborn rock, in spite of the fact that
Salmaan was of strong build and
hardworking. A single stroke of his
would break a rock to pieces, but he
stood in front of this stubborn one. He
let all those around him try to break
it, but in vain. Salmaan went to the
Prophet (PBUH) to ask him to divert the
trench around that stubborn and
challenging rock.
The Prophet (PBUH) returned with Salmaan
to see the rock himself. When he saw it,
he called for a pickax and asked the
Companions to keep back from the
splinters. He said, "In the name of
Allah," and then raised his
blessed, firm hands gripping the pickaxe
and let it fall.
The
rock broke, making a great light.
Salmaan said that he himself saw that
light shining upon Al-Madinah. The
Prophet (PBUH) raised the pickax and
gave a second blow and the rock broke
more. At that moment the Prophet (PBUH)
said loudly, "Allahu Akbar - Allah
is the Greatest - I have been given the
keys to Rome; its red palaces have been
lit for me and my nation has vanquished
it."
The
Prophet (PBUH) struck his third blow.
Then the rock shattered and its
glittering light was seen! The Prophet (PBUH)
told them that he was now looking at the
palaces of Syria, San'aa' and others
like them, and the cities of the world
over which the banner of Islam would
flutter one day. The Muslims shouted in
deep faith, "This is what Allah and
His Prophet have promised us!"
Salmaan
was the originator of the project to dig
the trench, and he was associated with
the rock out of which poured some
secrets of the unseen and of destiny.
When he called the Prophet (PBUH) to
break it, he stood by the side of the
Prophet (PBUH), saw the light, and heard
the glad omen, and he lived to see the
prophecy fulfilled and abided in its
living reality. He saw the great
capitals of Persia and Rome (Byzantium),
the palaces of Sanaa', Syria, Egypt, and
Iraq. He saw every place trembling with
the blessed ecstasy which was issuing
forth from the high minarets in all
parts of the world, spreading the light
of guidance and g6odness.
And
here he is sitting there in the shade of
a tree before his house in Al-Madinah
telling his guests about his great
adventures in the quest for truth,
explaining to them how he abandoned the
religion of his Persian people for
Christianity and then for Islam. How he
abandoned his father's wealth and estate
and threw himself into the arms of the
wilderness in the quest for the release
of his tension and soul. How he was sold
in a slave market on his way to search
for truth. How he met with the Prophet (PBUH)
and how he came to believe in him. Now
let us approach his great court and
listen to his grand tale, which he is
recounting.
I come
from Isfahan, from a place called Jai,
and I was the most beloved son of my
father, who was a figure of high esteem
among his people. We used to worship
fire. I devoted myself to fire worship
until I became custodian of the fire,
which we lit and never allowed to be
extinguished.
My
father had an estate. One day, he sent
me there. I passed by a Christian church
and heard them praying. I went in and
saw what they were doing. I was
impressed by what I saw in their
prayers. I said, "This is better
than our religion." I did not leave
them until sunset, nor did I go to my
father's estate, nor did I return to my
father until he sent people to search
for me.
I
asked the Christians about their affair
and prayers, which impressed me, and
about the origin of their religion. They
answered, "In Syria." I said
to my father when I returned to him,
"I passed by people praying in a
church of theirs, and I was impressed by
their prayer, and I could see that their
religion is better than ours." He
questioned me and I questioned him, and
then he put fetters on my feet and
locked me up.
Then I sent to the Christians saying I
had entered their religion, and I
requested that whenever a caravan came
from Syria, they should tell me before
its return in order for me to travel
with them, and so they did.
I
broke loose from the iron fetters and
went away. I set out with them for
Syria. While I was there, I asked about
their learned man, and I was told that
he was the bishop, leader of the church.
I went to him and told him my story. I
lived with him, serving, praying, and
learning.
But
this bishop was not faithful in his
religion, because he used to gather
money from the people to distribute it,
but he would keep it for himself. Then
he died.
