Two great traveler "True seeker of islam"

Written by: Mrs.Shaheena wajid

                Two Great Traveler(True Islamic Seekers)


There is the story of two traveler of Islam "They both are True Seekers". They did their long and difficult travel for the seek of Islam and deep islamic knowledge.They beared more hardships seek the right path or for the way of Islam. They both are great presonalities and fond of islamic education and deep knowledge.One is the great Sahabi "Hazrat Salman Farsi R.A" and Second is Famous Muhaddis "Imam Shafai A.S"
There i will discuss one by one both persons.

Hazrat Salman Farsi R.A:

According to the investigations and researches of the Arab historians, Salman was born in or around the year 568 A.D., in a small town in Persia called Jiyye. The modern city of Isfahan stands on the site of Jiyye. Incidentally, Salman was not the name given to him at his birth. His Persian name was Rozeba. Many years later when he became a Muslim, his master, Muhammed Mustafa, the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and his Ahlul-Bayt), changed his name to Salman. During the years when he was at the court of his master, Muhammed Mustafa, his friends sometimes, also addressed him, as Abu Abdullah (the father of Abdullah).
His father was the Dihqan (chief) of the village, and so he was the richest person there. His father loved him, more than he loved any other and as time went by, his love for Hazrat Salman became increasingly strong and overpowering. He began to fear that something might happen to his son, or that he might lose him and so he kept him at home, a virtual prisoner, in the same way that young girls were kept.
Hazrat Salman became devoted to the Magian religion, so much so that he became the custodian of the fire which they worshipped. His duty was to ensure that the flames of the fire did not go out for a single hour, day or night.
Hazrat Salman’s father had a huge estate, which yielded an abundant supply of crops, and he looked after the estate and gathered harvest.One day, as he went about his duties as Dihqan of the village, he said to Hazrat Salman, “My son, as you can see, I am too busy to go to the estate now. Go and look after matters there for me today.” 

On the way to the estate, Hazrat Salman passed a Christian church and heard voices raised in prayer, which attracted his attention. He did not know anything about the followers of any other religion, as his father had always kept him in the house away from other people. when he heared the voices he entered the church to see what they were doing. He was impressed by their manner of praying and felt drawn to their religion. He said, ‘This religion is better than ours. 


Hazrat salman intrested in christianity:

Hazrat Salman asked and was told that the Christian religion originated in Syria. He did not go to his father’s estate that day and at night, he returned home. His father met him and asked where he had been. Salman R.Atold him about his meeting with the Christians and how he was impressed by their religion. His father was dismayed and said: ‘My son, their is nothing good in that religion. Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better.” 

‘No, their religion is better than ours,’ he insisted. His father became upset and afraid that Salman R.A would leave their religion. so his father locked up in the house. 

Hazrat salman  send a message to the christian, asking them to inform him of any caravans going to Syria. Before long they contacted him with the information he wanted. He broke the fetters and escaped his father’s estate to join the caravan to Syria. When he reached Syria, he asked regarding the leading person in the Christian religion and was directed to the bishop of the church. He went up to him and said: ‘I want to become a Christian and would like to attach myself to your service, learn from you and pray with you.The bishop agreed and Hazrat Salman entered the church in his service. However, Hazrat Salman soon found out that the bishop was corrupt.’

He would order his followers to donate money in charity while delaying his promise of blessings to them. When they entrusted the bishop with something to spend in the way of Allah, he would use it for himself and not give anything to the poor or needy. In this way, he amassed a vast quantity of gold. 

The day came when the bishop died and the Christians gathered to bury him. At this moment, Hazrat Salman told them of his corrupt practices and, at their request, showed them where the bishop had kept their donations. When they saw the large jars filled with gold and silver they said, ‘By God, we shall not bury him.’ 

They nailed him on a cross and threw stones at him.  Not long after, the local people appointed another man in place of the first. Salman  stayed on, in the service of this person who replaced him. The new bishop was an ascetic who longed for the Hereafter and engaged in worship day and night. Salman was devoted to him and spent much of the time in his company. 

Before he passed away, Salman  said to him, “O so and so Priest! The time has come for you to witness Allah Ta'ala's decision or will of Allah. I swear by Allah, I have never adored anyone as much as I have adored you! So what would you instruct me to do? And who can you recommend for me to see?”

He replied, “O son! I do not know of anyone except for a certain man living in the city of Mosul. Go to him, for you will find that he is similar to me.”

Before his journey to Madinah He passed small cities and did travels:
1. Journey to Mousal
2. Journey to Naseebain
3. Journey to Amooriyah
Bishop gave the Annunciation of coming of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).


Momentons of Holy Prophet PBUH:

  The old bishop told him three symptoms of the Holy Prophet PBUH
1. He PBUH accept(hadiyah) gift
2. Didn't take charity(sadaqah)
3.He PBUH has a mark of Prophethood inbetween their shoulders.

So the Hazrat Salman R.A attached himself to various Christian religious figures, in Mosul, Nisibis and elsewhere. The last one told him that there was no longer any left on the earth that were following the correct path. He also told him that the time had arrived for the advent of a Prophet in the land of Arabia, who would have a reputation for strict honesty, one who would accept a gift but would never consume charity (sadaqah) for himself.If you can reach that city, then do so, because you are very close to his era.”

