Salman the Persian, Zoroastrian, Persia (part 1 of 2)
1] his journey to Islam as
follows:
"I was a Persian man from the people of Isfahaan[2] from a town known as Jayi. My
father was the town chief. To him, I was the most beloved creature
of God. His love for me reached the point to which he trusted me to
supervise the fire[3] he lit.
He would not let it die down.
My father owned a large area of fertile land. One day, while busy
with his construction, he told me to go to his land and fulfill
some chores he desired. On my way to his land, I came across a
Christian church. I heard the sound of people praying inside. I did
not know how people lived outside, for my father kept me confined
to his house! So when I came across those people [in the church]
and I heard their voices, I went inside to watch what they were
doing."
When I saw them, I liked their prayers and became interested in
their religion. I said [to myself], "By God, this religion is
better than that of ours." By God, I did not leave them until
sunset. I did not return to my father's Land.
I asked [i.e., the people of the church]. "From where did this
religion originate?"
"They said, 'In Al-Shaam.'[4]
I returned to my father who had become worried and sent [someone]
after me. Upon my arrival, he said, 'O son! Where have you been?
Didn't I entrust you with an assignment?"
I said, "My father, I came across some people praying in their
church and I liked their religion. By God I stayed with them until
sunset."
My father said, "My Son! There is no good in that religion; the
religion of you and your forefathers' is better.' "
"No, by God, it is better than our religion."
He threatened me, chained me by my feet and kept me confined to his
home. I sent a message to the Christians requesting them to inform
me of the arrival of any Christian trade caravan coming from
Al-Shaam. A trade caravan arrived and they informed me, so I then
told [the Christians] to let me know once the people of the caravan
finish their business and set off to return to their country. I
[indeed] was informed [by them] when the people of Al-Shaam
finished their business and were about to set off to their country,
so I then let loose the chains from my feet and accompanied [the
caravan] until we reached Al-Shaam.
Upon my arrival I asked, "Who is the best amongst the people of
this religion [of yours]?"
They said, "The bishop. [He is] in the church."
I went to him and said, "I like this religion, and I would love to
be with you and serve you in your church, in order that I may learn
from you and pray with you."
He said, "You may enter and stay with me," so I joined him.
After some time, Salman discovered something of the bishop. He was
a bad man who ordered and motivated his people to pay charity, only
to keep it for himself. He did not give it to the poor. He had
heaped up seven jars of gold and silver! Salman continued:
I despised him because of his deeds.
He [the bishop] died. The Christians gathered to bury him. I
informed them that he was a bad man who ordered and motivated
people to give him their charity only to keep it for himself, and
that he did not give any of it to the poor. They said, "How do you
know this?"
I replied, "I can show you his treasure."
They said, "Show us!"
I showed them the place [where he kept it] and they recovered from
it seven jars heaped up with gold and silver. When they saw it they
said, "By God we will never bury him." So they crucified him and
stoned him.[5]
They replaced their bishop. I never saw anyone [from them] who
prayed better than him [the new bishop]; nor a man more detached
from this worldly life and attached to the Hereafter, nor a person
more committed to working day and night. I loved him more than
anyone else I loved before.
I stayed with him for sometime before his death. When his death
approached I told him, "O [so and so], I stayed with you and loved
you more than anything else I loved before. Now the Decree of God
[i.e., death] has come, so who do you recommend for me [to keep
to], and with what do you order me?"
The bishop said "By God! People are in total loss; they have
altered and changed [the religion] they were upon. I do not know of
anyone who is still holding to the religion I am upon except a man
in al-Musil,[6] so join him
[and he gave me his name]."
When the man died, Salman moved to al-Musil and met the person he
recommended…
I said to him, "[Such & such person] at the time of his death
recommended me to join you. He told me that you are holding to the
same [religion] as him." I stayed with him and found him to be the
best man holding on to the matter [religion]of his companion.
Soon he died. When death approached him, Salman requested of him
[as he did earlier with his first companion] to recommend another
person who was upon the same religion.
The man said, "By God! I don't know of anyone on the same matter
[religion] as ours except a man in Naseebeen[7] and his name is [such and such],
so go and join him."
Following his death, I traveled to the man of Naseebeen." Salman
found the man and stayed with him for a while. The same incidents
occurred. Death approached and before he died, Salman came to the
man and asked for his advice as to whom and where to go. The man
recommended that Salman join another man in Amuria[8] who was also upon the same
religion.
Salman moved to Amuria after his companion died. He found his new
reference and joined him on his religion. Salman [at that time]
worked and, "earned some cows and one sheep."
Death approached the man of Amuria. Salman repeated his requests,
but [this time] the answer was different.
The man said, "O son! I don't know of anyone who is upon the same
[religion] as we are. However, a Prophet will emerge in your
lifetime, and this Prophet is on the same religion as
Abraham."
The man described this Prophet, saying, "He will be sent with the
same religion as Abraham. He will come from the land of Arabia and
will migrate to a place located in between two lands filled with
black stones [as if burned by fire]. There are palm trees spread in
the midst of these two lands. He can be recognized by certain
signs. He [will accept] and eat [from] the [food] which has been
given as a gift, but will not eat from charity. The seal of
Prophethood will be between his shoulders. If you can move to that
land, then do so."
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Footnotes:
[1] Al-Haithami collected this narration in Majma'
Al-Zawa'id.
[2] Isfahaan: A Region in
northwest Iran.
[3] His father was a Magean who
worshipped fire.
[4] Al-Shaam: It encompasses
the areas known today as Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and
Jordan
[5] An important point to note
here is that Salman did not turn away from what he thought was the
truth at that time because of the ac*tions of one person. He did
not say, "Look at these Christians! The best of them is so evil!"
Rather, he understood that he had to judge the religion by its
beliefs, and not by its adherents.
[6] Al-Musil: A major city in
northwest Iraq.
[7] Naseebeen: A city on the
road between Al-Musil and Al-Shaam.
[8] Amuria: A town that was
part of the Eastern Region of the Roman Empire.
By Salman the Persian
IslamReligion.com
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