The Companion of the House

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted from “Shuyukh of the Golden Chain - Salman al-Farisi (r.a.).  Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Arabi (q.s.) wrote, in his Tarjuman al-Ashwaq: 

“My heart has become able to wear all forms:

A pasture for gazelles, a monastery for monks,

A temple for idols, the Ka’bah of the pilgrims,

The tablets of Torah, the Book of Qur'an.

I profess the religion of Love.

Whatever direction its mount may take,

Love is my Religion and my Belief.” 

Sayyidina Abu ‘Abdullah Salman al-Farisi (r.a.) is known as the Imam, the Flag of Flags, the Inheritor of Islam, the Wise Judge, the Knowledgeable Scholar, and One of the House of the Prophet (s.a.w.).  These were all titles the Prophet (s.a.w.) gave him.  He stood fast in the face of extreme difficulties and hardships to carry the Light of Lights and to spread the Secrets of Hearts to lift people from darkness to light.  He was a noble companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.).  He reported sixty of his hadits. 

He came from a highly respected Zoroastrian family from a town near Isfahan.  His family was knowledgeable in religion and wealthy.  One day, while passing a church, he was attracted by the voices of men praying.  Drawn by their worship, he ventured in and found it better than the religion of his upbringing.  On learning that the religion originated in Syria, he left home, against his father's wishes, went to Syria and associated himself with a succession of Christian anchorites.  It was likely they were Nestorians or one of the Eastern Churches 

He came to know from them the coming of the Last Prophet (s.a.w.) and the signs accompanying his advent.  He then traveled to Hijaz where he was seized, sold into slavery, and taken to Madina, where he eventually met the Prophet (s.a.w.).  When he found in the Prophet (s.a.w.) the fulfillment of all the signs of which he had been informed by his Christian teachers, he affirmed the testification of faith - the Shahadah.  Servitude prevented Salman from being at the battles of Badr and Uhud.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) helped him gain his release from slavery by planting with his own hand three hundred palm trees and giving him a large piece of gold.  Once a free man, he took part in every subsequent battle with the Prophet (s.a.w.). 

In Shaykh Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ishaq’s (q.s.) Sirah Rasulullah, Shaykh ‘Aaswim ibn ‘Umar ibn Qatadah al-Answari (r.a.) said he was told that Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) told the Prophet (s.a.w.) that his master in ‘Ammuriyyah told him to go to a certain place in Syria where there was a man who lived between two thickets.  Every year as he used to go from one to the other, the sick used to stand in his way and everyone he prayed for was healed.  He said, “Ask him about this religion which you seek, for he can tell you of it.” 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) said, “So I went on until I came to the place I had been told of, and I found that people had gathered there with their sick until he came out to them that night passing from one thicket to the other.  The people came to him with their sick and everyone he prayed for was healed.  They prevented me from getting to him so that I could not approach him until he entered the thicket he was making for, but I took hold of his shoulder.  He asked me who I was as he turned to me and I said, ‘God have Mercy on you, tell me about the Hanifiyyah, the religion of Abraham.’ 

He replied, ‘You are asking about something men do not inquire of today; the time has come near when a prophet will be Sent with this religion from the people of the Haram.  Go to him, for he will bring you to it.’  Then he went into the thicket.” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said to Sayyidina Salman (r.a.), “If you have told me the truth, you met Jesus, the son of Mary.” 

In one of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) battles called al-Ahzab or al-Khandaq, Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) advised the Prophet (s.a.w.) to dig trenches around Madina in defense of the city, a suggestion which the Prophet (s.a.w.) accepted.  He then went ahead and helped the digging with his own hands.  During this excavation, Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) struck upon a rock which he was unable to break.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) took an axe and hit it.  The first strike brought forth a spark.  He then hit it a second time and brought forth a second spark.  He then struck for the third time and brought forth a third spark.  He then asked Sayyidina Salman (r.a.), “O Salman, did you see those sparks?” 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) replied, “O Prophet, indeed I did.” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “The first spark gave me a vision in which Allah has Opened Yemen for me.  With the second spark, Allah Opened Sham and al-Maghrib (the West).  And with the third one, Allah Opened for me al-Mashriq (the East).” 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Nothing but supplication averts the Decree, and nothing but righteousness increases life,” and “Your Lord is Munificent and Generous, and is ashamed to turn away empty the hands of a servant when he raises them to him.”  Imam Abu ‘Isa Muhammad ibn ‘Isa as-Sulami at-Tirmidzi (r.a.) transmitted them. 

Imam Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Jarir ath-Thabari (q.s.) recounts that in 16 AH, the Muslim army turned to the Persian front.  In order to confront the Persian king, at one point the Muslim army found itself on the opposite bank of the great Tigris River.  The commander of the army, Sayyidina Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqasw (r.a.), following a dream, ordered the entire army to plunge into the rushing river.  Many people were afraid and hung back.  Sayyidina Sa’d (r.a.), with Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) by his side, prayed first, “May Allah Grant us victory and defeat His enemy.” 