They
appointed a new leader in his place. I
have never seen a man more godly than he
in his religion, nor more active in his
bid for the Hereafter, nor more pious in
the world, nor more punctual at worship.
I loved him more than I had ever loved
any other person before.
When
his fate came, I asked him, "To
whom would you recommend me? And to whom
would you leave me?" He said,
"O my son, I do not know anyone who
is on the path I am and who leads the
kind of life I lead, except a certain
man in Mosul."
When
he died, I went to that man in Mosul,
and told him the story, and I stayed
with him as long as Allah wished me to
stay. Then death approached him. So I
asked him, "To whom would you
advise me to go to?" He directed me
to a pious man in Nisiibiin." So I
went to him and told him my story. I
stayed with him as long as Allah wished
me to stay. When death overtook him, I
asked him as before. He told me to meet
a person at Amuriah in Byzantium. So, to
Byzantium I went and stayed with that
man, earning my living there by rearing
cattle and sheep.
Then
death approached him, and I asked him,
"To whom should I go?" He
said, "O my son,1 know no one
anywhere who is on the path we have been
on so that I can tell you to go to him.
But you have been overtaken by an epoch
in which there will appear a prophet in
the pure creed of Ibraahim (Abraham). He
will migrate to the place of palm trees.
If you can be sincere to him, then do
so. He has signs, which will be
manifested: he does not eat of charity,
yet he accepts gifts, and between his
shoulders is the seal of Prophethood.
When you see him, you will know
him."
A
caravan passed by me on that day. I
asked them where they had come from and
learned that they were from the Arabian
Peninsula. So I told them, "I give
you these cattle and sheep of mine in
return for your taking me to your
land." They agreed. So they took me
in their company until they brought me
to Wadi Al-Quraa and there they wronged
to me. They sold me to a Jew. I saw many
palm trees and cherished the hope that
it was the land that had been described
to me and which would be the future
place of the advent of the prophet, but
it was not.
I
stayed with this Jew who bought me until
another from Bani Quraidhah came to him
one day and bought me from him. I stayed
with him until we came to Al-Madiinah.
By Allah, I had hardly seen it when I
knew that it was the land described to
me.
I stayed with the Jew, working for him
on his plantation in Bani Quraidhah
until Allah sent His Prophet, who later
emigrated to Al-Madinah and dismounted
at Qubaa' among the Bani 'Amr Ibn 'Awf.
Indeed, one day, I was at the top of a
palm tree with my master sitting below
it when a Jewish man came. He was a
cousin of his and said to him, "May
Allah destroy Bani Qubaa'. They are
spreading a rumor about a man at Qubaa'
who came from Makkah claiming that he is
a prophet." By Allah, he had hardly
said it, when I was seized by a tremor,
and the palm tree shook until I almost
fell on my master. I climbed down
quickly saying, "What are you
saying? What news?" My master gave
me a nasty slap and said, "What
have you got to do with this? Return to
your work!"
So, I
returned to work. At nightfall I
gathered what I had and went out until I
came to the Prophet (PBUH) at Qubaa'. I
entered and found him sitting with some
of his Companions. Then I said,
"You are in need and a stranger. I
have some food, which I intend to give
out as charity. When they showed me your
lodgings, I thought you most deserve it,
so I have come to you with it." I
put the food down. The Prophet (PBUH)
said to his Companions, "Eat in the
name of Allah." He abstained and
never took of it. I said to myself,
"This, by Allah, is one sign. He
does not eat of charity!"
