Salmaan-e-Farsi, also known as Salmaan-e Muhammadi
He was the first of the four pillars of Islam. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) particularly said of him, ‘Salmaan is one of our Ahlul Bait’, as he was closely attached to the infallible Ahlul Bait of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) also said of him, ‘Salmaan is an unfathomable ocean, a matchless treasure; Salmaan is one of our Ahlul Bait; he had the most perfect wisdom, and unique intellect.’ Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) said that he was like Philosopher Luqman, and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) called him better than Luqman. Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) counted him among the choicest of man. Traditions show that he knew ‘Ism-e-Aazam’ (The greatest name of Allah). He was a great genius. There are ten stages of ‘belief’ and he had reached the tenth one. He had know-ledge of secret things and deaths. He had eaten in this world food sent as gift from paradise. Paradise was fond of and loved him. Allah and the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) loved him. Almighty Allah had ordered believers to love four persons and Salmaan was one of them. There are verses in the Holy Quran, which were revealed in his praise, and in praise of his friends.
Whenever Angel Gabriel appeared before the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), he asked him to communicate salutation to Salmaan from Allah and inform him of death, disasters and lineage. During the nights he had secret sit-tings with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.) imparted him such hidden and secret knowledge as no other person except him could be able to bear and as-similate. He had achieved such a high rank that Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) said,
Salmaan has the knowledge of the beginning and the end. He was a boundless ocean, and he is one of us Ahlul Bait.
Qazi Nurullah says that Salmaan-e-Farsi, from his early childhood, made efforts to seek after the true religion and he showed his distrust to the scholars of Christian and Jew faiths and patiently suffered the hard-ships that came to him in this way. During the course of such a treatment meted out to him, he had been sold by more than ten of his masters. At last he had the good fortune to come to the master of the Universe (the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)) who bought him from the Jews for some money. Sal-maan’s friendship, sincerity and genuine love for the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) reached such an extent that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said;
Salmaan is one of our Ahlul Bait.
Abu Ja’far-e-Toosi (a.r.) a great scholar, in his book ‘Amaali’ narrates from Mansoor Bin-Bozraj that he said to Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) ‘O my master! I have heard you talking so much about Salmaan-e-Farsi. May I know why it is so?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Do not say Salmaan-e-Farsi, but call him Salmaan-e-Muhammadi, and you should know that the reason why I talk so much about him is that he possessed three great vir-tues… firstly, he submitted his own wishes to the wishes of Ameerul-Momineen (a.s.). Secondly he loved the poor people and associated him-self with them, rather than with the wealthy and well-to-do men. Thirdly he loved knowledge and the learned. Verily Salmaan was a servant of Allah pious, devout, and a true Muslim, and he was not among the id-olaters.’ Similarly Sudair Sairafi reports on the authority of Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that a group of companions were sitting together and were talking of their ancestral lineage and were boasting of it. Sal-maan was also among them. Omar turning towards him said, ‘O Sal-maan! What is your descent and lineage?’
Salmaan said, ‘I am Salmaan, son of a servant of Allah. I was off the right track and Allah guided me through Muhammad (s.a.w.a.). I was poor and Allah made me rich through Muhammad (s.a.w.a.). I was a slave and Allah emancipated me through Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and this is my status and my family, O Omar.’
It is reported that once Abuzar went to Salmaan’s house. At that time he had placed a vessel on the fire. They sat together for some time and narrated traditions. Suddenly the vessel turned upside-down and not a drop of what it contained fell down. Salmaan picked it up and put it at its place. After a short time it again turned upside down and nothing fell from it. Again Salmaan picked it up and put it at its place. Abuzar was puzzled over this sight and went out of Salmaan’s house. He was in a state of perplexity, when he met Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and told him the story. The Holy Imam (a.s.) said,
O Abuzar! Salmaan is the gate of Allah on the earth, one who genu-inely recognises him, is a believer and one who refuses to believe in him, is an infidel. Salmaan is one of us Ahlul Bait.
Once when Miqdaad went to Salmaan’s house, he saw that a vessel on a fire place was boiling without fire. Miqdaad said, ‘O Abu Abdullah! The vessel is boiling without fire.’ Salmaan picked up two pebbles, and put them under the vessel. The stones ignited like dry wood, the vessel boiled more intensely. Salmaan said, ‘Calm down the seething vessel.’ Miqdaad said that he had nothing with him to put it into the vessel to stop its boiling. Salmaan put his hand into the vessel like a spoon and
also struck it in order to let its bubbling subside. He also took out some of its liquid in his hand, and tasted it with Miqdaad. Miqdaad was highly surprised at this affair, and related it to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Traditions in praise of Salmaan are however beyond narration.
Salmaan (r.a.) died in 36 A.H. in Madayen and Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) reached there from Medina the same night for his funeral. He gave a bath to him, shrouded him and performed his funeral prayers. He was laid to rest at the same place.
A report says that, when Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) came near the corpse of Salmaan, he removed the mantle from Salmaan’s face. Salmaan smiled before the Holy Imam (a.s.) who expressed his good wishes to him. After shrouding his body the Imam (a.s.) stood up to offer funeral prayer for him. Ja’far Tayyar and Prophet Khizr were present in that prayer and with each of those two persons there were seventy files of an-gels and in each file there were thousand angles. Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) returned to Medina the same night.
The Holy tomb of Salmaan lies in Madayen with a dome erected on it and a large open quadrangle enclosing it. It is frequented by a large number of visitors.
