Through The Fire

Sh. Omar Suleiman gives us the historical context

behind the story of Salman, such as the war and
relationship between the Romans and the Persians, the
revelation of Surah Rum to the Prophet SAW

1. The Romans and the Persians:

 The longest war in the history of mankind occurred
for 720 years between the Persians and Romans: it
only stopped as they were both defeated by the
Muslims.
 Surah Rum (30) predicts the victory of the Romans
over the Persians between 3-9 years after the
Persians defeated the Romans in 615. The surah
mentions that ‘the believers will rejoice’. This has a
double meaning: the Romans did defeat the Persians
as predicted 8.5 years after the revelation of Surah
Rum and also this time coincided with the Battle of
Badr.
 Abu Bakr (RA) believed so firmly in the revelation he
agreed to up the stakes from 10 camels to 100
camels that the predition would come true in a bet
with Ubayy ibn Khalaf.
2.Early Christianity
3.After Isa (AS), there was no authority to relate a
standard version of who Isa (RA) really was, so
there was immediate confusion. In 325, the
council of Nicea was held by the Roman
Christians and a standard creed of Christianity
was adopted. The Persian version of Christianity
remained free from this version adopted by the
Roman Empire. The Persian Christians declared
themselves independent from this conception
in 424. Nestorius, the Patriarch of
Constantinople, was a well respected, learned
authority in Christianity, but even he was
expelled and silenced when in 428 he objected
to the doctrines preached by the Creed of
Nicea. Most of his followers fled to Persia and
establishedthe
4.The story of Salman Al Farisi. Salman’s story
has lessons for every single truth-seeker at
every single juncture of their journey. As we
embark on this remarkable story, allow
yourself to see through the eyes of Salman.
 Salman (RA): born in Isfahan, Persia in the 6th
century, where the main religion was
Zoroastrianism. Their philosophy sees evil
and good energy rivalling each other and fire
plays a role in their ritual worship. His father
was a wealthy tribal leader and keeper of the
fire, who loved Salman (RA) so dearly he kept
him in the house. Salman (RA) was head
priest aged 16 and on course to succeed his
father as the keeper of the Fire.
 Finally, Salman (RA) was allowed to leave the
house to see to his father’s property.
However, he gets lost and finds himself in a
Christian church. He watches them worship
until sunset and is informed by the head
priest that the religion comes from As-Sham.
 On returning home, he recounts to his father
where he had been- he expresses his feeling
that the religion of the Christians was better
than their Zoroastrianism. His father
becomes irate and ties him up in shackles.
Salman (RA) seeks aid from the Christian
priest- he asks to be informed when
merchants from As-Sham arrive in the area
and he escapes with them from his home.
 Imagine the challenge Salman (RA) faces
travelling to Damascus- he does not speak
the language, he does not have life skills
having been kept in the house his whole life,
and he lacks tribal protection. In as-Sham, he
asks for the most knowledgeable person in
the religion and is directed to the High Priest
of the Church. He agrees to mentor Salman
(RA), but Salman (RA) discovers he is the
worst of the people e.g. stealing charity, not
following his own advice to others. When the
priest dies, Salman (RA) could not remain
 silent at his injustices and so announces to
the people the evils of the Priest at the
funeral. Thus, never attach a person to your
religion: even if a person fails, the religion
never changes.
 Salman (RA) learnt from 6 successive
teachers in total, travelling from Sham, to
Iraq, to modern day Turkey, then back to
Damascus to find them. His final teacher said
on his deathbed that he did not know of
anyone else to send Salman (RA) to- he
advised that he was living when the awaited
Prophet was due: his name is Ahmed and he
would appear in the land of the Arabs. He
would migrate to a land between two lava
fields. His three distinguishing features would
be that he would decline charity, accept gifts
and have a seal of Prophethood between his
shoulder blades.
 Alone in Damascus, Salman (RA) earned
money shepherding. The trade season
 arrived and Salman made a deal with the
tribe of Banu Kalb that he would give them
everything he had in return for going back
with them to Arabia. Instead, they captured
him and sold him into slavery en route- in
total he was sold 13 times. Eventually, was
sold to Jewish man in Yathrib. One day, whilst
working up a tree, he overheard the cousin of
his master say that the people had gathered
in Quba around a man who migrated from
Makkah claiming to be a Prophet. Salman
(RA) nearly fell out of the tree. He came
down, and asked the cousin excitedly to
repeat what he had said. His master punched
him, asking of what business it was to Salman
(RA) and ordered him back to work.