I returned to meet the Prophet (PBUH)
again the next day, carrying some food,
and said to him (PBUH), "I can see
that you do not partake of charity. I
have something which I want to give to
you as a present." I placed it
before him. He said to his Companions,
"Eat in the name of Allah" and
he ate with them. So I said to myself,
"This indeed is the second sign. He
eats of presents." I returned and
stayed away for a while. Then I came to
him, and I saw him sitting, having
returned from a burial, and surrounded
by his Companions. He had two garments,
carrying one on his shoulder and wearing
the other. I greeted him, then bent to
see the upper part of his back. He knew
what I was looking for, so he threw
aside his garment off his shoulder and,
behold, the sign between his shoulders,
the seal of Prophethood, was clear just
as the Christian monk had
described."
At
once I staggered towards him, kissing
him and weeping. He called to me to come
forward and I sat before him. I told him
my story as you have already heard me
describe the events.
When I
became a Muslim, slavery prevented me
from taking part in the battles of Badr
and Uhud. Therefore the Prophet (PBUH)
advised me, "Go into terms with
your master for him to free you,"
and so I did. The Prophet (PBUH) told
the Companions to assist me, and Allah
freed me from bondage. I became a free
Muslim, taking part with the Prophet (PBUH)
in the Battle of Al-Khandaq and others.
With
these simple clear words, Salmaan spoke
of his great, noble, and sacrificial
adventure for the sake of Allah, seeking
after the reality of religion that led
him to Allah and helped him to find his
role in this life.
What
kind of a noble person was this man?
What great superiority was achieved by
his aspiring spirit, that restless
spirit that withstood difficulties and
defeated them, confronted the impossible
and it gave way! What devotion to the
truth, and what sincerity that led its
owner voluntarily away from the estate
of his father, with all its wealth and
luxury, to the wilderness, with all its
difficulties and suffering. He moved
from land to land, town to town, seeking
acquaintances, persevering, worshipping
and searching for his destiny among
people, sects, and different ways of
life. And adhering all the way to the
truth with all its noble sacrifices, for
the sake of guidance until he was sold
into slavery. He was then rewarded by
Allah the best of rewards, making him
reach the truth and come into the
presence of His Prophet. And then He
granted him longevity, enough for him to
see the banner of Islam fluttering in
all parts of the world and His Muslim
worshippers filling its space and comers
with guidance, progress and justice!
What
do you expect of the Islam of a man with
such a noble character but to be a man
of such truth! It was an Islam of the
God-fearing and innocent. In his
devotion he was intelligent, pious, and
the person nearest to Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab.
He
once stayed with Abu Ad-Dardaa', under
the same roof. Abu Ad-Dardaa' used to
pray all night and fast all day. Salmaan
blamed him for this excessive worship.
One day, Salmaan wanted to stop him from
fasting and to say it was
supererogatory. Abu Ad-Dardaa' asked
him, "Would you prevent me from
fasting for my Lord and from praying to
Him?" Salmaan replied, "No,
your eyes have a claim upon you, your
family has a claim upon you, so fast
intermittently, then pray and
sleep."
This
reached the Prophet (PBUH) who said,
"Salmaan is, indeed, full of
knowledge." The Prophet (PBUH) was
often impressed by his wisdom and
knowledge, just as he was impressed by
his character and religion. On the Day
of Al-Khandaq the Ansaar stood up and
said, "Salmaan is of us," the
Muhaajiruun stood up also and said,
"Salmaan is of us." The
Prophet called to them saying, "Salmaan
is of us, O People of the House
(Prophet's house)."
Indeed, he deserved this honor!
"Ally Ibn Abi Taalib , (May Allah
honor his face) nicknamed him "Luqmaan
the Wise". He was asked about after
his death: "There was a man who was
of the People of the House. Who among
you is like Luqmaan the Wise? He was a
man of knowledge who absorbed all the
scriptures of the People of the Book. He
was like a sea that was never
exhausted!"
He was
held in the minds of Prophet's
Companions with all highest regards and
in the greatest position and respect.
During the Caliphate of 'Umar, he came
to Al-Madinah on a visit and 'Umar
accorded him what he had never accorded
to anyone before when he assembled his
Companions and said, "Come, let us
go out and welcome Salmaan!" They
received him at the border of
Al-Madinah.
