Name, patronymic and title
When Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ embraced Islam, he kept “Islam” as his lineage instead of his father’s name and named himself as Salman Bin Islam. His kunyat is Abu ‘Abdullah and title is Salman-ul-Khayr. (Ma’rifat-us-Sahabah, vol. 2, pp. 455; Taqreeb-ut-Tahzeeb, pp. 398)
Circumstances of life
Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ belonged to Asfahan, a city in Faaras (Iran). He left his country in the quest of truth. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ initially was a fire worshipper, then he abandoned that false religion and became Christian, and then embraced Islam. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ possessed great intellect and wisdom, was extremely wise and farsighted. Moreover, he is among those personalities for whom Paradise is desirous of. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 33; summarized; Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 318, 319)
Demise
He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ passed away during the last era of Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani’s caliphate in Mada`in on 10th Rajab-ul-Murajjab, 33 Hijri or 36 Hijri. His blessed shrine is in Mada`in (Salman Pak), Iraq. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 21, pp. 376; Karamaat Sahabah, pp. 219) He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ lived a long life of 250 or 350 years. (Ma’rifat-us-Sahabah, vol. 2, pp. 455)
Source of income
Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the governor of Mada`in and would receive stipend from Bayt-ul-Maal [the treasury]. However, despite this, he gave priority to earn livelihood himself and would make baskets of date leaves. Therefore, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said himself, ‘I prefer to consume livelihood earned by myself.’ (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 258)
Disinclination towards this world
Sayyiduna Hasan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was the ruler of thirty thousand Muslims and his stipend was five thousand dirhams. When he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would receive his stipend, he would spend it on Muslims and would survive on making baskets of date leaves. (Az-Zuhd lil Imam Ahmad, pp. 173, Raqm 815)
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Buraydah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه narrates that Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would earn livelihood himself. When he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would earn some money, he would buy meat or fish with it, call those inflicted with leprosy and would feed them with him. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 346)
Spending in the path of Allah Almighty
Sayyiduna Nu’man Bin Humayd رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated that I visited Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ in Mada`in with my [maternal] uncle. At that time, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was making the baskets of date leaves. What he said was that I buy date leaves with one dirham, make a basket of it and sell it for three dirhams. Then I make more baskets with one dirham, spend one dirham on my family and give one dirham as Sadaqah [charity]. (Ibid)
Dear Islamic brothers! We came to know through the aforementioned parables that Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had severely disregarded this world and used to spend abundantly in the path of Allah Almighty. He would spend the entire stipend he received from Bayt-ul-Maal on Muslims and would also give 1/3 (one third) of what he earned himself as Sadaqah. Following in the footsteps of Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, we should definitely spend some share of our income too in the path of Allah Almighty, if not 1/3 (one third) of it. It is stated in a blessed Hadees: ‘لَا تُوْکِيْ فَیوکٰی عَلَیْکِ’ i.e. do not be miser in giving Sadaqah, otherwise (your sustenance) will be stopped. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 483, Hadees 1433)
For the sake of Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, may Allah Almighty enable us to disregard this world and spend abundantly in His way!
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
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