Second Ldition, 1424,2003

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lorm 4: 10
Date: 5,3,1424
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2
1he Search
for the 1ruth
by
a Man Known as
Salman the Persian
compiled by:
Dr. Saleh as-Saleh
3
1able of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................4
1he Beginning ........................................................................................
A Dierent Religion ............................................................................8
1he Interest Arises ................................................................................8
1he Opposition ......................................................................................9
1he \ay Out ........................................................................................11
1his is it, But! ........................................................................................12
1he Urge is Strong ..............................................................................14
Another Moe ......................................................................................15
One More Moe ..................................................................................16
1he Big Moe .......................................................................................1
1he Slaery to Allah Alone ................................................................24
But 1hey will Come! ............................................................................26
Reerences .............................................................................................2
4
,=, =! =>_\! ,,>_\!
In 1he Name o Allah, the Most Merciul, the Most Compassionate.
Introduction
All Praise is due to Allah, we praise lim, seek lis lelp, and seek
lis orgieness. \e seek reuge in Allah, the Most ligh, rom
the eils o our own seles and rom our wicked deeds. \hom-
soeer Allah guides, none can misguide him, and whomsoeer
Allah leads astray, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is
no true deity worthy o being worshipped except Allah, Alone,
without any partner or associate. I urther bear witness that Mu-
hammad is lis true slae and Messenger. May Allah, the Lxalted,
bestow lis Peace and Blessings upon the inal prophet,
Muhammad, his good and pure amily, and upon all o his noble
companions.
1oday, many people are curious about Islam, but their knowledge
about this aith may ary. 1heir knowledge may hae been gained
rom an article, a book, or part o a religious text book at high
school they may hae read. 1hey may hae known some Musl-
ims, passed by a Mosque, watched a documentary or the eening
news, or they might hae traeled to a Muslim country. 1o some,
Islam is just another religion`, but or many others, it has become
something interesting` to look` at. I hae written this book or
those who are searching within themseles or answers to the
many questions they hae. \ho am I \ho is the 1rue God
\hat is the true road to salation Is it Islam I I become a Mus-
lim, what does it mean to me, my amily, and the society at
large`
5
1oday, many people realize that all o the materialistic and secular
progress which has taken place in society has produced a spiritual
acuum, which in turn has led to social, economic, political and
psychological problems. lor this reason, those who preiously
said, Let us lie this lie and enjoy it,` or ley! \e don`t want
to know about God,` are now again searching or the truth. 1hey
are raising questions similar to those raised aboe. 1his is because
the innate nature o man recognizes what is good and bad, and
what is true and alse. It not eel at ease when Allah`s attributes
are degraded, and also when humanlike qualities are associated
with lim. It recognizes that there can be no more than One and
Only 1rue God, and thus One and Only true religion accepted by
lim. Allah does not request some o the creation to worship
lim alone, while ordering to worship Jesus ,
1
Buddha, ire,
light, Krishna, Joseph Smith, the Sun, the Moon, Khomeini,
Rama, temples, Prophets, Lliajah, larakhan, a cross, a tree, a tri-
angle, saints, priests, monks, or anything else.
Lerything besides Allah is a creation! 1hey are imperect. 1hey
are in need o others, but Allah is Sel-Suicient. le is 1he lirst,
haing nothing beore lim, and 1he Last, haing nothing ater
lim. 1o lim is the linal Return. le does not beget nor is le
begotten. No human gae lim the name Allah, rather, le named
limsel with this name. It means the 1rue and Only Deity \ho
Deseres to Be \orshipped`. le is not a nationalistic or a tribal
god. le is the Creator o eerything. le, thereore, deseres that
we submit to lim Alone, and le called this type o submission
Islam`.
Conusion, though, came on the part o man when people started
to worship creation, whether animate or inanimate, besides Allah!
In the inal Reealed Message to mankind, the Qur'aan, Allah
1
1his symbol represents the phrase 'alayh-is-Salam` which means: peace be
upon him. Out o respect, Muslims are commanded to state this phrase ater
mentioning the name o any prophet or messenger.
6
clearly explains the purpose or man`s presence in this world.
Outwardly and inwardly, man is called to lie in accordance with
Allah`s way. 1his is the meaning o worship in Islam, and it is the
purpose or which we all hae been created. 1here are those,
though, who accept Allah as the Only 1rue God who deseres to
be worshipped, but do not lie in accordance with Allah`s com-
mandments. 1heir practices are deiated rom Islam. 1hey are
not the criteria upon which Islam should be judged. Islam is per-
ect but people are not. \e are called to search into Islam.
1he objectie o this book is to call people to search or their sal-
ation by examining the story o a long search by a man called
Salman Al-larisee`, or the Persian`. \hy not Do we know ee-
rything \hen we know that we do not een posses the air we
breath, and that we were not created by nothing, nor did we cre-
ate ourseles, it becomes natural that one desires to learn more
about God ,Allah,, \ho created us, gae us lie, and \ho, one
Day, will call us back to lim. On that Day, there will either be
endless bliss or endless torment.

