Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA): Journey to Islam and Role in Battles

In search of true religion from Zoroastrian (Fire Worshipper) to Islam. Slavery to freedom, Brotherhood with Abu Darda (RA). And role in key battles like the Battle of the Trench, An In-Depth Biography of Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA)

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) is one of the great Companions who did not care about anyone compared to Islam. He left his parents, he turned his back on the family. He broke his relationship with his relatives and friends, but he did not leave Islam. They were enslaved, sold, and suffered, but did not leave Islam.

Childhood

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was an ardent devotee. He lived in a town in the city of Isfahan in Iran. Maba was his real name and his father’s name was Buzhakhshan. But after accepting Islam, the Holy Prophet named Salman. The son’s name was Abdullah, hence the surname Abu Abdullah. They were natives of Persia, so they were called Persians.

Early Religious Influences

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was very attached to the religion. He strictly followed the religion he considered good. As long as the Zoroastrians (fire worshippers), remained. they protected the fire so much that they were counted among the devotees of the Zoroastrians. Being the only boy of his parents, his parents loved him very much. Never let it out of your sight.

Farming was done in their house. One day his father didn’t go to the farm, so he sent him. On the way, a Christian church was being worshipped. They had never seen Christians worship before, so they stood and watched. He liked this method so much that he did not go to the farm from there.

When the sun set people started going to their homes. They asked and were told that the Christian religion originated in Syria. All of them returned home after asking about the situation. The father asked where he had stayed till now. Hazrat Salman narrated the whole incident. He said: my son! This Christian religion is not better than your religion.

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) said no! At this time there is no religion better than this religion in the world. His father was afraid after hearing these things that he not change his religion. So he locked him in the house.

Meeting a Christian priest in Syria in search of the true religion

He somehow sent a message to the Christians here to inform me when a convoy goes to Syria. After a few days, they were informed when a convoy started going to Syria.  When the caravan was ready to move, they came out of some arrangement and joined the caravan.

Life as a Christian

When he reached Syria, he met the greatest Christian priest. And told him about his situation, and he kept him with him.

The city’s people greatly respected this priest, but this priest was very evil and worldly. He used to ask people for charity. Saying that he would give it to the poor, but he kept it for himself. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) saw all this but did not say anything. When this priest died, people brought shrouds etc. to bury him with respect.

At that time, Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) informed the people about his actions. He asked how you came to know. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) said I have seen with my eyes and took the people and showed them his room. There were pots full of gold in it. The people were very angry and instead of giving him a dignified burial. They nailed him on a cross and threw stones at him.

As the priest died, another priest was appointed in his place. He was very virtuous, pious and ascetic. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was very pleased with this.

Meeting many Christian Priest in search of religion 

When his death approached, Salman said, Where should I go now? He said, I know a priest in Mosul, you should go to him. After that, Nusaybin and Ghamuriya went the same way. When the monk of Ghamuriya began to die, he said, Dear man! There are no true Christians in the world anymore. But the time has come for the appearance of the prophet. Who is reported to be born in the Holy Gospel? If his message reaches you, you should believe in it.

He will preach the religion of Prophet Abraham and will be born in Arabia. Then he will migrate to a city that is covered with palm trees. He will not accept alms, but he will take a gift. Between his two shoulders will be the seal of prophethood. After telling this, the priest died and Hazrat Salman became worried about going to Arabia.

Journey to Islam

After a few days, Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) came to know that a caravan was going to Arabia. He told the caravans that if they sent me to Arabia. I would give them all my cows and goats in return. They agreed and Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) gave them all his animals. But when the caravan reached “Wadi al-Qura” near Arabia. The people of the caravans broke their promise and sold them to a Jew as their slaves.

There were palm trees in this valley. So Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) thought that this be my destination. But he did not stay there for long. The cousin of their master came from Madinah and bought them and took them to Madinah. When they reached Madinah, they saw palm trees. His heart was automatically satisfied that this was where the star of my destiny would shine.

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) Heard About Prophet Muhammad

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was living his life as a slave. Here the Prophet (PBUH) was preaching Islam there in Makkah. A few people had believed in you. But Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) did not get enough free time from his master’s work to track him down.

When the infidels in Makkah began to persecute the Muslims excessively, they migrated to Madinah. One day Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was doing some work while climbing a palm tree. His Jewish master was sitting below. After a while, a cousin of the master came and said that God should destroy the people of Banu Qila. He is now sitting in the “Quba” next to a man who has claimed prophethood.

Interaction with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was very happy to hear this. He was about to fall from the tree when he quickly got down and asked him for details. The owner slapped him hard and said what do you mean! do your work, these were slaves, what they do, they started working.

The First Sign: A Test of Charity

Somehow finished the work and went to Quba, And took food too. When they reached there, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was there. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) said to him I have heard that you are a good man. This charity is here, accept it. The Holy Prophet took the food and gave it to his poor companions, but did not eat it himself. This was a sign told by the monk.