Then Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) prayed, “Islam generates good fortune.  By Allah, crossing rivers has become as easy for the Muslims as crossing deserts.  By Him in whose hand lies Salman’s soul, may the soldiers emerge from the water in the same numbers in which they entered it.” 

Sayyidina Sa’d (r.a.) and Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) then plunged into the Tigris.  It is reported that the river was covered with horses and men.  The horses swam and when they tired the river floor seemed to rise up and support them until they regained their breath.  To some it seemed that the horses rode effortlessly on the waves.  They emerged on the other bank, as Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) had prayed, having lost nothing from their equipment but one tin cup, and no one having drowned. 

They went on to take the Persian capital, Mada’in.  Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) acted as spokesman and said to the conquered Persians, “I have the same origin as you.  I shall be compassionate toward you.  You have three options.  You may embrace Islam, then you will be our brethren and you will have the same privileges and obligations as we.  Or you may pay the jizyah and we will govern you fairly.  Or we will declare war on you.”  The Persians, having witnessed the miraculous crossing of the Muslim army, accepted the second alternative.  Over the next several years, great multitudes converted, and Persia became one of the bastions of Muslim civilisation. 

Sayyidina Salman al-Farsi (r.a.) was eventually appointed governor of that region.  He was the commander of 30,000 Muslim troops.  Yet, he was very humble.  He lived from his own manual labour.  He did not own a house, but instead rested under the shade of trees.  He used to say that he was surprised to observe so many people spending all their life for the lower world, without a thought for the inevitable death which will take them from the world one day. 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) was a very strict and just man.  Among some spoils which were distributed one day was cloth out of which each companion had one piece of clothing cut.  One day, Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.) got up to speak and said, “Lower your voices so that I may address you.”  He was wearing two pieces of that cloth. 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) said, “By God, we will not hear you, because you prefer yourself to your people.” 

“How is that?” asked Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.). 

He said, “You are wearing two pieces of cloth and everyone else is wearing only one.” 

Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) called out, “O ‘Abdullah!”  No one answered him.  He said again, “O ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar!” 

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah (r.a.), his son replied, “At your service!” 

Sayyidina ‘Umar (r.a.) said, “I ask you by God, do you say that the second piece is yours?” 

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah (r.a.) said, “Yes.” 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) said, “Now we will hear you.” 

At night, Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) would begin to pray.  If he got tired, he would start making dzikr by tongue.  When his tongue would get tired, he would contemplate and meditate on Allah's (s.w.t.) Power and Greatness in Creation.  He would then say to himself, “O my ego, you took your rest, now get up and pray.”  Then he would make dzikr again, then meditate, and so forth all night long. 

Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Bukhari (r.a.) related two hadits which show the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) consideration for Sayyidina Salman (r.a.).  Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) related, “While we were sitting with the Prophet (s.a.w.), Surah al-Jumu’ah was Revealed to him.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) recited the verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ الجُمُعَة

وَءَاخَرِينَ مِنۡہُمۡ لَمَّا يَلۡحَقُواْ بِہِمۡ‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (٣) 

“As well as (to confer all these benefits upon) others of them, who have not already joined them: and He is Exalted in Might, Wise. (Surah al-Jumu’ah:3)” 

I asked, “Who are they, O Allah’s Apostle?” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) did not reply until I repeated my question thrice.  At that time, Salman al-Farisi was with us.  Allah’s Apostle (s.a.w.) put his hand on Salman, saying, ‘If faith were at ats-Tsurayyah (the Pleiades), even then some men from these people (Salman’s folk) would attain it.’” 

And the second hadits is as follows.  Sayyidina ‘Abu Juhayfah Wahb ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Muslim (r.a.) related that the Prophet (s.a.w.) made a bond of brotherhood between Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) and Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd (r.a.).  Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) paid a visit to Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) and found his wife, Sayyidatina Umm ad-Darda’ Khayrah bint Abu Hadrad al-Aslami (r.a.) dressed in shabby clothes.  He asked her why she was in that state.  She replied, “Your brother Abu Darda’ is not interested in the luxuries of this world.” 

In the meantime, Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) came and prepared a meal for Sayyidina Salman (r.a.).  Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) requested Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) to eat with him, but Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) said, “I am fasting.” 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) said, “I am not going to eat unless you eat.”  So Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) ate with Sayyidina Salman (r.a.).  When it was night and a part of the night has passed, Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) got up to offer tahajjud, but Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) told him to sleep and Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) slept.  After some time, Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) again got up but Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) told him to sleep.  When it was the last hours of the night, Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer. 

Sayyidina Salman (r.a.) told Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.), “Your Lord has a Right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you.”  Sayyidina Abu Darda’ (r.a.) came to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and narrated the whole story. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Salman has spoken the truth.” 

He passed away in 33 AH, during the reign of Sayyidina Abu ‘Amr ‘Utsman ibn ‘Affan (r.a.).