Salman and His Story

1he Beginning
No one can tell the story o Salman better than he himsel. Sal-
man narrated his story to one o the companions and a close
relatie o the Prophet Muhammad by the name o Abdullah
bin 'Abbaas, who in turn narrated it to others.
2
Ibn 'Abbaas said,
Salman said, I was a Persian man from the people of Is-
fahaan
3
from a town known as Jayi. My father was the
town chief. 1o him, I was the most beloved creature of
Allah. His love for me reached the point to which he
trusted me to supervise the fire
4
he lit. He would not let it
die down.
1his is an indication o good behaior o a son towards his a-
ther. lere Salman used the correct name o the true God, Allah.
1he name Allah is the same name used by all o the Prophets and
Messengers . Allah is the same name o God in the Aramaic
language o our beloed Prophet Jesus .
A Different Religion?
My father owned a large area of fertile land. One day,
while busy with his construction, he told me to go and to
his land and fulfill some chores he desired. On my way to
2
1his hadeeth was related in the Musnad` o Imaam Ahmed.
3
Isahaan: A Region in northwest Iran.
4
lis ather was a Magean who worshipped ire.
8
his land, I came across a Christian church. I heard the
sound of people praying inside. I did not know how peo-
ple lived outside, for my father kept me confined to his
house! So when I came across those people of the
church and I heard their voices, I went inside to watch
what they were doing.
Interest Arises
When I saw them, I liked their prayers and became in-
terested in their matter i.e., religion. I said to myself,
By Allah, this religion is better than that of ours.'
Salman kept an open mind, ree rom blind imitation.
By Allah, I did not leave them until sunset. I did not go
to my father's Land.
Salman gae himsel the time to contemplate this religion which
he, at that point, thought was the correct belie. A perceptie and
kind heart charged with patience are irtues which are necessary
to ree onesel rom being conined to a thought such as, O
well! I will try to ind out, but I`m too busy now,` etc. Death may
knock at the door sooner than one may hope.
I asked i.e., the people of the church. Irom where did
this religion originate?'
Seeking the origin` is a guide or those in search o the true relig-
ion. 1he origin` and essence` are essential terms that help in the
search process. \hat is the origin` o Islam and what is its es-
sence Islam came rom Allah, the Creator, the 1rue God, and its
essence is submission to lim .
5
5
1his symbol represents the phrase Subhaanahu wa 1a'aalaa` which means:
May Allah be exalted rom what the disbelieers associate with lim. Out o
respect, Muslims state this phrase ater mentioning the Name o Allah.
9
1hey said, In ash-Shaam.'
6
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, O my father, I
came across some people praying in their church and I
liked their religion. By Allah I stayed with them until
sunset.'
1his is amazing honesty shown by a person who knows well his
ather`s commitment to his religion. 1his is the kind o openness
which one who is in search or the truth must hae.
1he Opposition
My father said, O Son! 1here is no good in that relig-
ion, the religion of you and your forefathers' is better.'
1his is the theme o all those who blindly ollow others in mat-
ters o aith. It reminds us o the saying o Allah,
,| ,=| v ,-. ,| . = | .
,-| -, ,-| .,,- _
And those who disbelieve say, Do not
listen to this Qur'aan, rather speak noisily
during the recitation of it, that perhaps
you will overcome.'
|Surah al-lussilat ,41,:26|
6
Ash-Shaam: 1he Leant. It encompasses the areas known today as Lebanon,
Syria, Palestine, and Jordan.
10
, =- , \ _- --| , _- . ,
.=,- _
We found our fathers following a certain
way and religion, and we guide ourselves
by their footsteps.
|Surah al-Zukhru ,43,:22|
, _, - =- -,- , \ _
Nay, we shall follow that which we found
our fathers (following).
|Surah Luqman:,31,:21|
- -= ,, . = _ , \ _|v _
Never did we hear of this among our
fathers of the old.
|Surah al-Mu'minoon ,23,:24|
Many times, when you talk to people who hae conerted to Is-
lam rom other religions, they say that they heard the same argu-
ments which Allah mentioned o the disbelieers. 1he issue is the
same. It comes in the orm o, Do you want to leae the religion
o your athers and oreathers` Not only that, but the parents
and the amily at large may take a stand against the conert. 1he
magnitude o this opposition may range rom actual lie threaten-
ing situations to strong boycotting. 1his is the general trend, but
there are, howeer, cases o minor opposition and neutrality.
I said, No, by Allah, it is better than our religion.'
le loed his ather, but he did not latter him. le didn`t com-
promise about what he elt at that time as the truth. \hat was his
ather`s response
11
Salman said, He threatened me, chained me by my feet
and kept me confined to his home.
A ather torturing his beloed son to sway him away rom explor-
ing the truth! Many prophets were opposed, accused, and ill-
treated by members o their own amilies because o their opposi-
tion to known tradition`! Did Salman stop there
1he Way Out
He said, I sent a message to the Christians requesting
them to inform me of the arrival of any Christian trade
caravan coming from ash-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 ash-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 ash-
Shaam.
le did not surrender to the unjust orders o his ather. le was
striing in the cause o the truth, which ultimately led him to real-
ize the truth about the Creator, Allah.
,=| - . , = , ,,,=,| ,= _
As for those who strive hard in Our