The Second Sign: The Gift

On the second day, Hazrat Salman took the food again. And said to the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him), that this is a gift, accept it. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) accepted it, ate it himself and fed it to the Companions.

The Third Sign: The Seal of Prophethood

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was sure that he was a prophet. But the seal of prophethood was yet to be seen. The Third time when Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) came, he (PBUH) was sitting wearing a chador. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was trying to somehow see the Seal of Prophethood. That is why they used to look at the back of the Holy Prophet. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) understood and took off his cloak. Hazrat Salman Farsi also saw the Seal of Prophethood.

The Acceptance of Islam

After witnessing all three signs of prophethood Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) bowed down before the Prophet (PBUH) and spoke involuntarily

” لا إلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ “

There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) called him and made him sit before him. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) narrated his entire story of how he reached this point by enduring hardships. People listened to his story with great surprise. After narrating all the events and becoming a Muslim. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) then returned to his master.

Freedom From Slavery

Since Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was a slave, he was unable to carry out the duties of Islam openly. After coming to Madinah, the wars that took place between the Muslims and the infidels. In the two major wars, “Badr” and “Ahud”, Hazrat Salman did not join because of his slavery.

After returning from the Ahud’s war, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) called Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA). And said: Ask your master to take some wealth and set you free. He went and told his master. And he agreed to release him in exchange for three hundred palm trees and forty ounces of gold.

The Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) Told The Companions To Help Salman Farsi (RA)

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) told the Companions to help his brother Salman Farsi (RA). By the words of the Holy Prophet, all the people got ready. Some brought ten plants, some twenty, some fifty, some a hundred. So, everyone brought their status.

When three hundred plants came. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA): You should plough the land. I will plant them myself. Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) repaired the land and informed the Prophet (PBUH). You went and planted the plants yourself.

By the power of God, all the trees were planted. The blessing of the hands of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made it possible. One condition of the Jew was fulfilled. Now there was only gold. Coincidentally, in a battle, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) found gold equivalent to a hen’s egg. which was forty ounces.  Prophet Muhammad gave it to Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA). And he got rid of slavery by giving it to his master. In this way, Hazrat Salman’s troubles ended. And the life for which he had left home and kicked wealth and wealth was achieved.

Brotherhood with Abu Darda (R.A)

Hazrat Salman had no relatives in Medina. Then where would they live?  The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) established brotherhood among the emigrants of Makkah and the Ansar of Madinah. He did it just as he established a brotherhood with Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) from Hazrat Abu Darda. Now Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) started living in the house of his religious brother Hazrat Abu Darda (RA).

Battles

Quraish were fierce enemies of Muslims. For thirteen years in Makkah, he greatly troubled the Muslims. Finally, the Muslims migrated to Madinah, but even here they did not let them live in peace. Instead, they started attacking Madinah and started a series of battles. First of all, the battle of Badr took place, and two years later, the battle of Uhud took place. Although there were few Muslims in both of them, Allah made his religion Islam prevail over disbelief. All the Companions participated in this battle but Hazrat Salman did not join due to his slavery.

Battle of the Trench (Khandaq)

When they were freed, the first trench battle took place. This time all the people of Makkah and its surroundings came with the decision that they would crush the Muslims. The attack was going to be directly on Madinah, the Muslims were very worried because their congregation was very small. And there was no fort around Madinah in which to sit and fight.

Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) Advised To Dig A Trench

He was an Iranian, so he was familiar with the techniques of war there. He told the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) that on such occasions in Iran. A deep and wide trench is dug around the city. So that the enemy can’t cross it and enter the city, the same should be done here. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) liked this advice very much. And all the Companions became engaged in digging the trench. Holy prophet (peace be upon him) was also with him.

When the trench was ready, the enemy’s army came. They had never seen this kind of battle, they were standing outside. A trench was dug in front of them and on the other side, the Muslims were ready to fight. When they did not enter the city, they surrounded Madinah so that nothing was necessary to enter the city. They were surrounded for twenty-two days. Finally, one night, Allah Almighty sent a very strong wind, and the tents of the enemies were uprooted. The pots were overturned, the goods were scattered and they ran away in panic.

This was the first battle of Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA). In which the Muslims were victorious over such a large army with their strategy and God’s grace. After the Battle of Trench (Khandaq), he participated in all the small battles in the life of the Prophet (PBUH). He also participated in all the big battles. He fought bravely.

War Against The Iranians

During the reign of Caliph Hazrat Umar Farooq RA, he continued to join Jihad.  Once when the Muslim army went to invade Iran, Hazrat Salman also went with it.  Although he was an Iranian by descent, he had now become a Muslim. Everyone was equal in their eyes now. Muslims fought and conquered the fort.

Salman Farsi was a brave, honourable and steadfast Muslim. Nothing stops them in the way of Allah. Whether they are mothers or fathers, brothers or sisters, friends or relatives. If they were not Muslims, Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) would not have had anything to do with them. And if he needed to kill them, he would not have stopped.