Salmaan
had lived with the Prophet (PBUH) ever
since he met him, and believed in him as
a free Muslim, and worshiped with him.
He lived during the Caliphate of Abu
Bakr, "Umar and "Uthmaan, in
whose era he met his Lord. In most of
these years, the banner of Islam spread
everywhere, and the treasures of Islam
were carried to Al-Madinah in floods and
distributed to the people in the form of
regular allowance and fixed salaries.
The responsibilities of ruling increased
on all fronts, as well as duties and the
overwhelming burden of holding official
posts. So where did Salmaan stand in
this respect? Where do we see him in the
time of splendour, plenty, and
enjoyment?
Open wide your eyes. Do you see that
humble man sitting there in the shade
making baskets and utensils out of palm
fronds?
That
is Salmaan. Take a good look at him.
Look at his short garment, which is so
short that it is only down to his knees.
That was him in grand old age. His grant
was 4,000 to 6,000 dirhams a year, but
he distributed all of it, refusing to
take a dirham of it, and he used to say,
"I would buy palm fronds with one
dirham to work on and then sell it for
three dirhams. I retained one dirham of
it as capital, spent one dirham on my
family, and gave away one dirham, and if
'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab prevented me from
that, I would not stop."
What
next, 0 followers of Muhammad? What
next, 0 noblest of mankind in all ages?
Some of us used to think, whenever we
heard the conduct of the Companions and
their piety -for example, Abu Bakr,
"Umar, Abu Dhar and their brethren
- that it was based on the life of the
Arabian Peninsula, where the Arabs find
pleasure in simplicity. And here we are
before a man from Persia, the land of
pleasure, luxury, and civilization, and
he was not of the poor but of its upper
class. What about him now refusing
property, wealth, and enjoyment, and
insisting that he live on one dirham a
day from the work of his hands? How
about his refusing leadership and
position except for something relating
to Jihaad and only if none but he were
suitable for it, and it was forced upon
him, and he accepted it weeping and shy?
How about when he accepted leadership,
which was forced upon him, but he
refused to take his lawful dues? Hishaam
Ibn Hasaan relates from Al-Hassan: The
allowance of Salmaan was 5,000. He lived
among 30,000 people and used to dress in
a garment cut into halves. He wore one
and sat on the other half. Whenever his
allowance was due him, he distributed it
to the needy and lived on the earnings
of his hands!
Why do
you think he was doing all this work and
worshipping with all this devotion, and
yet he was a Persian child of luxury,
the upbringing of civilization? You can
hear the reply from him. While he was on
his deathbed, the great spirit mounting
forth to meet his Lord, Exalted and
Merciful, Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqaaa. went to
greet him, and Salmaan wept! Sa'd said,
"What makes you weep, 0 Abu 'Abd
Allah? The Prophet of Allah died pleased
with you!" Salmaan replied,
"By Allah,1 am not weeping in fear
of death, nor for love of the world. But
the Prophet of Allah put me on an oath.
He said, 'Let any of you have in this
world like the provision of the
traveler,' and here I have owned many
things around me." Sa'd said: I
looked around, and I saw nothing but a
water-pot and vessel to eat in! Then I
said to him, "0 Abu "Abd
Allah, give us a parting word of advice
for us to follow." He said, 0 Sa'd,
remember Allah for your cares, if you
have any. Remember Allah in your
judgement, if you judge. Remember Allah
when you distribute the share."
This was the man who filled his spirit
with riches just as it filled him with
renunciation of the pleasures of this
world, its riches, and pride. The oath
which he and the rest of the Companions
had taken before the Prophet of Allah
was that they must not let the world
possess them and that t ;e , should take
nothing from it but the provision of the
traveller in his bag.