 Salman (RA) went to Quba on a day off:
finding the Prophet (SAW), he offered dates
as charity. The Prophet (SAW) did not take
them but gave them to the companions. The
next day, taking another day off, he goes to
Quba again and presents dates to the
Prophet (SAW) as a gift- this time he calls the
companions and they all eat from the dates.
Now how to see the seal of Prophethood?
Walking behind the Prophet (SAW), the
Prophet (SAW) notices Salman (RA) trying to
peak at his back, so he lowers his shawl.
Salman (RA) threw himself on the Prophet
(SAW) crying, kissing and hugging him. The
Prophet (SAW) asked his story and he
comforted Salman (RA). But how to get out
of slavery? The master of Salman (RA) had
demanded 300 palm trees that come to life
with the land and 1360g gold. The Prophet
(SAW) took this demand seriously, calling the
Companions to help their brother. They
manage to collect 300 trees: the Prophet
(SAW) asked Salman (RA) to dig the holes,
and with his own blessed hands planted all
300 trees.
 All the trees planted by the Prophet (SAW)
cam to life. He still needed the gold... the
Prophet (SAW) handed Salman (RA) a block
of gold and told him to take it to his master.
When it was weighed, it came exactly to the
ransom requested- thus Salman (RA) was
free. Salman (RA) was considered as one of
the Muhajireen and earned the reward of
Uhud and Badr as he was held back. In
Medina, he was paired with one of the Ansar,
Abu Darda, who himself was considered one
of the scholars of the Companions. An
interesting hadith is related in Bukhari about
this pairing: Narrated Abu Juhaifa: The
Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬established a bond
of brotherhood between Salman and Abu
Darda’. Salman paid a visit to Abu ad-Darda
and found Um Ad-Darda’ dressed in shabby
clothes and asked her why she was in that
state.?” She replied, “Your brother, Abu Ad-
Darda is not interested in the luxuries of this
world.” In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda came
and prepared a meal for him (Salman), and
said to him, “(Please) eat for I am fasting.”
Salman said, “I am not going to eat, unless
you eat.” So Abu Ad-Darda’ ate. When it was
night, Abu Ad-Darda’ got up (for the night
prayer). Salman said (to him), “Sleep,” and he
slept. Again Abu- Ad-Darda’ got up (for the
prayer), and Salman said (to him), “Sleep.”
When it was the last part of the night, Salman
said to him, “Get up now (for the prayer).” So
both of them offered their prayers and
Salman said to Abu Ad-Darda’,”Your Lord has
a right on you; and your soul has a right on
you; and your family has a right on you; so
you should give the rights of all those who
have a right on you). Later on Abu Ad-Darda’
visited the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬and
mentioned that to him. The Prophet, said,
“Salman has spoken the truth.”
 The first battle Salman (RA) encounters is the
Battle of the Trench. He had never been in
war before. The debate started amongst the
army in Medina as to whether to fight the
battle inside the city or outside. Salman (RA)
presented his idea to build the trench,
despite being an outsider, a convert and also
not having experience in warfare himself. He
recounted that when the Persians used to be
afraid of Roman attack, they would build a
trench around the city to slow done the
cavalry. He noted Madina was a perfect place
as it was situated between two lava fields.
When the idea was accepted, the Sahabah
started to claim Salman (RA) for themselves.
However, the Prophet (SAW) said ‘Salman is
from my family, the people of the
household’. What an honour! May Allah
make us of those honoured to be recognised
by the Prophet (SAW)- ameen!
 When death was upon Mu’adh bin Jabal (RA),
he advised ‘...seek knowledge from four men:
‘Uwaimir Abu Ad-Darda, with Salman Al-
Farisi, with ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud, and with
‘Abdullah bin Salam...’ [Tirmidhi]. Abu
Hurairah (RA) said about Salman (RA) that he
was long in his silence but deep in his
thought. Salman (RA) had a deep fear of
Allah. When he heard the following
revelation, he became sick and did not show
for a long time: ‘And indeed, Hell is the
promised place for them all’ (Quran 15:43).
