Salman Al-Farisi

By: Asma Hassan

Salman Al-Farisiy was not a poor villager infact his family was among the wealthiest of his people.His father loved him so much that he even locked him up out of his fear for him. He took the pains of the maigan religon until he became the gaurdian of the fire they worshiped.He was in charge of kindling it so the fire would not die out.His father had owned the land that produced crops.Once he was busy dealing with other things so Salman was sent to take charge.On his way there he saw a church and was impressed by thier prayers. He enetered thechurch and thought there religon to be better then his.He considered converting to christanity. When he came hom he told his father that Christianity might be better than there reigion. His father locked him up and fastened his legs fearing that he would abandon his religon.Salman sent some Christians demanding them to inform him if a caravan came from Syria and they did. He managed to get rid of his shackles and traveled in hiding until He reached Syria. He asked about the most well-versed man in Christianity there and was guided to a bishop. He told him of his wish to embrace Christianity and keep company with him, to serve him, learn from him and offer prayers with him. He agreed. Soon after Salman found out the man was cheating his people. He received charity of gold and silver to gve to the needy but kept it for himself. He soon died. A new bishop took his place. Salman stayed withe new bishop. This bihop was honet and more devoted to his religon. When he was about to die Salman asked him who to go to and follow after his death he was lead to a man in Monsul. After his death he lead him to a man in Nasibin who had many cows and 1 sheep . On his death bead Salman asked him who he shoud go to. He was lead to a man in `Ammuriayh. When this man was dying Salman asked him the same question. This time he was told that there were no longer any true Christian beleivers.However, he informed him that the mission of the last promised prophet was imminent.He also told him about the signs he will have the mark of the last prophet on his back he won't eat donations but he will to gifts. "He," told the man, "is a follower of the religion of Abraham. He will emigrate from his home to a city between two hard grounds, in which palm-trees are cultivated.He also told when a group of Arab merchants from the Kalb tribe passed by `Ammuriyah, Salman asked them to transport him to the Arab land in return for the sheep and cows he had. Salman said: When they reached Wadi Al-Qura, they betrayed me and sold me to a Jewish man. I was then sold to his cousin, who took me to Yathrib. I saw there the palm-trees and remembered the prophecy which the man of `Ammuriayh told me. During my time with him as his slave I over heard his conversaton with his cousin. The man said "May god destroy Bani Quba" they're making rumors about a man who came from makkah who is claiming to be a prophet.At nightfall he went to see the prophet he was itting with his companions. I told him I had some food that inteded to give to him as charity. He gave it to his companions and did not eat one bite. Salman now knew he doesnot eat charity.The next day Salman came carrying food and said this is a gift he told his companions to eat it and he ate with them. The next thing came true he does eat gifts. He was wearing to garments as I went to check his back one garment wa covering it. He knew what I wanted he threw aside his garment and I saw the seal of prophethood. When I became a muim slavery prevented me from fighting in battles. The prophet advised me to go into termswith my master and be freed and so I did the prophet tod his companions to assist me.I became a free nuslim. Taking part in the battle of Al-khandaq and many others. He became a govenor. Once he saw a Syrian man carrying a great load the man aked him to help. Salman releived the man of his load. Many people came to help the govenor but he refused. Soon the yrian man found out and appolagized to him a lot. In hi life Salman hadn't any goods except one that he told his wife to keep safe. In his last sickness an in the morning he lost his soul he told his wife to bring it to him. It was a bottle of musk. He had gained it on the day of liberating the Jalwala kept as perfume of the day of his death. He sprinkled it with water and stired it he told his wfe to sprinke it on him and leave shedid it. She came back after a few hours he had died and his soul has left. It met with his desire he met with Prophet peace be upon him and 2 of his companions Abubakr and Umar.