Salmaan
had kept the oath, yet still his tears
ran when he saw his soul preparing for
departure, fearing that he had gone
beyond the limits. There was nothing
around him except a vessel to eat in and
a water-pot, and yet still he considered
himself lavish! Did I not tell you that
he was the nearest in resemblance to
'Umar? During the days of his rule over
the Madinah area, he never changed his
way. He had refused, as we have seen, to
receive his salary as a ruler, but went
on making baskets to earn his living.
His dress was no more than a gown,
resembling his old clothes in
simplicity.
One
day while on the road, he met a man
arriving from Syria, carrying a load of
figs and dates. The load was too heavy
for him and made him weary. No sooner
did the Syrian see the man in front of
him, who appeared to be one of the
common people and poor than he thought
of putting the load on his shoulders and
when he reached his destination he would
give him something for his labour. So he
beckoned to the man (Salmaan, the
governor), and he came up to him.
The
Syrian said to him, "Relieve me of
this load." He carried it, and they
walked together.
While
on their way, they met a group of
people. He greeted them and they stood
up in obeisance, replying, "And
unto the governor be peace!"
"Who is the governor?" The
Syrian asked himself. His surprise
increased when he saw some of them
rushing towards Salmaan to take the load
off his shoulders. "Let us carry
it, O governor". When the Syrian
knew that he was the governor of
Al-Madinah, he was astonished. Words of
apology and regret fell from his lips,
and he went forward to grab the load.
But Salmaan shook his head in refusal,
saying, "No, not until I take you
to your destination."
He was
asked one day, "What troubles you
in the leadership?" He replied,
"The pleasure of nurturing it and
the bitterness of meaning!"
A
friend of his came to him one day at his
house and found him kneading dough. He
asked him, "Where is your servant?
" He replied, "We have sent
her on an errand and we hate to charge
her with two duties."
When
we say "his house" let us
remember what kind of house it was. When
Salmaan thought of building it, he asked
the mason, "How are you going to
build it?" The mason was courteous
and yet witty. He knew the piety and
devotion of Salmaan, so he replied to
him saying, "Fear not. It is a
house for you to protect yourself
against the heat of the sun and dwell in
the cold weather. When you stand erect
in it, it touches your head."
Salmaan said to him, "Yes, that is
it, so go on and build it."
There
was nothing of the goods of this world
which could attract Salmaan for a
moment, nor did they leave any traces in
his heart except one thing, which he was
particularly mindful of and had
entrusted to his wife, requesting her to
keep it far away in a safe place. In his
last sickness, and in the morning on
which he gave up his soul, he called
her, "Bring me the trust which I
left in safe keeping!" She brought
it and behold, it was a bottle of musk.
He had gained it on the day of
liberating the city of Jalwalaa' and
kept it to be his perfume on the day of
his death. Then he called for a pot of
water, sprinkled the musk into it,
stirred it with his hand and then said
to his wife, "Sprinkle it on me,
for there will now come to me creatures
from the creatures of Allah. They do not
eat food and what they like is
perfume."
Having
done so he said to her, "Shut the
door and go down." She did what he
bade her to do. After a while she went
up to him and saw his blessed soul had
departed his body and his frame. It was
gone to the Supreme Master, and it
ascended with the desire to meet Him as
he had an appointment there with the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his two
Companions Abu Bakr and Umar and the
noble circle of martyrs!
Long
had the burning desire stirred Salmaan.
The time had come for him to rest in
peace.
Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas),
a West African Islamic Academic founded AWQAF Africa, of
which he's the first al Amir (i.e. President).
Sheikh Dr. Adelabu was studying Postgraduate Degrees in
Damascus early 1990's during when Syria reviewed its
national security after an �Oslo Accord'...
Syria like many other countries around the world
witnessed, during this period, the flood of refugees
from war troubled nations like Somalia, arrival of
people from Algeria during the brutal struggling between
the Mujahidun and the government, resettlement of the
Palestinians fleeing from sophisticated guns of the
Israelis as well as adventure of African migrants for
reasons uncountable