Cause, We will surely guide them to Our

A plural pronoun` is employed to stress Power, Might, and Greatness. It is

common in Semitic languages or any Monarch to use the plural pronoun. It
is used by the Lnglish Dynasty as well. 1o Allah, howeer, belongs the best
example. \e` does not denote the 1rinity or any other alse concept.
12
Paths (i.e., Allah's religion, Islamic Mono-
theism).
|Surah al-'Ankaboot ,29,:69|
Salman made up his mind and set out in search o the truth, re-
gardless o the act that it was a distant and strange land to him.
Allah, Most Gloriied and Lxalted, knowing his honesty, assisted
him by making it easy or him to ind a means to trael to the
land o ash-Shaam.
1his is it, But..!
Upon my arrival I asked, Who is the best amongst the
people of this religion of yours?'
Salman was in search o the clear truth, and so he sought the best
in aith amongst the people o ash-Shaam. \hy not People like
to choose the best ood, the best spouse, and the best clothes.
Salman was searching or the best in aith.
1hey said, 1he 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.'
Salman realized rom the start that knowledge can only be gained
by associating with its people. In return, he was ready to oer
himsel as a serant to the bishop. 1he humbleness o those
searching or the truth draws them nearer and nearer to it. In the
absence o humbleness, arrogance preails, people see the signs
o the truth, but their arrogance dries them away to their de-
struction.
=- ,, ,,= ,,.| ,- _
13
And they belied them (Our Signs: proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.)
wrongfully and arrogantly, though their
own selves were convinced thereof (that
those Signs are from Allah).
|Surah an-Naml ,2,:14,
\ealth, social status, and other material actors must not prohibit
a person rom seeking the truth, which will ultimately aect his
uture. All o these things will anish, and the person will proceed
to his grae with nothing except his deeds. 1hese deeds are those
o the heart ,belie,, and those o the tongue and limbs which are
the maniestations o the deeds o the heart. Did I submit to my
Creator Did I lie according to lis Commands as explained in
the Qur'aan and by the teachings o the Last Messenger, Mu-
hammad 1his is the only thing which will be o use on the
Day o Recompense.
;,, v _, ,- v .,,

