The Conversion of Salmaan al-

al-Faarisee
Taken from the Musnad of Imam Ahmad Vol. 5, 441 - 444
Translated by: Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee-may Allah guide him

It was narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “I was
informed by the very mouth of Salmaan al-Faarisee (may Allah be pleased with him) of
how he converted to Islam.”

In Isfahan1

“I was born a Persian from the people of Isfahan from the tribe known as Jiyye. My
father was the tribal leader of his village and I was the most beloved of Allah’s
creation to him. His love for me increased to the extent that he secluded me in the
house like the teenage girl would be secluded to watch over the fire. I excelled in the
religion of the Magians until I became the caretaker of the fire that is kept kindled; it
is not to die out, not even for one hour.

1
Isfahan is located in modern day Iran located about 340 km south of Tehran.

1
My father had a large estate so one day while he was preoccupied in a building he
owned he said to me, “My son, today I am busy in this building away from my
estate, go to it and watch over it.” He ordered me to take care of it and to do some
other things that he wished that I complete for him. As I went out to his estate I
passed by a church from the many churches belonging to the Christians of that area.
I could hear their voices from within while they were praying. I had no idea what
they were doing since I had been secluded in the home of my father (for many
years). When I passed by them hearing their voices I went in to see what was going
on. Their prayer amazed me so much that I wanted to partake in it. I said to myself,
‘By Allah, this is better than the religion that we (the Magians) are upon.’ By Allah, I
did not leave them until the sun had set. I did not go to the estate of my father to
tend to it. I asked them where their religion had originally come from and they
informed me that it came from Syria.

Thereafter I returned to my father’s home when he requested me to go and see him.

When I went to him he said to me, “My son, where have you been? Didn’t I entrust
you with a task to complete for me?” I told him, ‘My father, I passed by a people
engaged in prayer within their church and I liked what I saw from the good things of
their religion. By Allah, I stayed with them until the sun set.’ He said, “My son, there
is nothing from that religion that is good. Your religion and the religion of your
forefathers is much better.” I responded, “No, not at all, by Allah, it (Christianity) is
better than our religion.”

Fearing for me he put a lock around my foot and had me sequestered in his home. I
sent a message to the Christians telling them, ‘When the caravan of Christian traders
comes to you from Syria please let them know about me.’ When a caravan of
Christian traders came from Syria they informed me of their arrival. I told them,
‘When you have taken care of business and intend to return to your land, let me
know.’ So when they desired to return to their land they told me and I broke the
lock from my leg and went out with them until I reached Syria.”

In Syria

When I arrived there I inquired as to who was the best of the people of their
religion. They told me the bishop of the main church. So I went to him and told
him that I desired to follow their religion and that I would like to study with him
there and serve him in the church while learning and praying with him. He allowed
me and it is there that I stayed with him.

2
There was an evil man who would command the people to give charity and incite
them to give (as much as they could). Whenever they would collect anything he
would keep it for himself and not give anything to the needy. It was to the point that
he had collected seven jars filled with silver and gold. When I saw what he was doing
I became very angry. Then he died and the Christians gathered to bury him. I said to
them, ‘This was an evil man, he would order you to give charity and incite you to
give but when you would come to him with your wealth he would store it away for
himself, not giving any of it to the needy.’ They asked me what I knew about the
wealth he had hoarded and I told them, ‘I will show all of you where the treasure is.’
They demanded that I tell them where it was so I showed them the location. They
dug out the seven jars filled with silver and gold. When they saw it they said, “By
Allah, we will not bury him ever.” So they crucified him and pelted his body with
rocks.

Then they appointed a new person in his place. I had never seen a non-Muslim that
was quite like him or better. He was the most abstinent of this world and most
desirous of the hereafter, he was the most persistent of it night and day. I had love
for him like I had loved no one before. I stayed with him for some time until death
came upon him. I asked him, “I have been with you and I have had love for you like
no one else before. The decree of Allah that you are experiencing has come upon
you. So who do you advise me to go to (to seek knowledge under), and with what
do you instruct me (as last words)?” He said, ‘My son, by Allah, there is no one
more knowledgeable today upon what I was upon. The people have destroyed it and
substituted it with something else. They have abandoned most of what they were
upon except for a man in Mosul. He is upon what I was upon, stick to him.

In Mosul2

So when he died and was buried, I stayed with the person mentioned to me in
Mosul. I said to him, “A person advised me at the time of his death to accompany
you and that you are upon what he was upon.” He told me to stay with him and I
resided with him. I found that he was the best person practicing what his
companions practiced. Then it was decreed for him to die so when death came to
him I said, “I was advised by a person to go to you and he ordered me to stay with
you. What has come upon you is from Allah the Mighty and Majestic. Now who do
you advise that I go to and what do you instruct me to do?” He said to me, ‘O my
son, by Allah, there is no man more knowledgeable of the like that we are upon
except for a man in Nasibin so stick to him.

