Salman al-Farsi (RA) : The Seeker of Truth
Salman al-Farsi (رضي الله عنه), whose original name was Rūzbeh ibn Būdakhshān, was born in the city of Jay (near Isfahan) in Persia (modern-day Iran). His father was a wealthy landowner and fire-worshipper, devoted to the Zoroastrian religion. Salmān himself narrated:
“I was a Persian man, from among the people of Isfahan. My father loved me dearly, and he kept me confined like a young girl, so that I would not leave the fire temple.”
He was assigned as the caretaker of the sacred fire, ensuring it never extinguished — a mark of high religious honor among the Magians. Yet, even as a youth, he began questioning the beliefs of his people.
Journey to Islam
One day, while passing by a group of Christians in prayer, he was struck by the serenity of their worship. He said:
“By Allah, this is better than our religion.”
He secretly associated with the Christians, and when his father found out, he imprisoned him. Salmān RA managed to escape and joined a group of Christian merchants traveling to Syria — then a center of Christian scholarship. There, he studied under a series of priests and monks, each of whom recognized his sincerity and dedication.
When his first teacher was near death, he told Salmān RA to seek another who still followed the true teachings of ʿĪsā (Jesus) without corruption. This chain continued from Mosul to Nusaybin, then to ʿAmūriyyah (in modern Turkey). His final mentor told him of the coming of a Prophet in Arabia who would follow the religion of Abraham (peace be upon him), describing his signs:
“He will not eat from charity, he will accept gifts, and between his shoulders is the Seal of Prophethood. He will appear in a land of palm trees.”
After his teacher’s death, Salmān RA joined a caravan bound for Arabia, hoping to find this awaited Prophet. However, the travelers betrayed him and sold him into slavery to a Jewish master in the region of Wādī al-Qurā. Later, he was sold again to a Jewish man from Banū Qurayẓah in Madinah — the very city described by his teacher.
When he saw the date palms, he said, “By Allah, this is the land described to me.”
Soon after, news spread that a man in Makkah claimed Prophethood. When the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah, Salmān eagerly tested the signs his mentor had mentioned.
He brought food as charity; the Prophet ﷺ did not eat from it. The next day he brought food as a gift; the Prophet ﷺ ate from it. Finally, he looked for the Seal of Prophethood — a mark between the Prophet’s shoulders — and upon seeing it, he burst into tears, kissed it, and embraced Islam.
Freedom and Brotherhood
At the time, Salmān RA was still enslaved. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged him to make a mukātaba (contract of freedom) with his master. The conditions were demanding — to plant and successfully grow 300 palm trees and pay forty ounces of gold.
The companions of the Prophet ﷺ came together to help him. Each companion donated trees, and the Prophet ﷺ personally planted them with his own hands. Miraculously, every single tree took root and bore fruit within the same year. Later, the Prophet ﷺ gifted Salmān a piece of gold the size of an egg, which sufficed to pay his remaining debt. (Ibn Saʿd, vol. 4, p. 89; Aḥmad, 5/442)
Thus, Salman al-Farsi (RA) became a free man and one of the closest companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
Participation in Battles
Salmān’s RA intelligence and worldly experience greatly benefited the Muslim community. During the Battle of Khandaq (the Trench) in 5 AH, when Madinah faced attack from a massive confederate army, Salmān suggested a new defensive strategy he had seen in Persia — digging a trench around the exposed side of the city.
The Prophet ﷺ immediately accepted his advice, and the companions labored together under his leadership. The trench successfully repelled the enemy, marking a major turning point in the Prophet’s mission.
During the digging, the companions began to dispute over who “owned” Salmān — the Muhājirūn or the Anṣār — for both claimed him. The Prophet ﷺ settled the matter with words of great honor:
“Salmān is one of us — the people of the House.”
Knowledge and Wisdom
Salmān RA was renowned for his knowledge and asceticism. He once said: “I am amazed at three things that make people laugh: the person who hopes for the world while death pursues him, the heedless one who is not neglected, and the one who laughs loudly while he does not know whether his Lord is pleased with him or angry.” (Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā 4/88).
The Prophet ﷺ praised his faith, saying: “If the religion were at the Pleiades (stars), even then a man from Persia would attain it.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2546). Scholars mention this hadith in connection with Salmān’s deep search for truth.
Later Life
After the Prophet’s ﷺ passing, Salmān RA continued to serve Islam under the caliphates of Abū Bakr (RA), ʿUmar (RA), and ʿUthmān (RA). ʿUmar (RA) appointed him as governor of al-Madā’in (near modern Baghdad). Despite his position, he lived humbly, earning his livelihood through weaving and palm-leaf work, and giving away most of his earnings in charity (Ibn Saʿd, Ṭabaqāt 4/90).
He lived a life of devotion, teaching and guiding Muslims with wisdom. It is reported that when he died in 35 AH (656 CE), the people of al-Madā’in mourned deeply, and ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (RA) is reported to have prayed over him.
Salmān’s RA legacy is that of a seeker turned scholar, a servant turned leader, and a stranger who found eternal belonging in the light of the Qur’an and the companionship of the Prophet ﷺ.
