Men Around The Messenger
From
Persia comes our hero this time, and from Persia many came to embrace Islam in
the long run, and if 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 (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) and the Muslims, asking the
polytheists to enter upon a treaty for decisive battle to eradicate this
The ungodly war was planned: the Quraish army and allies would attack
Al-Madinah from outside, while the Bani Quraidhah would attack from within,
behind the ranks of the Muslims, who would then fall prey and be crushed. One
day the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam), based upon individual, collective, and tribal interests.
The Muslims found themselves
in a precarious situation. The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) assembled his
Companions for consultation. Certainly they were gathered to reach a decision
on defense and battle, but how could they put up a defense? And then a long -
legged man with flowing hair for whom the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam)
bore great love, Salmaan Al-Faarisiy, held up his head and took a look at AlMadinah,
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
(Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 hard working. 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam)
to ask him to divert the trench around that stubborn and challenging rock.
The
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 pickax 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) raised the pickax and gave a
second blow and the rock broke more. At that moment the Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) 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 (Sallalaho alyhi
wassalam) struck his third blow. Then the rock shattered and its glittering
light was seen! The Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) to break it, he stood by the side of the
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam), 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 San’aa',
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 goodness.
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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 le. 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, I
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 prophet hood. 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-Madinah. 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 tell 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 (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) again the next day, carrying some food, and
said to him (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam), "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 Prophet
hood, 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) advised me, "Go into
terms with your master for him to free you," and so I did. The Prophet (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) told the Companions to assist me, and Allah freed me from bondage.
I became a free Muslim, taking part with the Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam)
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, worshiping
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 corners 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 (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) who said, "Salmaan is indeed, full of knowledge." The
Prophet (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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! 'Ali 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 (Sallalaho alyhi wassalam) 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 splendor, 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 and
then sell it for three dirhams. I retained one dirham of it 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, O followers of Muhammad? What next, O noble of mankind in all ages? Some
of us used to think, whenever we heard the conduct of the Companions and their
piety -for example, Ab 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, an 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:
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 on the 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 worshiping 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 Waqaas went to greet him, and Salmaan
wept! Sa'd said, "What makes you weep; O Abu 'Abd Allah? The Prophet of
Allah died pleased with you!" Salmaan replied, "By Allah, I 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 1 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, "O Abu 'Abd Allah, give us a parting word of
advice for us to follow." He said, O Sa'd, remember Allah for your cares,
if you have any. Remember Allah in your judgment, 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 they should take nothing from it but the provision of the
traveler 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 labor. 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 AlMadinah, 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 "Fear not. It is
a house for you to protect yourself against the heat of dwell in the cold
weather. When you stand 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 sate 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 (Sallalaho
alyhi wassalam) 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.