In the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the month of the Mawlid, Sayyiduna Salman (RA) is a light of inspiration for us all. Everything that Salman (RA) was, every role he played, every sacrifice, every effort, every migration was for the sake of finding Allah ta’ala. And with that, he found a place in the Prophetic Household.
By SALEEMAH JAFFER
THE fragrance of Rabi-ul-Awwal is in the air, and with it comes the longing for closeness to the Messenger (SAW).
There are those who have been blessed to travel to Madina-tul-Munowarah, and they are currently enveloped in a tranquility that can only be found in the precincts of the Prophetic Mosque. For those of us who are at home, working, studying, busy taking care of families and households, the yearning continues.
How do we get our hearts close to the Messenger (SAW)? How do we better ourselves so that our actions and words are in line with his Sunnah? How do we ensure our salawaat, and our learning about the Sirah, is not just ritualistic or lip-service, but actually turns our hearts and transforms us?
These are questions that I have been asking myself – and every time I think about it, I find my mind going back to the words: ‘Salman is from us, (my) Ahlul Bayt’. These were the words uttered by the Messenger (SAW), when the Ansar (the helpers from Madinah) and the Muhajir (the migrants from Makkah) were both wanting to claim the Persian Sahabah as their own. ‘Salman is from us’ were the words that outwardly changed Salman al-Farsi to Salman al-Muhammadi (RA).
I often think of this moment, how it must have felt to be claimed as ‘own’ by our Messenger (SAW). How can we not dream of this for ourselves: a moment, where our beloved Messenger (SAW) names us as part of those closest to him?
When one looks at the context, one may think that this proclamation of the Messenger (SAW) was due to the success of the trench during the Battle of Khandaq. But when we take a deeper look at the life of Salman (RA) we see that he not only yearned for the Messenger (SAW) and the Message (Tauheed), but he sacrificed and exerted himself for it. The journey of Salman (RA) can be found in Musnad Ahmad, and there are many lessons we can learn from him.
Salman (RA) was born in an area close to Isfahan, Iran. His father was a devout fire-worshipper and was responsible for the Zoroastrian temple in the area. His father exposed Salman (RA) to the rituals of the temple from a young age, and soon Salman (RA) was given the task of overseeing the management of the fire. Despite growing up with the practice of Zoroastrianism, Salman (RA) found himself with unanswered questions, yearning for something more.
Salman (RA) fled from the comfort of his home and the love of his family in search of the Truth. He spent years in service of the chief monks of Shaam, Iraq and the Roman Empire, working as a servant, and learning from them. He continued to search for the Truth, unanswered questions stirring in his heart despite the piety and sacredness of the spaces he found himself in. On the deathbed of his Roman teacher, Salman (RA) begged him, asking him to direct him to where he should go next. His dying teacher told him that the time had come for a Prophet in Arabia, and guided Salman (RA) on how to find him. As Salman (RA) started his journey to Arabia he was captured and sold into slavery. He was eventually resold to a Jewish man in Madinah, where he heard rumours of the arrival of a Prophet in Quba.
Salman (RA) followed the advice of the Roman monk, observing that the Messenger (SAW) accepted gifts (hadiyyah) but not charity (sadaqah). The narration reveals a beautiful moment where Salman (RA) was walking behind the Messenger (SAW), hoping to catch a glimpse of the Seal of Prophethood on his honourable back. It is said that it was as if the Messenger (SAW) knew Salman was behind him and allowed his garment to slip down for Salman (RA). The moment Salman (RA) saw the honourable seal, he rushed up to the Messenger (SAW) and embraced him. After decades of searching, serving, learning and praying, he had finally found the Truth.
Sayyiduna Salman Al-Farsi became Sayyiduna Salman al-Muhammad because he understood and lived the verse: ‘You will never achieve righteousness (piety) until you give off what you cherish (most). And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.’ (Surah Ali Imran, 3:92).
In the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the month of the Mawlid, Sayyiduna Salman (RA) is a light of inspiration for us all. Everything that Salman (RA) was, every role he played, every sacrifice, every effort, every migration was for the sake of finding Allah ta’ala. And with that, he found a place in the Prophetic Household.
- Saleemah Jaffer holds an MA in Peace and Conflict studies, currently pursuing a PhD, and is a student of the Alawi Husayni Ninowi Zawiyah (Spiritual school).
This article was first published in the September 6, 2024 edition of MUSLIM VIEWS under Saleemah Jaffer’s monthly column, ‘THE ROAD WELL TRAVELLED – exploring issues of social responsibility, spirituality and agency’.