v, - _| = .,
,,= _
1he Day whereon neither wealth nor sons
will avail,

except him who brings to Allah
a clean heart (clean from disbelief, poly-
theism and hypocrisy).
|Surah ash-Shu'araa',26,:88-89|
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 moti-
vated his people to pay charity, only to keep it for him-
self. He did not give it to the poor. He had heaped up
seven jars of gold and silver!
14
1his is an example o the corrupt and eil people ound in eery
time and place: the hypocrites and abusie people. Did Salman
stop there with that corrupt man No! le moed to the next
stage in his search. le did not turn away rom seeking the truth.
I despised him because of his deeds.
It is clear that his hate o the bishop did not stop him rom seek-
ing the truth. Allah, the Most Lxalted, guided him, knowing his
sincere desire in inding the truth.
He the bishop died. 1he Christians gathered to bury
him. I informed them that he was a bad man who or-
dered 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. 1hey said, How do you know this?' I replied, I
can show you his treasure.' 1hey said, Show us!' I
showed them the place where he kept it and they recov-
ered from it seven jars heaped up with gold and silver.
When they saw it they said, By Allah we will never bury
him.' So they crucified him and stoned him.
8
1he Urge is Strong
Salman said, 1hey replaced their bishop. I never saw
anyone from them who prayed the five prescribed
prayers 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 working day
and night. I loved him more than anyone else I loved be-
fore.
8
Lditor`s note: An important point to note here is that Salman did not turn
away rom what he thought was the truth at that time because o the actions o
one person. le did not say, Look at these Christians! 1he best o them is so
eil!` Rather, he understood that he had to judge the religion by its belies, and
not by its adherents.
15
1here are ie daily prescribed prayers in Islam. Allah taught
Prophet Muhammad the manner in which to perorm these
prayers as well as their timings. 1hey are not the kind o prayers`
which hae been deeloped and are practiced by some people.
Prayers are the oundation o Islam. I done according to the
Prophet`s way, they puriy a person rom the sins and wrong-
doings that he may commit during the day.
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 Allah i.e., death has come,
so who do you recommend for me to keep to, and with
what do you order me?'
Salman started to think about who he would accompany ater the
bishop`s death. le again thought o searching or righteous peo-
ple with sound knowledge. lis desire and readiness to go ater
the truth was irm.
1he bishop said By Allah! 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,
9
so join him.' and
he gave him his name
Another Move
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.' 1he man of al-Musil told Salman to
stay with him. I stayed with him and found him to be
9
Al-Musil: A major city in northwest Iraq.
16
the best man holding on to the matter religionof his
companion.'
Soon he died, Salman said. 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. 1he man said, By Allah! I don't
know of anyone on the same matter religion as ours ex-
cept a man in Naseebeen
10
and his name is such and
such, so go and join him.
One More Move
Iollowing his death, I traveled to the man of Nasee-
been. Salman found the man and stayed with him for a
while. 1he 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. 1he man rec-
ommended that Salman join another man in
'Amooreeyah
11
who was also upon the same religion.
Salman moved to 'Amooreeyah after his companion died.
He found his new reference and joined him on his relig-
ion. Salman at that time worked and, earned some
cows and one sheep.
A good and lawul way o earning is ery important to the be-
lieer. Certainly the inluence o money is great, many hae sold
themseles and their principles or a cheap price, and many be-
come hypocrites or the sake o money. 1here are those,though,
that stand up or the truth regardless o whateer they may lose.
1his brings peace to the heart and mind.
10
Naseebeen: A city on the road between al-Musil and ash-Shaam.
11
'Amooreeyah: A town that was part o the Lastern Region o the Roman
Lmpire.
1
1he Big Move
Death approached the man of 'Amooreeyah. Salman re-
peated his requests, but this time the answer was dif-
ferent. 1he 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.
1he bishop knew the Path o Abraham. It is the origin o Mono-
theism, and calls to the worship o Allah Alone. 1he bishop knew
well what Abraham recommended his children,
_= ,, ,, , -,, =,-, , . _, ., =
_== ,| ,`=| : , v, ,| .,.- _
And this (submission to Allah, i.e. Islam)
was enjoined by Abraham upon his sons
and (so did) Jacob, saying, O my sons!
Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion,
then die not except on the Iaith of Islam.'

