Abdullah bin Abbas reported,

Ibn Abbas said, Salman Farsi narrated his story to me from his own mouth, saying:I was a Persian man from the people of Isfahan, from a village of theirs called Jayy. My father was the chief of his village, and I was the dearest of Allah's creation to him. His love for me grew until he confined me to the house just as a young girl is confined. I devoted myself so deeply to Zoroastrianism that I became the keeper of the sacred fire, tending it so it would not die down for even a moment.My father had a vast estate. One day, he was occupied with a building project of his, so he said to me, "My son, I am too busy with this building today to attend to my estate. Go and check on it for me." He gave me some instructions about what he wanted done there.I set out toward his estate, and on the way I passed by a Christian church. I heard the voices of the worshippers as they prayed. Because of my father's confining me to the house, I had no idea what other people were doing. So when I passed by them and heard their voices, I went in to see what they were doing.When I saw them, their prayer impressed me, and I felt drawn to their way. I said to myself, "By Allah, this is better than the religion we follow." By Allah, I did not leave them until the sun had set, and I abandoned my father's estate without going to it. I asked them, "Where is the origin of this religion?" They said, "In Sham."I then returned to my father, who had sent people out to look for me, and I had distracted him from all his work. When I came to him, he asked, "My son, where have you been? Did I not entrust you with a task?"I replied, "Father, I passed by some people praying in their church and was impressed by what I saw of their religion. By Allah, I stayed with them until the sun had set."He said, "My son, there is no good in that religion. Your religion and the religion of your forefathers is better than it."I replied, "No, by Allah, it is better than our religion."He grew afraid of me, so he placed an iron shackle on my leg and confined me to the house. I sent word to the Christians, saying, "When a caravan of Christian merchants comes to you from Sham, let me know about them." A caravan of Christian merchants from Sham arrived, and they informed me. I then said to them, "When they have finished their business and want to return to their land, let me know." When they were ready to return home, they informed me. I cast off the iron from my leg and set off with them until I reached Sham.When I arrived, I asked, "Who is the most learned man of this religion?" They said, "The bishop in the church." So I went to him and said, "I have come to embrace this religion, and I would like to be with you, serving you in your church, learning from you, and praying with you."He said, "Come in." So I entered with him. But he turned out to be an evil man. He would order them to give charity and encourage them in it, but when they brought him things, he hoarded them for himself and gave nothing to the poor, until he had amassed seven jars of gold and silver. I came to despise him intensely for what I saw him doing. Then he died, and the Christians gathered to bury him. I said to them, "This man was an evil man. He used to order you to give charity and encourage you in it, but when you brought it to him, he hoarded it for himself and gave nothing to the poor."They asked, "How do you know this?"I said, "I will show you his treasure."They said, "Show us."So I showed them the place, and they extracted from it seven jars filled with gold and silver. When they saw them, they said, "By Allah, we will never bury him." So they crucified him and stoned him with stones.Then they brought another man and put him in his place. Salman said, I have never seen a man, even among those who do not pray the five daily prayers, whom I considered better than him, more ascetic in this world, more desirous of the Hereafter, or more diligent night and day. I came to love him with a love I had never felt for anyone before.I stayed with him for a time. Then his death approached, and I said to him, "So-and-so, I have been with you and have loved you with a love I never felt for anyone before. Now what you see of the decree of Allah has come upon you. To whom do you commend me, and what do you instruct me to do?"He said, "My son, by Allah, I do not know anyone today who is upon what I have been upon. People have perished and altered and abandoned most of what they used to follow, except for one man in Mosul, so-and-so. He is upon what I have been upon. Join him."When he died and was buried, I joined the man of Mosul. I said to him, "So-and-so, such-and-such a man instructed me at his death to join you, and he told me you were upon his way."He said to me, "Stay with me." So I stayed with him, and I found him to be the best of men, upon the way of his companion. It was not long before he too died. When his death approached, I said to him, "So-and-so, such-and-such instructed me to come to you and ordered me to join you. Now what you see of Allah's decree has come upon you. To whom do you commend me, and what do you instruct me to do?"He said, "My son, by Allah, I do not know any man upon what we have been upon, except for a man in Nasibin, so-and-so. Join him."When he died and was buried, I joined the man of Nasibin. I came to him and told him my story and what my companion had instructed me to do. He said, "Stay with me." So I stayed with him, and I found him to be upon the way of his two companions. I lived with the best of men. By Allah, it was not long before death came upon him. When it approached, I said to him, "So-and-so, such-and-such commended me to so-and-so, then so-and-so commended me to you. To whom do you commend me, and what do you instruct me to do?"He said, "My son, by Allah, we know of no one remaining upon our way to whom I might direct you, except for a man in Ammuriya. He is upon the same as we have been upon. If you wish, go to him, for he is upon our way."When he died and was buried, I