Saheeh Seerah Al Albaanee English

Chapter 15: The commissioning of the Prophethood and some of the
predictive signs thereof (Part 3)
How Salmaan al-Faarisee accepted Islaam and his meeting with the Christians
رضي ‏ُاهلل ‏ُعنه Persian) reported how Salaam al-Faarisee (the رمحه ‏ُاهلل Thereafter, Ibn Is-ḥaaq
became a Muslim. He reported from Ibn `Abbaas رضي ‏ُاهللُعنهما that he said: Salmaan al-
Faarisee himself narrated to me: “I grew up in the town of Aṣbahaan (Iṣfahaan in
Persia) in the village of Jayyu. My father was the Dihqaan (chief) of the village. I was the
most beloved of Allaah’s creation to my father. His love for me was so strong (that he
feared to lose me or have anything happen to me), so he kept me at home (as a
prisoner) in the same way that young girls were kept.
I became devoted to the Magian religion so much so that I attained the position of
custodian of the fire (which we worshipped). My duty was to see that the flames of the
fire kept burning and never for a moment let it go out.
My father owned a large farm. One day he was busy with constructing a building, so he
said to me: ‘My son, as you see, I am too busy to go out to the farm today. Go and look
after matters there for me today.’ He instructed me on what needed to be get done
and said: ‘Do not stay away from me for long, as you are more important to me than
the farm and all my other possessions.’
So I left for the farm as he had told me and on the way I passed by a Christian church
and the voices at prayer attracted my attention. I did not know anything about the
followers of any other religion, as all this time my father had kept me in the house
away from people. When I heard the voices of the Christians I entered the church to
find out what they were doing. I was impressed by their manner of praying and felt
drawn to their religion. I said: “By Allaah! This is better than the religion that we are
upon.” I did not leave them until sunset.
(That day) I did not go to my father’s farm. I asked them (the Christians): “Where did
this religion originate?” They said: ‘It originated in al-Shaam (Greater Syria).’ I returned
home (that night). My father had sent people to look for me. When I arrived, he asked:
‘My son, where have you been? Did I not entrust you with an obligation?’ I told him: “O
my father! I passed by some people who were praying in their church, and I was
impressed by their religion. So I was with them till sunset.”
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