|Surah al-Baqarah ,2,:132|
Abraham married Sarah and laajar ,lagar,. lrom his descen-
dants with his union with Sarah were Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daid,
Solomon, Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them all, and rom his
descendants with his union with laajar were Ishmael and Mu-
hammad . Ishmael was raised in Becca ,known also as Makkah,
in Arabia, and Muhammad was rom his descendants.
1he man knew that the aith o Abraham is the true aith to be
ollowed. le must hae read the promise o Allah to raise a
Great Nation` rom the lineage o Ishmael ,Genesis 21:18,, and
so he recommended Salman to go and join the Prophet , who is
18
rom the descendants o Ishmael, who submits to Allah and ol-
lows the path o Abraham.
,_ .-, ,,, v,=_ ,,`- ,, ,,,-
, . c ,,-, | . . -| ,,,,
c, .| ,-| ,,- _
Our Rubb!
12
Send amongst them a Mes-
senger of their own, who shall recite unto
them Your Verses and instruct them in this
Book (this Qur'aan) and Al-Hikmah' (Iull
knowledge of Allah's Laws or Juris-
prudence or wisdom or Prophethood, etc.),
and shall sanctify them. You are the All-
Mighty, the All-Wise.
|Surah al-Baqarah ,2,:129|
, ,-| \ c,|, .| _, -- ,, , , ,- -
. - _=| _
1hen, We have inspired you (O Muham-
mad ) (saying), Iollow the religion of
Abraham Hanifan' (Islamic Monotheism,
to worship none but Allah) and he was not
of the mushrikoon' ' i.e., polytheists, pa-
gans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness
of Allah and in His Messenger , those
12
Rubb: Allah is Ar-Rubb: le is the One \ho gies all things the power to
grow, moe and change, to \hom belongs the Creation and Commandment.
le is 1he Master \ho has no equal in lis Soereignty, Predominance, and
lighness, and le is 1he One \ho Proides and Sustains all that exists.
19
who worship others along with Allah or set
up rivals with (or partners to) Allah etc.
|Surah an-Nahl ,16,:123|
., _|| | ,,, ,, ,=| ,-, . = ,| _
,=| - , = _| _-| _
Verily, those among mankind who have
the best claim to Abraham are those who
followed him, and this Prophet (Mu-
hammad ) and those who have believed
(Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector
and Helper) of the believers.
|Surah Aali 'Imraan ,3,:68|
1he 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. 1here 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. 1he seal of
Prophethood will be between his shoulders. If you can
move to that land, then do so.
1he man knew about the coming o a Prophet rom Arabia, rom
the brethren o the Israelites ,Deuteronomy 18, 1-18: I will
raise a prophet rom among their Brethren, like unto thee ,i.e.,
Moses,
13
and will put My \ords in his mouth.
14
And he shall
13
A Prophet Like Unto Moses:
20
speak unto them all that I shall command him`,. Certainly, this
erse is not in reerence to Jesus as Paul tried to interpret it ,Acts
13:22-23,. Jesus was neither rom the descendants o Ishmael,
Moses Muhammad Jesus Area of Comparison
Usual Usual Usual Birth
Married,
Children
Married,
Children
Not Married,
no Children
lamily Lie
Usual Usual Did Not Die Death
1o Median 1o Madinah None lorced Immigration ,in
Adulthood,
In his lie-
time
In his lie-
time
Ater him \riting Down o Reela-
tion
Rejected
then ac-
cepted
Rejected
then ac-
cepted
Rejected by
most Israel-
ites
Acceptance o Leadership
,by his people,
14
Muhammad was orty years o age when he was in the cae o lira in
Makkah when the Archangel Gabriel Commanded him to, Read orR e-
cite. Muhammad was terriied and replied, I am not learned!` 1hen the An-
gel recited and the Prophet rehearsed the \ords o Allah,
- =| c`,_ ,=, ||

., - . - -

;v c,_ ||

,|, ,- =|

., ,- . -
,-, ,| _
Read! In the Name of Your Rubb.

Who has cre-
ated (all that exists).

Who has created man from a

clot (a piece of thick congealed blood).

Read! And
Your Rubb is the Most Generous.