joined the man of Ammuriya and told him my story. He said, "Stay with me." So I stayed with a man upon the guidance and way of his companions. I worked until I came to own some cows and a flock of sheep.Then the decree of Allah came upon him. When his death approached, I said to him, "So-and-so, I was with so-and-so, who commended me to so-and-so, who commended me to so-and-so, who then commended me to you. To whom do you commend me, and what do you instruct me to do?"He said, "My son, by Allah, I do not know of anyone left among the people upon what we have been upon to whom I might direct you. But the time of a prophet has cast its shadow upon you. He will be sent with the religion of Ibrahim and will appear in the land of the Arabs, emigrating to a land between two lava fields, with palm trees between them. He has signs that cannot be hidden. He eats from a gift but does not eat from charity, and between his shoulders is the seal of prophethood. If you can reach that land, do so."Then he died and was buried. I stayed in Ammuriya as long as Allah willed me to stay. Then some traders from the tribe of Kalb passed by me, and I said to them, "Will you take me to the land of the Arabs, and I will give you these cows of mine and these sheep?" They said, "Yes." So I gave them to them, and they took me along.When they had brought me to Wadi al-Qura, they wronged me and sold me as a slave to a Jewish man. I lived with him, and I saw the palm trees and hoped that this might be the land my companion had described to me, but I was not yet certain in myself.While I was with him, a cousin of his from Banu Qurayza in Madinah came to him and bought me from him, taking me to Madinah. By Allah, no sooner did I see it than I recognized it by the description of my companion. I settled there.Allah sent His Messenger, who remained in Makkah as long as he did, but I heard nothing of him because of the burdens of slavery I was under. Then he emigrated to Madinah. By Allah, I was at the top of a date palm belonging to my master, doing some work, with my master sitting below, when a cousin of his came up and stood by him, saying, "So-and-so, may Allah destroy Banu Qaila! By Allah, they are gathering right now in Quba around a man who came to them from Makkah today, claiming that he is a prophet."When I heard this, a chill seized me until I thought I would fall on my master. I came down from the palm and began saying to that cousin of his, "What are you saying? What are you saying?"My master got angry and gave me a hard punch, then said, "What does this matter to you? Get back to your work."I said, "Nothing. I just wanted to make sure of what he said."I had something I had set aside, so when evening came, I took it and went with it to the Messenger of Allah in Quba. I went in to him and said, "It has reached me that you are a righteous man, and you have companions who are strangers in need. This is something I had set aside for charity, and I saw that you were more deserving of it than others." Then I placed it before him.The Messenger of Allah said to his companions, "Eat." But he held back his hand and did not eat. I said to myself, "That is one." Then I left.I gathered some more, and the Messenger of Allah moved to Madinah. I came to him with it and said, "I saw that you do not eat charity, and this is a gift with which I honor you." The Messenger of Allah ate from it and ordered his companions, who ate with him. I said to myself, "That is two."Then I came to the Messenger of Allah when he was at Baqi al-Gharqad. He had followed the funeral of one of his companions, wearing two cloaks, and was sitting among his companions. I greeted him, then circled around to look at his back, hoping to see the seal that my companion had described to me. When the Messenger of Allah saw me circling behind him, he realized I was trying to verify something that had been described to me. He cast off his cloak from his back, and I looked at the seal and recognized it. I threw myself upon him, kissing it and weeping.The Messenger of Allah said to me, "Come around." So I came around and told him my story just as I have told you, Ibn Abbas. The Messenger of Allah was pleased to have his companions hear it.Then the burdens of slavery kept Salman so occupied that he missed Badr and Uhud with the Messenger of Allah . Then the Messenger of Allah said to me, "Make a contract for your freedom, Salman." So I made a contract with my master to plant for him three hundred date palms which I would bring to life with my own hands, and to pay him forty ounces of gold.The Messenger of Allah said to his companions, "Help your brother." So they helped me with the palms, one man giving thirty shoots, another twenty, another fifteen, and another ten, each man giving according to what he had, until three hundred shoots were gathered for me.The Messenger of Allah said to me, "Go, Salman, dig the holes for them, and when you have finished, come to me. I will plant them with my own hand." So I dug the holes, and my companions helped me. When I had finished, I came to him and informed him. The Messenger of Allah went out with me to them, and we began bringing the shoots close to him while the Messenger of Allah planted them with his own hand. By the One in whose hand is Salman's soul, not a single shoot of them died.So I had paid for the palms, but I still owed the money. The Messenger of Allah was brought a piece of gold the size of a chicken's egg from one of the campaigns, and he said, "What has become of the Persian who has the contract?" I was called to him. He said, "Take this and pay off what you owe with it, Salman."I said, "Where will this go toward what I owe, Messenger of Allah?"He said, "Take it, for Allah will pay it off for you."I took it, and by the One in whose hand is Salman's soul, I weighed out from it forty ounces for them. I paid them their due in full and was set free. Then I witnessed the Battle of the Trench with the Messenger of Allah , and after that I did not miss any battle with him.

