| Sahaba | |
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| Name: | Salman the Persian (Salman e Farsi) |
| Birth: | 568 |
| death: | 644 (aged 78) |
| Acceptance of Islam: | 1 |
| Authenticity: | Authentic among Shia and Sunni |
| Narrated from: | Ali ibn Abi Talib |
| From him/her narrated: | Sulaym ibn Qays |
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Salman the Persian or Salmān al-Fārsī (Arabic: سلمان الفارسي Salman al-Farsi; in Persian: روزبه Rouzbeh) was one of Muhammad's companions.
During some of his later meetings with the other Sahaba, he was referred to as Abu Abdullah ("Father of Abdullah").
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Salman the Persian was born with the Persian name Rouzbeh, either in the city of Kazerun in Fars Province, or Isfahan in Isfahan Province, Iran.[1][2]
It was Salman who came up with the idea of digging a great trench around the city of Medina to defend the city and its people from the army of 10,000 non-Muslims of Arabia. Muhammad and his companions agreed and accepted Salman's plan because it was safer and there would be a better chance that the non-Muslim army of Arabia would have a larger number of casualties. Salman came up with the idea from remembering the same thing happening in Persia; when the Persians learned that their enemies planned to invade their territory, they dug a trench around them to be safe. The attack that the Muslims had expected, is known as the Battle of the Trench.
While some sources gather him with the Muhajirun,[3] other sources narrate that during the Battle of the Trench, one of Muhajirun stated "Salman is one of us, Muhajireen", but this was challenged by the Muslims of Medina known in Arabic as the Ansar. A lively argument began between the two groups, each of them claiming that Salman belonged to their group, and not to the other group. Muhammad arrived on the scene, and heard the argument. He was amused by the claims, but he soon put an end to their arguments by saying: "Salman is neither Muhajir nor Ansar. He is one of us. He is one of the People of the House, ahl al-Bayt."[4]
A few days before his death, Salman said he was blessed with a dream, in which the deceased Muhammad, appeared to tell him that he would die on Friday in Ctesiphon.
Salman the Persian died during the reign of the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan at the age of 78. He is thought to have been buried in Ctesiphon, Al-Mada'in in present-day Iraq. Though Ctesiphon has long been abandoned, the nearby town of Salman Pak is named after him. It is also claimed that his grave is in Lod (Lydda), Palestine/Israel, in the modern quarter of Ramat Eshkol.
A measure of Salman's scriptual attainment can be gleaned by the following narrations. The second narration implies that Salman could also read Hebrew.
Narrated Abu Juhaifa: The Prophet made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda.' Salman paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda' and found Um Ad-Darda' dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied, "Your brother Abu Ad-Darda' is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world." In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda' came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu Ad-Darda' to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda' said, "I am fasting." Salman said, "I am not going to eat unless you eat." So, Abu Ad-Darda' ate(with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abu Ad-Darda' got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda' slept. After sometime Abu Ad-Darda' again got up but Salman told him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer. Salman told Abu Ad-Darda', "Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on you." Abu Ad-Darda' came to the Prophet and narrated the whole story. The Prophet said, "Salman has spoken the truth."[5]
He translated part of the Qur'an into Persian, thus becoming the first person to interpret the Qur'an into a foreign language.[7]
I am Salman, the son of Islam from the children of Adam.—Salman, Companions of The Prophet, Vol.1, by: Abdul Wahid Hamid
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.[8] He is also mentioned in one hadith regarding the perfect Shia.
Ali Asgher Razwy, a 20th century Shi'a 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.[9]
Sufis refer to him often; in the Oveyssi-Shahmaghsoudi order and Naqshbandi order, Salman is the third person in the chain connecting devotees with Muhammad.
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