Hazrat Salman's aptitude to Arab and Islam:

A group of Arab leaders from the Kalb tribe passed through Ammuriyah. Salman R.A asked them to take him with them to the land of the Arabs, in return for whatever money he had. They agreed to take him along. When they reached Wadi al-Qura (a place between Syria and Madinah), the Arabs broke their agreement and made him a slave, then sold Salman R.A to a Jew. Salman R.A worked as a servant for him but he eventually sold him to a nephew of his, belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah. This nephew took Salman R.A with him to Yathrib, the city of palm groves, which is how the Christian at Ammuriyah had described it. 

 Slavery:Hazrat Salman worked as a servant for him but the Jew eventually sold him to a nephew of his, belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah. This nephew took Hazrat Salman with him to Madinah Sharif (at the time known as Yathrib), which the Christian at Ammuriyah had described as the city of palm groves. 

At that time, the Holy Prophet was inviting the people of Makkah to Islam but Hazrat Salman did not know of this because of the harsh duties slavery imposed upon him. 

Salman's work was difficult and laborious but he did not allow his adverse circumstances to extinguish the flame that the hope of meeting Muhammed (S.A.W) had kindled in his breast. The hope of meeting Muhammed (S.A.W) revived him each day, there was magic in the name of Muhammad (S.A.W) that never failed to work. Whenever Salman had a rough day, he reminded himself that he had a "rendezvous" with Muhammed (S.A.W), he bounced back.

One morning when Salman began his descent from the top of a tree, he noticed that his master, who sat at its foot, was engaged in talking with a stranger. From this stranger it was gathered that Muhammed (S.A.W) had come to Yathrib and the Aus and Khazraj had taken an oath of loyalty to him. Immediately upon hearing this Salman's mind constantly wondered how he could finally meet Muhammed (may Allah bless him and his Ahlul-Bayt).

Hazrat Salman narrates:

I left the house for a while, making inquiries. I asked a woman I met from the city whose entire family had become Muslim. She showed me the way to the Prophet SAW.

Salman's Meeting with Muhammed Mustafa (S.A.W) and his Induction into Islam

One evening Uthman bin Ashhel was away from the oasis on some business, and Salman availed of the opportunity to realize his wish, He put the ripe and fresh dates which he had earned that day as his wages, in a bag, and went into the city to find Muhammed (may Allah bless him and his family), and to have audience with him.

Muhammed Mustafa (S.A.W) was living, at this time, in the house of Hadhret Abu Ayub Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), as his guest, each step that Salman took toward his destination heightened his anticipation. And then the great moment came. Salman the Persian was escorted into the presence of Muhammed Mustafa (S.A.W), the beloved of God, and his (Salman's) own unseen beloved. His heart was bounding inside his ribs like a bird fluttering in a cage but he was making a supreme effort to steady himself. Suddenly, he was arrested in mid-motion by the vision framed in the arch.

Muhammed Mustafa (may Allah bless him and his family) was seated in the reception room of the house. A few companions sat in front of him. Salman's first glance fell upon his face, and all at once he felt himself dazzled by a thousand sparkling lights. He heard himself saying quietly: "By God, this cannot be the face of a man who has ever told a lie. If there is any face that can be the face of a messenger of God, that is the face of this man."

After the exchange of preliminary greeting, Salman stated the purpose of his visit. Muhammed Mustafa (S.A.W) told Salman that the message that he had brought, was called Islam, and he explained its meaning to him as total surrender of a man, without reservation, to the Will and pleasure of Allah. Salman could not wait long enough and begged Muhammed Mustafa (S.A.W) to admit him to the company of those slaves of Allah who surrender themselves to His Will and His pleasure.

Muahmmed Mustafa, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and his family), thereupon, inducted Salman the Persian into Islam. The first requirement for Salman in this induction was to believe that God was One and had no partners or associates, and that Muhammed was His Messenger. The doctrine of the Oneness of God is called Tauheed, and it is the axis of Islam. The mission of Muhammed as God's last messenger to mankind is called Risalet. The second requirement for Salman was to declare his faith in Tauheed and in Risalet.

Hazrat Salman was released from slavery by the Holy Prophet , who paid his Jewish master an agreed price, and planted an agreed number of date palms to secure Hazrat Salman’s emancipation. 
After accepting Islam, Hazrat Salman would answer thus, when asked whose son he was: ‘I am Salman, the son of Islam from the children of Adam.’

Battle of the Trench

Hazrat Salman was the one whose excellent suggestion it was to dig the moat in the Battle of the Trench.

Some sources gather him with the Muhajirun (immigrants from Makkah). However, other sources narrate that during the Battle of the Trench, one of the Muhajirun stated "Salman is one of us Muhajireen", and this was challenged by the Muslims of Madinah known as the Ansar. 

A lively argument began between the two groups, each of them claiming that Hazrat Salman belonged to their group, and not to the other group. Rasulallah then arrived on the scene, and listened to the argument. He was amused by the claims but he soon put an end to their argument by saying, "Salman is neither Muhajir nor Ansar. He is one of us. He is one of the People of the House, Ahle Bait."

Hazrat Abu Bakr's Reign

Hazrat Salman pledged allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr along with Hazrat Ali, who pledged allegiance after a period of six months after Rasulallah ’s passing away. 

The Passing Away of Hazrat Salman Farsi

Hazrat Salman the Persian passed away during the reign of the third Khalifa of Islam, Hazrat Usman Ghani. 
There is some debate regarding his age at the time of death. 

He is buried in Ctesiphon, present-day Iraq. Though that city fell into abandon, there is still a town there named after him, called Salman Pak.