The Prophet (SAW) asked him what had
happened, and Salman (RA) said his heart
tore because of this ayah. Allah revealed the
following to alleviate his fears: ‘Indeed, the
righteous will be among shades and springs’
(Quran 77:41).
 In the time of Abu Bakr (RA), Salman (RA) was
a general in the army. He was so humble that
a man in the souk asked him to help carry his
 things, not knowing who he was. The people
immediately rushed to help Salman (RA). The
man asked the people if they knew this
person and they said, ‘This is Salman the
Companion of the Prophet (SAW).’ The man
apologised, but Salman (RA) insisted on
carrying the things to the man’s house.
 In the time of Umar (RA), Salman (RA) was
made an ambassador, general and advisor.
Salman (RA) was close to Umar (RA) as he
sponsored a significant proportion of the
palm trees to free Salman (RA). They were
also neighbours. However, the silent nature
of Salman (RA) did not make him a coward
and he spoke up against apparent injustice.
In one story, Umar (RA) addresses the people
by saying, ‘Hear and obey’. Salman (RA) stood
up and said, ‘We will not listen to you and we
will not obey you’. Umar (RA) asked why and
Salman (RA) noted that he gave everyone
one cloth, but had taken two for himself.
 Umar (RA) asked for his son Abdullah, who
recounted that the one cloth only covered
half of Umar (RA), so Abdullah had given
Umar (RA) his piece so the two could be
stitched together. Now Salman (RA) agreed
to hear and obey him.
 After Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet (SAW) wrote
letters to leaders inviting them to Islam. He
sent the letter to Kisra (Chosroe the 2nd), the
leader of Persia, who was an arrogant and
powerful leader. In 628, the Prophet (SAW)
sent him a letter, which Salman (RA) helped
him write. Abdullah ibn Hudafah was sent to
deliver the letter, which read: ‘From
Muhammad, the Messenger of God, to Kisra,
the Great One of Persia. Peace be onto those
who follow rightful guidance. Accept Islam
and you will find salaam and Allah will give
you the reward twice: the reward of yourself
and the reward of your people. If you turn
away you will have the sin of yourself and the
 sin of your people’. Kisra responded angrily
to the letter, as he did not like that the
Prophet (SAW) had placed his name before
his own. He tore the letter and threw it at
Abdullah, threatening to kill the Prophet
(SAW).
 Kisra asked an ally in Yemen to send two
hitmen to kidnap the Prophet (SAW) and take
him to Kisra. On hearing what happened, the
Prophet (SAW) said, ‘May Allah tear up his
kingdom’. The 2 hitmen reached Medina:
when the Prophet (SAW) saw them, he
reported that Gibreel (AS) came to him and
said last night, Kisra was killed. They went
back to Yemen and found that indeed, Kisra
had been assassinated by his own son. The
Prophet (SAW) also told the hitmen to tell
their leader in Yemen that Islam will come to
Yemen: he should embrace Islam before it
arrives and he would stay in charge of his
 people. The leader in Yemen did accept
Islam.
 Salman(ra) get the kingdom of kisra but he
refused to get it. He used to go there and
used to do farm work. It took 200 years to
embraced islam majority people of the Iran.
 Salman(ra) was the leader of al scholar in his
time.
 Abu darda(ra) wrote a letter to salman and
he wrote to salman, Assalamu alaikum my
brother, Come return to holy land come to
jerujalem. Salman reply, The land doesn’t
make the place holy It’s deeds which make
something holy . So he stay in persia in his
last time of his life.
 Salman( ra) said that, My owner is my
religion and my worth is dart from it I was
created and to it I shall return.
 Sad came to visit salman(ra) when he was in
his death bed and entered the room seeng
him salman(ra) started crying. He said salam
and tell what’s making you cry my brother do
you forget all of your days when Spen with
prophet (pbuh) .salamn said to him o sad
there is 2 thing making me cry, he said I’m
not crying because of my leaving of this
world . I am crying because prophet(pbuh)
said to him , Don’t take anything from this
world except what suffices you for this
journey. He is crying because he is afraid not
to fulfil this oath. When he died he left only
only a blanket ,couple of cooking utensils and
20 dirham .