Who has
taught (the Writing) by the pen (the first person to
write was Prophet Lnoch. Idris, )
|Surah al-'Alaq ,96,:1-5|
21
and being an Israelite himsel,
15
he was not rom their |the Israel-
ite`s| brethren`.
1he man knew what was mentioned in their book about God`s
Reelation coming rom 1eman ,North o the City o Medinah in
Arabia, according to J. lasting`s Dictionary o the Bible,, and the
holy one` coming rom Paran.
16
According to Genesis 21:21, the
wilderness o Paran was the place where Prophet Ishmael set-
tled and had twele children, amongst them Kedar the second
son o Ishmael . In Isaiah 42:1-13, the beloed o God` is
linked to the descendants o Kedar, the ancestor o Prophet Mu-
hammad .
\hen Prophet Muhammad called the People in Makkah to
submit to Allah, most o them reused, and they in turn plotted
to kill the Prophet . le along with those who accepted Islam
was commanded by Allah to migrate to the city o Medinah.
Soon, a battle took place at Badr between the ew and ill-armed`,
repre sented by Muhammad and his ollowers, and the pagans
rom Makkah a year ater the Prophet`s migration. 1he
Prophet and his companions were ictorious ,Isaiah 21: 13-
1,.
1he man knew that Jesus told o the coming o Prophet
Ahmad ,Muhammad ,.
1
1hese were the good tidings which
Allah spoke about on the tongue o Jesus,
15
Note also that the Bible reers to the Israelites as the brethren` o the Ish-
maelites: e.g. Gen. 16: 12 & Gen 25:18.
16
God ,lis reelation, came rom 1eman, and the loly One rom Mount
Paran. Selah. lis glory coered the heaens, and the earth was ull o his
praise.` |labakkuk 3:3|
1
Ahmad literally means: One who praises Allah more than others`. It is the
second name o Prophet Muhammad who said in an authentic hadith, I
hae ie names: I am Muhammad and Ahmad, I am Al-Maahi through who
Allah will eliminate ,inidelity,, I am Al-laashir who will be the irst to be res-
urrected, all other people being resurrected thereater, and I am also Al-'Aaqib
|i.e., there will be no Prophet ater me|. 1his narration is reported in Sahih al-
22
., ,| _.,- , ,,- , . _, =, , _`,
,,=_ = ,,|, |`==- | ,, =, - _,|
`=,- ,, =, _|, - -, = -=