2
Mosul is located in modern day Iraq some 400 km of northwest Baghdad.

3
In Nasibin3

So when he died and was buried I stayed with the recommended person of Nasibin.
I went to him and told him my story and what the previous companion had told me.
He said that I could stay with him so I stayed with him and found him to be upon
what the two previous companions were upon. So I stayed with the best of people.
By Allah, it wasn’t soon after that the time of death descended upon him. When it
came I said to him, “A person advised me to go to this person and then that person
advised me to go to you. Now to whom do you advise me to go to and what do you
order me to do?” He said, ‘O my son, by Allah, we do not know anyone remaining
after this religion that I have ordered you to go to except for a man in Amorion.
Indeed he is upon the like of what we are upon.

In Amorion4

So when he died and was buried I stayed with the person of Amorion and informed
him of my story. He said that I could stay with him. So I resided with him a man
upon the guidance of his previous companions and their religion. I made a living
until I bought cows and a small female goat. Then the decree of Allah came down so
when it came I said to him, “I used to be with a person who advised me to go to this
person and then that person advised me to go to this person and then that person
advised me to go to you. Now to whom do you advise me to go to and what do you
order me to do?” He said, ‘My son, I do not know of one who is upon what we are
upon from amongst the people so that I may order you to go to him but the time of
a prophet has come to you. He was sent with the religion of Abraham, he has come
from the land of the Arabs, immigrating to the land between two dark stones both in
the middle of palm trees. He has signs of prophecy that are well known; he will eat
from what is gifted to him but he will not eat from its charity, between his shoulders
is the seal of prophet hood. If you are able to stay with him in that land, do so.’
Then he died and was buried.

3
Nasibin, also spelled Nusaybin in Turkish is an ancient city located in modern day Turkey on the border
of Syria.
4
Amorion, also spelled Ammuria was a city in Phrygia, Asia Minor which was founded in the Hellenistic
period, flourished under the Byzantine Empire. Its ruins are located near the village of Hisarkoy, Turkey.
The transliterated name in Arabic is ‘Ammooriyyah with an ‘Ayn.

4
 al-Qura5
In Wadi al-

I remained in Amorion for as long as Allah willed that I stay. Then a group of
traders from the tribe of Kalb passed me. I said to them, “Take me to the land of the
Arabs and I will give you these cows and a small female goat that belong to me.”
They agreed and I gave them the animals. They took me with them until they
reached Wadi al-Qura where they oppressed me and sold me to a Jewish man as a
slave.

In the City of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)

Then I was sold to another man from the Jews of Banoo Quraythah and taken with
him until we reached al-Madeenah. It was there that I would reside with my master.
When I saw the palm trees I immediately hoped that I was in the land that had been
described to me by my previous companion but I was not sure. I stayed there with
my master working in his date palm field amongst the Banoo Quraythah until Allah
sent His Messenger (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) and he made his way
to al-Madeenah stopping at al-Qubaa. At that time I was working in the date palm
field high above a palm tree while my master was sitting underneath when a man
from his uncle’s tribe came saying, “Allah curse Banoo Qaylah, by Allah they have
gathered at al-Qubaa around a man who has come to them from Makkah today
claiming that he is a prophet!” When I heard what he had said I began to tremble
out of shock until I thought that I was going to fall on top of my master. I came
down from the palm tree and asked the man to repeat what he had said. Upon seeing
this, my master became angry and slapped me hard across my face, yelling at me,
“What is wrong with you? Get back to work!” I told him, “There is nothing wrong
all I wanted to do was confirm what he was talking to you about.”

So I went back to work and when the night time had come I gathered my things and
left until I reached the Messenger of Allah (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon
him) in Qubaa. I went up to him while he was with his companions and said to him,
“You are travelers in need; I have some food that I swore to give as charity. When I
had mentioned this to the people they directed me to your group. I believe you are
the ones in most need of it.” I then took out the food and laid it in front of them.
The Messenger said to his companions, “Eat, in the name of Allah.” However he
himself refrained from reaching out to eat from it. I said to myself, “By Allah this is
one of the two signs of prophet hood. He does not eat from the charity given!” I

5
Wadi al-Qura (the Valley of the Villages) spelled Waadee-ul-Quraa is a valley located between the area
of ash-Shaam (are of Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon) and al-Madeenah and between Taymaa and
Khaybar. In it are many villages thus its namesake.

5
later returned to the Messenger (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) at noon
time carrying some more food. I told him, “I saw you not eating the food given as
charity; I had some other food that was reserved for myself that I want to give to you
as a gift.” I placed it in front of him and he told his companions, “Eat, in the name
of Allah.” And he began to eat with them. I said to myself, “By Allah, this is the
second sign; he eats from what is gifted to him!” I then returned to where I was
staying and stood there until Allah willed. Then I went to him and found him at the
cemetery following the funeral procession with his companions around him. I
greeted him and I bent over to take a look at his back. He knew what I was trying to
do. Then he loosened his outer garment where the seal of prophet hood was between
his shoulders just as one of my previous companions had described to me. I bent
down and began to kiss him and cry. He asked me to sit with him and I began to
narrate to him the story of my travels to the truth just as I am narrating to you O
Ibn ‘Abbaas. Then I converted to Islam.”

(End
End of Narration)
Narration