عن عبد الله بن عباس قال

حدثني سلمان الفارسي حديثه من فيه، قال: كنت رجلا فارسيا من أهل أصبهان من أهل قرية منها يقال لها: جي، وكان أبي دهقان قريته، وكنت أحب خلق الله إليه، فلم يزل به حبه إياي حتى حبسني في بيته كما تحبس الجارية، واجتهدت في المجوسية حتى كنت قطن النار الذي يوقدها لا يتركها تخبو ساعة، قال: وكانت لأبي ضيعة عظيمة، قال: فشغل في بنيان له يوما، فقال لي: يا بني إني قد شغلت في بنيان هذا اليوم عن ضيعتي، فاذهب فاطلعها، وأمرني فيها ببعض ما يريد، فخرجت أريد ضيعته، فمررت بكنيسة من كنائس النصارى، فسمعت أصواتهم فيها وهم يصلون، وكنت لا أدري ما أمر الناس لحبس أبي إياي في بيته، فلما مررت بهم وسمعت أصواتهم دخلت عليهم أنظر ما يصنعون. قال: فلما رأيتهم أعجبني صلاتهم، ورغبت في أمرهم، وقلت: هذا والله خير من الدين الذي نحن عليه، فوالله ما تركتهم حتى غربت الشمس، وتركت ضيعة أبي، ولم آتها فقلت لهم: أين أصل هذا الدين؟ قالوا: بالشام. قال: ثم رجعت إلى أبي، وقد بعث في طلبي، وشغلته عن عمله كله، قال: فلما جئته قال: أي بني أين كنت؟ ألم أكن عهدت إليك ما عهدت؟ قال: قلت: يا أبت مررت بناس يصلون في كنيسة لهم فأعجبني ما رأيت من دينهم، فوالله ما زلت عندهم حتى غربت الشمس. قال: أي بني ليس في ذلك الدين خير، دينك ودين آبائك خير منه قال: قلت: كلا والله إنه خير من ديننا. قال: فخافني، فجعل في رجلي قيدا، ثم حبسني في بيته. قال: وبعثت إلى النصارى، فقلت لهم: إذا قدم عليكم ركب من الشام تجار من النصارى فأخبروني بهم. قال: فقدم عليهم ركب من الشام تجار من النصارى، قال: فأخبروني بهم. قال: فقلت لهم: إذا قضوا حوائجهم وأرادوا الرجعة إلى بلادهم فأذنوني بهم. قال: فلما أرادوا الرجعة إلى بلادهم أخبروني بهم، فألقيت الحديد من رجلي، ثم خرجت معهم حتى قدمت الشام، فلما قدمتها قلت: من أفضل أهل هذا الدين؟ قالوا: الأسقف في الكنيسة. قال: فجئته، فقلت: إني قد رغبت في هذا الدين، وأحببت أن أكون معك أخدمك في كنيستك، وأتعلم منك وأصلي معك. قال: فادخل فدخلت معه، قال: فكان رجل سوء، يأمرهم بالصدقة، ويرغبهم فيها، فإذا جمعوا إليه منها أشياء، اكتنزه لنفسه، ولم يعطه المساكين، حتى جمع سبع قلال من ذهب وورق، قال: وأبغضته بغضا شديدا لما رأيته يصنع، ثم مات، فاجتمعت إليه النصارى ليدفنوه، فقلت لهم: إن هذا كان رجل سوء، يأمركم بالصدقة، ويرغبكم فيها، فإذا جئتموه بها اكتنزها لنفسه، ولم يعط المساكين منها شيئا. قالوا: وما علمك بذلك؟ قال: قلت: أنا أدلكم على كنزه. قالوا: فدلنا عليه. قال: فأريتهم موضعه. قال: فاستخرجوا منه سبع قلال مملوءة ذهبا وورقا، قال: فلما رأوها قالوا: والله لا ندفنه أبدا. فصلبوه، ثم رجموه بالحجارة. ثم جاؤوا برجل آخر، فجعلوه بمكانه، قال: يقول سلمان: فما رأيت رجلا لا يصلي الخمس، أرى أنه أفضل منه، أزهد في الدنيا ولا أرغب في الآخرة ولا أدأب ليلا ونهارا منه، قال: فأحببته حبا لم أحبه من قبله، فأقمت معه زمانا، ثم حضرته الوفاة، فقلت له: يا فلان إني كنت معك وأحببتك حبا لم أحبه من قبلك، وقد حضرك ما ترى من أمر الله، فإلى من توصي بي، وما تأمرني؟ قال: أي بني والله ما أعلم أحدا اليوم على ما كنت عليه، لقد هلك الناس وبدلوا وتركوا أكثر ما كانوا عليه، إلا رجلا بالموصل، وهو فلان، فهو على ما كنت عليه، فالحق به. قال: فلما مات وغيب لحقت بصاحب الموصل، فقلت له: يا فلان، إن فلانا أوصاني. عند موته أن الحق بك، وأخبرني أنك على أمره. قال: فقال لي: أقم عندي. فأقمت عنده، فوجدته خير رجل على أمر صاحبه، فلم يلبث أن مات، فلما حضرته الوفاة، قلت له: يا فلان، إن فلانا أوصى بي إليك، وأمرني باللحوق بك، وقد حضرك من الله عز وجل ما ترى، فإلى من توصي بي وما تأمرني؟ قال أي بني والله ما أعلم رجلا على مثل ما كنا عليه إلا رجلا بنصيبين، وهو فلان، فالحق به. قال: فلما مات وغيب لحقت بصاحب نصيبين، فجئته فأخبرته بخبري وما أمرني به صاحبي. قال: فأقم عندي، فأقمت عنده، فوجدته على أمر صاحبيه، فأقمت مع خير رجل، فوالله ما لبث أن نزل به الموت. فلما حضر قلت له: يا فلان، إن فلانا كان أوصى بي إلى فلان، ثم أوصى بي فلان إليك، فإلى من توصي بي وما تأمرني؟ قال: أي بني والله ما نعلم أحدا بقى على أمرنا آمرك أن تأتيه إلا رجلا بعمورية، فإنه على مثل ما نحن عليه، فإن أحببت فأته، قال: فإنه على أمرنا. قال: فلما مات وغيب لحقت بصاحب عمورية، وأخبرته خبري، فقال: أقم عندي، فأقمت مع رجل على هدي أصحابه وأمرهم، قال: واكتسبت حتى كان لي بقرات وغنيمة قال: ثم نزل به أمر الله، فلما حضر قلت له: يا فلان إني كنت مع فلان، فأوصى بي فلان، إلى فلان وأوصى بي فلان إلى فلان، ثم أوصى بي فلان إليك، فإلى من توصي بي وما تأمرني؟ قال: أي بني والله ما أعلمه أصبح على ما كنا عليه أحد من الناس آمرك أن تأتيه ولكنه قد أظلك زمان نبي هو مبعوث بدين إبراهيم يخرج بأرض العرب، مهاجرا إلى أرض بين حرتين بينهما نخل، به علامات لا تخفى، يأكل الهدية، ولا يأكل الصدقة، بين كتفيه خاتم النبوة، فإن استطعت أن تلحق بتلك البلاد فافعل قال: ثم مات وغيب، فمكثت بعمورية ما شاء الله أن أمكث، ثم مر بي نفر من كلب تجارا، فقلت لهم، تحملوني إلى أرض العرب، وأعطيكم بقراتي هذه وغنيمتي هذه؟ قالوا: نعم. فأعطيتهموها وحملوني، حتى إذا قدموا بي وادي القرى، ظلموني فباعوني من رجل من يهود عبدا، فكنت عنده، ورأيت النخل، ورجوت أن تكون البلد الذي وصف لي صاحبي، ولم يحق لي في نفسي، فبينما أنا عنده، قدم عليه ابن عم له من المدينة من بني قريظة، فابتاعني منه، فاحتملني إلى المدينة، فوالله ما هو إلا أن رأيتها، فعرفتها بصفة صاحبي، فأقمت بها وبعث الله رسوله، فأقام بمكة ما أقام، لا أسمع له بذكر مع ما أنا فيه من شغل الرق. ثم هاجر إلى المدينة، فوالله إني لفي رأس عذق لسيدي أعمل فيه بعض العمل، وسيدي جالس، إذ أقبل ابن عم له حتى وقف عليه، فقال: فلان، قاتل الله بنى قيلة، والله إنهم الآن لمجتمعون بقباء على رجل قدم عليهم من مكة اليوم، يزعمون أنه نبي. قال: فلما سمعتها أخذتني العرواء، حتى ظننت سأسقط على سيدي، قال: ونزلت عن النخلة، فجعلت أقول لابن عمه ذلك: ماذا تقول؟ ماذا تقول؟ قال: فغضب سيدي فلكمني لكمة شديدة ثم قال: مالك ولهذا! أقبل على عملك. قال: قلت: لا شيء، إنما أردت أن استثبته عما قال. وقد كان عندي شيء قد جمعته، فلما أمسيت أخذته، ثم ذهبت به إلى رسول الله ﷺ وهو بقباء، فدخلت عليه، فقلت له: إنه قد بلغني أنك رجل صالح، ومعك أصحاب لك غرباء ذوو حاجة، وهذا شيء كان عندي للصدقة، فرأيتكم أحق به من غيركم. قال: فقربته إليه. فقال رسول الله ﷺ لأصحابه: كلواوأمسك يده فلم يأكل. قال: فقلت في نفسي: هذه واحدة ثم انصرفت عنه فجمعت شيئا، وتحول رسول الله ﷺ إلى المدينة، ثم جئته به فقلت: إني رأيتك لا تأكل الصدقة، وهذه هدية أكرمتك بها. قال: فأكل رسول الله ﷺ منها، وأمر أصحابه، فأكلوا معه، قال: فقلت في نفسي: هاتان اثنتان، ثم جئت رسول الله ﷺ، وهو ببقيع الغرقد قال: وقد تبع جنازة من أصحابه، عليه شملتان له، وهو جالس في أصحابه، فسلمت عليه، ثم استدرت أنظر إلى ظهره، هل أرى الخاتم الذي وصف لي صاحبي؟ فلما رآني رسول الله ﷺ استدبرته عرف أني استثبت في شيء وصف لي، قال: فألقى رداءه عن ظهره، فنظرت إلى الخاتم فعرفته، فانكببت عليه أقبله وأبكي، فقال لي رسول الله ﷺ: تحولفتحولت، فقصصت عليه حديثي كما حدثتك يا ابن عباس، قال: فأعجب رسول الله ﷺ أن يسمع ذلك أصحابه. ثم شغل سلمان الرق حتى فاته مع رسول الله ﷺ بدر وأحد، قال: ثم قال لي رسول الله ﷺ: كاتب يا سلمان فكاتبت صاحبي على ثلاثمائة نخلة أحييها له بالفقير وبأربعين أوقية. فقال رسول الله ﷺ لأصحابه: أعينوا أخاكم فأعانوني بالنخل: الرجل بثلاثين ودية، والرجل بعشرين، والرجل بخمس عشرة، والرجل بعشر- يعني: الرجل بقدر ما عنده- حتى اجتمعت لي ثلاثمائة ودية، فقال لي رسول الله ﷺ: اذهب يا سلمان، ففكر لها، فإذا فرغت فائتني، أكون أنا أضعها بيدي ففقرت لها، وأعانني أصحابي، حتى إذا فرغت منها جئته، فأخبرته، فخرج رسول الله ﷺ معي إليها، فجعلنا نقرب له الودي ويضعه رسول الله ﷺ بيده، فوالذي نفس سلمان بيده، ما ماتت منها ودية واحدة، فاديت النخل، وبقي علي المال، فأتي رسول الله ﷺ بمثل بيضة الدجاجة من ذهب من بعض المغازي، فقال: ما فعل الفارسي المكاتب؟ قال: فدعيت له، فقال: خذ هذه فأد بها ما عليك يا سلمان فقلت: وأين تقع هذه يا رسول الله مما علي؟ قال: خذها، فإن الله سيؤدي بها عنك قال: فأخذتها، فوزنت لهم منها- والذي نفس سلمان بيده- أربعين أوقية، فأوفيتهم حقهم، وعتقت، فشهدت مع رسول الله ﷺ الخندق، ثم لم يفتني معه مشهد.