~
=-| _
And (remember) when Jesus, son of Mary
said: O children of Israel! I am the
Messenger of Allah unto you confirming
the 1orah (which came) before me, and
giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come
after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.'
|Surah as- Sa ,61,:6|
1he man died, and Salman stayed in 'Amooreeyah. One
day, Some merchants from the tribe of Kalb
18
passed by
me, Salman said, I told them, 1ake me to Arabia and I
will give you my cows and the only sheep I have.' 1hey
said, Yes. Salman gave them what he offered, and they
took him with them. When they reached Waadi al-Quraa
close to Medinah, they sold him as a slave to a Jew.
Salman stayed with the Jew, and he saw the Palm trees
his previous companion had described. I hoped that
this would be the same place described by my compan-
ion, Salman said. One day, a man who was a first cousin
to Salman's master from the Jewish tribe of Bani
Quraidha in Medinah came visiting. He bought Salman
from his Jewish master, He took me with him to Me-
dinah. By Allah! When I saw it, I knew it was the place
my companion described.
Bukha ari, the most authentic collection o Prophetic sayings, actions and tradi-
tions. ,V.4, 4 32, Lnglish-Arabic. Published by Dar-Arabia, Beirut, Lebanon,
18
An Arab 1ribe.
23
1hen Allah sent His Messenger i.e., Muhammad .
He stayed in Makkah as long as he did.
19
I did not hear
anything about him because I was very busy with the
work of slavery, and then he migrated to Medinah.
Salman continued saying, One day, I was on a palm-
tree on top of one of its date-clusters doing some work
for my master. A first cousin of his came and stood in
front of him his master was sitting and said, Woe to
Bani Qeelah people of the tribe Qeelah, they are gath-
ered in Qibaa'
20
around a man who came today from
Makkah claiming to be a Prophet!'
I trembled so fiercely when I heard him that I feared
that I would fall on my master. I descended and said,
What are you saying!? What are you saying!?' My master
became angry and punched me with a powerful punch
saying, What business do you have in this matter? Go
and mind your business.' I said, Nothing! I just wanted
to be sure of what he was saying.'
On that evening, I went to see the Messenger of Allah
while he was in Qibaa'. I took something with me which
I had saved. I went in and said, I was told that you are a
righteous man and that your company who are strang-
ers here are in need. I want to offer you something I
saved as charity. I found that you deserve it more than
anyone else' Salman said, I offered it to him, he said to
his companions, Lat,' but he himself kept his hand away
i.e., did not eat. I said to myself, 1his is one i.e., one
of the signs of his Prophethood.'
Iollowing this encounter with the Prophet , Salman left
to prepare for another test! 1his time he brought a gift to
19
1hirteen years ater he receied the reelation rom Allah.
20
In the city o Medinah.
24
the Prophet in Medinah. I saw that you do not eat
from that given as charity, so here is a gift with which I
wish to honor you. 1he Prophet ate from it and or-
dered his companions to do the same, which they did. I
said to myself, Now there are two i.e., two of the signs
of Prophethood.'
On the third encounter, Salman came to Baqee'-ul-
Gharqad the burial site of the Prophet's companions
where the Prophet was attending the funeral of one of
his companions. Salman said, I greeted him with the
greeting of Islam: Peace be upon you', and then moved
towards his back attempting to see the seal of
Prophethood which was described to me by my com-
panion. When he saw me doing so, he knew that I
was trying to confirm something described to me. He
took the garment off his back and I looked at the seal. I
recognized it. I fell down upon it, kissing it and crying.
1he Messenger of Allah told me to move around i.e.,
to talk to him. I told him my story as I did with you, ibn
'Abbaas remember that Salman is telling his story to ibn
'Abbaas. He the Prophet liked it so much he wanted
me to tell my story to his companions.
Slavery to Allah Alone
Salman continued to tell his story to ibn 'Abbaas:
He still belonged to his master. He missed two battles
fought against the pagans of Arabia. 1he Prophet said
to him, Make a contract with your master for your
freedom, O Salman. Salman obeyed and made a con-
tract with his master for his freedom. He reached an
agreement with his master in which he would pay him
forty ounces of gold and would plant and successfully
25
raise three hundred new palm trees. 1he Prophet said
to his companions, Help your brother.
1hey helped him with the trees and gathered for him the
specified quantity. 1he Prophet ordered Salman to dig
the proper holes to plant the saplings, and then he
planted each one with his own hands. Salman said, By
Him in Whose hands is my soul i.e., Allah, not a single
tree died. Salman gave the trees to his master. 1he
Prophet gave Salman a piece of gold that was the size
of a chicken egg and said, 1ake this, O Salman, and pay
i.e., your master what you owe. Salman said, How
much is this in regards to how much I owe! 1he
Prophet said, 1ake it! Allah will make it equal to
what you owe.
21
I took it and I weighed a part of it and
it was forty ounces. Salman gave the gold to his master.
He fulfilled the agreement and he was released.
Irom then on, Salman became a close companion of the
Prophet .
One o the great companions o the Prophet by the name o
Abu lurairah reported, \e were sitting in the company o Al-
lah`s Messenger when Surah al-Jumu'ah |Surah 62| was re-
ealed. le recited these words,
,, | ,,- ,- _,,,
And He (Allah) has sent him (Mu-
hammad) also to other (Muslims) who
have not joined them (but they will come).
|Surah al-Jumu'ah ,62,:3|
A person amongst them said, O Allah`s Messenger! \ho are
those who hae not joined us` But Allah`s Messenger made
21
A miracle rom Allah.
26
no reply. Salman al-larisee was amongst us. 1he Messenger o
Allah placed his hand on Salman and then said, By the One in
\hose lands is my soul, een i aith were near Ath-1hurayyaa'
,Plaeiades, the seen stars,, men rom amongst these |i.e. Sal-
man`s olk| would surely attain it.` ` |Sunan at-1irmidhi|
But 1hey will Come!
Many in this world are like Salman, searching or the truth about
the 1rue and Only One God. 1his story o Salman is similar to
stories o people in our own time. 1he search o some people
took them rom one church to another, rom church to Bud-
dhism or Passieness, rom Judaism to Neutrality`, rom religion
to meditations to mental abuse. I hae met and heard about some
who shited rom one idea to another, but were too araid` o
een wanting to know something about Islam! \hen they met
some Muslims, howeer, they opened their minds. 1he story o
Salman is that o a long search. \ou could make your search or
truth shorter by beneiting rom his.
2
References
1, Qissat Islam Salman: Arabic 1ext By lussein al-'Uwaishah.
2, 1he 1able on Page 20 rom the book, Muhammad in the Bible
ater correcting the issue about the death` o Jesus . 1he act
is that Jesus did not die. Allah saed him rom cruciixion and he
ascended to heaen. lis death will occur beore the Day o
Judgment and ater his return to earth. \hile on earth, Jesus
will rule by the Book o Allah, the Qur'aan, and by the teachings
o Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon both o them.