Salman al-Farsi

Salman al-Farsi (may God be pleased with him), the third Shaykh in the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, said the following:-

Bukhari relates that Abu Hurayra related the following Hadith:-
“While we were sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Surat al-Jumua was revealed to him. When the Prophet related the verse. ‘And He (God) has sent him (Muhammad) also to others (than the Arabs) . . .’ (62:3).
I said, ‘Who are they, O God’s Messenger?’ The Prophet did not reply until I had repeated my question three times. At that time Salman al-Farsi was with us.
God’s Messenger put his hand on Salman, saying, ‘If faith were at the Pleiades, even then some men from these people would attain it.”

In one of the Prophet’s battles called ‘al-Ahzab’ or ‘al-Khandaq’, Salman suggested to the Prophet to dig defensive trenches around Medina, which the Prophet accepted. The Prophet helped with the digging, with his own hands. During the excavations, Salman struck a rock which he was unable to break. The Prophet took a pick and struck the rock, which produced a spark. He then struck the rock again twice, each producing a spark, until the rock broke.
The Prophet then asked Salman, ‘O Salman, did you see those sparks?’ Salman replied that he did. The Prophet continued, ‘The first spark gave me a vision in which God has opened Yemen for me. With the second spark, God opened Damascus and al-Maghrib (the West). And with the third one, God opened for me the East.’

Also during the battle of ‘al-Khandaq’, the Muslims argued over which group Salman belonged to – the immigrants or the inhabitants of Medina. The Prophet intervened saying, “Salman is neither Muhajir nor Ansar. He is one of us – he is of the People of the House”.

Bukhari relates that Abu Juhayfa related the following Hadith:-
“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Darda al-Ansari. Salman paid a visit to Abu Darda and found Umm Darda (his wife) dressed in shabby clothes. He asked her why she was in that state? She replied, ‘Your brother Abu Darda is not interested in the luxuries of this world.’
In the meantime, Abu Darda came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu Darda to eat with him but Abu Darda said, ‘I am fasting.’ Salman replied, ‘I’m not going to eat unless you eat.’ So Abu Darda then ate with Salman.
When it was night and part of the night had passed, Abi Darda got up to offer the superogatory night prayer, but Salman told him to sleep, so Abu Darda slept. After some time, Abu Darda again got up and again Salman told him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer.
Salman told Abu Darda, ‘Your Lord has a right over you, your soul has a right over you, and you family has a right over you.’
Abu Darda related the whole story to the Prophet, who said, ‘Salman has spoken the truth.”

At-Tabari recounts:-
“In the year 16 AH/637 CE, the Muslim army turned to the Persian front. In order to confront the Persian king, the Muslim army found itself on the opposite side of the formidable Tigris river. The commander of the army, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, following a dream, ordered the entire army to plunge into the rushing river. Many of the soldiers were reluctant to cross.
Saad, with Salman by his side, prayed, ‘May God grant us victory and defeat His enemy.’ Salman then prayed, ‘Islam generates good fortune. By God, make crossing rivers as easy for the Muslims as crossing deserts. By Him in whose hand lies Salman’s soul, may the soldiers emerge from the waters in the same numbers in which they entered.’ Saad and Salman then plunged into the Tigris.
It is reported that the river was filled with horses and men. The horses swam and when they tired, the river bed seemed to rise up and support them until they regained their breath. To some it seemed that the horses effortlessly rode on the waves. They emerged on the opposite bank, as Salman had prayed, no one having drowned and only losing one tin cup from their equipment.”

He was held in position of great respect by the Prophet’s Companions. During the Caliphate of Omar, Salman came to visit Medina. Omar (may God be pleased with him) accorded him something he didn’t do for anyone else, when
he assembled his companions, saying, “Come let us go out and welcome Salman.” They received him at the outskirts of Medina.

May God be pleased with him.

Source:- “The Naqshbandi Way – History and Guidebook of the Saints of the Golden Chain”, by Mawlana Shaykh Hisham.