Salman al-Farsi: Difference between revisions

Salman's original name was Ruzbih and his father's name has been mentioned as Khushfudan and, based on a report, as Budhakhshan.<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 3, p. 171.</ref> According to traditions, after his conversion to Islam, he was given the name Salman by the Holy Prophet (s). His [[teknonym]] was Abu 'Abd Allah. He was born either in Jay district of [[Isfahan]]<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 56; Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 1, p. 485.</ref> or, based on some reports, in Ramhurmuz<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 3, p. 171; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 56.</ref>.  

His father was an Iranian elite landholder. Reports about his pre-Islamic life is mixed with tale-telling. What has been emphasized in these traditions is his inquisitive mindset that inspired him to embark on a long journey in search of a better religion. According to these reports, Salman was a Zoroastrian in childhood until he became familiar with and converted to Christianity. He moved to Syria to study under leading Christian scholars. Based on reports, Salman's father loved him so much that he would confine him in the house. Therefore, his journey to Syria was deemed as a kind of escape. In Syria, he served in the churches and traveled to Mosul, Nusaybin and Amuriyya.<ref>Ibn Ḥishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 214-218; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 57-58.</ref>

From Amuriyya, Salman headed toward [[Hijaz]]. This trip was inspired by the news of a prophet emerging in that land about which Salman was informed by his Christian masters. He accompanied a caravan from the Banu Kalb tribe in which he was captured and sold as a slave to a Jew from [[Banu Qurayda]] and was taken to [[Medina]].<ref>Ibn Ḥishām, ''al-Sīra al-nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 218; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 4, p. 58-59.</ref>