The Fire Worshiper who Yearned for more

Salman Al-Farisi رضي الله عنه, one of the most remarkable Sahaba of the Prophet ﷺ, began his journey in Persia. He was born in a town called Ram-Hurmuz (some say it was one of the cities of Isfahan). His original name was Mabah ibn Budhakhshan, and he was raised in a devout Zoroastrian household. His father, a village leader known as Dehqan, adored him dearly and entrusted him with maintaining the sacred fire—a duty central to their fire-worshipping faith. Salman ensured the fire never extinguished!

One day, his father sent him to a farm for an errand. On his way, Salman passed by a church. Intrigued by the sounds of prayers, he stepped inside and watched Christians worship for the first time. Their devotion touched his heart in ways he couldn’t explain. He asked the people inside about their religion. They told him their faith originated in Ash-Sham (Greater Syria/Levant).

When Salman returned home, he shared his discovery and how he was fascinated by it. His father, furious and fearful of losing him, locked him up and shackled his legs. Despite the restrictions, Salman managed to communicate with Christians who promised to notify him when a caravan to Syria passed by. When the opportunity came, Salman freed himself, fled his home, and joined the caravan, beginning a life-changing spiritual quest.

Salman Al-Farisi’s Search for the Truth

In Syria, Salman served a series of Christian scholars. The first bishop, however, turned out to be corrupt, taking charity for himself instead of distributing it. When the bishop died, Salman revealed the truth to the congregation, and they replaced him with a man of great integrity and piety. Salman described this scholar as the most righteous person he had ever met.

On his deathbed, the scholar advised Salman to seek another devout Christian leader. Salman continued traveling from one pious mentor to another across Syria and Mesopotamia. The last scholar he served told him about the imminent arrival of a final prophet in the land of the Arabs. He described three clear signs:

1. The prophet would not eat from charity.
2. He would accept gifts.
3. Between his shoulders would be the seal of prophethood.

The scholar encouraged Salman to travel to the Arabian Peninsula, specifically a land between volcanic plains and palm trees—a clear description of Madinah.

Betrayal and Enslavement

With new found hope, Salman Al-Farisi joined a group of traders from the tribe of Kalb, offering them his possessions to take him to Arabia. But on the way, they betrayed him, sold him as a slave, and he ended up serving a Jewish man in Yathrib (Madinah).

When Salman arrived in Madinah, he immediately recognized the palm trees described by the Christian scholar. Despite his enslavement, he held on to hope that his journey was nearing its purpose.

Meeting the Prophet ﷺ

Years later, Salman heard of a man in Makkah claiming prophethood—Muhammad ﷺ. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Quba (near Madina), Salman gathered dates and approached him. He said, “I heard you have poor companions, so take these as charity.” The Prophet ﷺ accepted the dates but did not eat them.

Days later, Salman brought more dates and presented them as a gift. This time, the Prophet ﷺ ate from them. Two signs had been confirmed!

Finally, Salman followed the Prophet ﷺ to a funeral. As discreetly as he could, he tried to see the seal of prophethood between the Prophet’s ﷺ shoulders. The Prophet ﷺ, knowing Salman’s intention, removed his garment to reveal the seal. Overwhelmed, Salman kissed it and burst into tears!

From Slavery to Honour

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged Salman to negotiate his freedom with his Jewish master. The agreement required Salman to plant 300 date palms and pay 40 uqiyya (possibly close to ounces) of gold. The Prophet ﷺ called on his Sahaba to help. Together, they planted the palms, and the Prophet ﷺ personally placed each seedling into the ground. Not one tree failed to grow.

Soon after, a Sahabi brought a small piece of gold, which Salman sold for the exact amount he owed. With that, Salman gained his freedom and became one of the closest Sahabi of the Prophet ﷺ.

Salman Al-Farisi and The Battle of the Trench

Salman Al-Farisi رضي الله عنه played a pivotal role during the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat Al-Khandaq). When the Muslims faced an imminent attack from Quraysh and allied tribes, Salman suggested digging a trench to fortify Madina’s vulnerable northern border. This military tactic, common in Persia, was new to the Arabs. The Prophet ﷺ approved, and together, the Muslims dug the trench. The battle ended with the Ahzab (different tribes uniting against the Muslims) eventually forfeiting because of extreme wind that Allah has sent upon them.

During the effort, the Muhajirun claimed, “Salman is one of us” while the Ansar also said, “Salman is one of us.” The Prophet ﷺ declared, “Salman is one of us, the people of my household.”

A Life of Piety and Honour

Salman Al-Farisi رضي الله عنه earned the titles “Son of Islam” and “Salman the Good”. Rasoul Allah once told him that Jannah yearns for him! He led a life of humility and wisdom. During his governorship of Al-Mada’in in Persia, he lived as simply as the poorest of his people, eating from his own labour and sharing his wealth with others.

The Prophet ﷺ included Salman among his most beloved Sahaba and said, “If faith were at Thuraiya (a faraway star), men like Salman would reach it.”