Dr. Khalid I. Al-Anaysha Al-Dossary

1. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤1
The Sincere Search For The
Truth
The Sincere Search For The
Truth
““If Faith were in the Highest Star,If Faith were in the Highest Star,
a people like This man would reacha people like This man would reach
it”it”
KHALID AL-DOSSARY
www.dawahmemo.com
http://understand-islam.net/
I bear witness that there isI bear witness that there is
no deity (none truly to beno deity (none truly to be
worshipped) but Allah,worshipped) but Allah,
and I bear witness thatand I bear witness that
Mohammad is theMohammad is the
Messenger of AllahMessenger of Allah
http://web.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/salman_the_persian/index.h

2. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤2
I grew up in the town of Isfahan in Persia in theI grew up in the town of Isfahan in Persia in the
village of Jayyan. My father was the Dihqan or chiefvillage of Jayyan. My father was the Dihqan or chief
of the village. He was the richest person there andof the village. He was the richest person there and
had the biggest house.had the biggest house.
The BeginningThe Beginning

3. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤3
Since I was a child my
father loved me, more
than he loved any other.
As time went by his love
for me became so strong
and overpowering that he
feared to lose me or have
anything happen to me. So
he kept me at home, a
prisoner, in the same way
that young girls were kept..
The Overpowering LoveThe Overpowering Love

4. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤4
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 remained burning and
that it did not go out for a single hour,
day or night.
The Custodian of The FireThe Custodian of The Fire

5. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤5
My father had a vast estate which yielded an abundant
supply of crops. He himself looked after the estate and the
harvest. One day he was very busy with his duties as
dihqan in the village and he said to me:
"My son, as you see, I am too busy to go out to the estate
now. Go and look after matters there for me today."
The AssignmentThe Assignment

6. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤6
On my way to the estate, I passed a Christian church and theOn my way to the estate, I passed a Christian church and the
voices at prayer attracted my attention. I did not knowvoices at prayer attracted my attention. I did not know
anything about Christianity or about the followers of anyanything about Christianity or about the followers of any
other religion throughout the time my father kept me in theother religion throughout the time my father kept me in the
house away from people. When I heard the voices of thehouse away from people. When I heard the voices of the
Christians I entered the church to see what they were doing.Christians I entered the church to see what they were doing.
A different ReligionA different Religion

7. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤7
I was impressed by
their manner of praying
and felt drawn to their
religion. "By God," I
said, "this is better than
ours. I shall not leave
them until the sun sets."
I asked and was told that
the Christian religion
originated in Ash’Sham
(Greater Syria).
The Interest ArisesThe Interest Arises

8. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤8
I did not go to my father's estate that day and at night, II did not go to my father's estate that day and at night, I
returned home. My father met me and asked what I had done.returned home. My father met me and asked what I had done.
I told him about my meeting with the Christians and how I wasI told him about my meeting with the Christians and how I was
impressed by their religion. He was dismayed and said:impressed by their religion. He was dismayed and said:
"My son, there is nothing good in that religion. Your religion"My son, there is nothing good in that religion. Your religion
and the religion of your forefathers is better."and the religion of your forefathers is better."
"No, their religion is better than ours," I insisted."No, their religion is better than ours," I insisted.
The OppositionThe Opposition

9. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤9
My father became upset and afraid that I would leave ourMy father became upset and afraid that I would leave our
religion. So he kept me locked up in the house and put areligion. So he kept me locked up in the house and put a
chain on my feet. I managed however to send a messagechain on my feet. I managed however to send a message
to the Christians asking them to inform me of anyto the Christians asking them to inform me of any
caravan going to Syria . Before long they got in touchcaravan going to Syria . Before long they got in touch
with me and told me that a caravan was headed forwith me and told me that a caravan was headed for
Syria. I managed to unfetter myself and in disguiseSyria. I managed to unfetter myself and in disguise
accompanied the caravan to Syria.accompanied the caravan to Syria.
The Way OutThe Way Out

10. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤10
There, I asked who was the leading person in the Christian
religion and was directed to the bishop of the church. I went
up to him and said:
"I want to become a Christian and would like to attach
myself to your service, learn from you and pray with you."
ConversionConversion

11. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤11
The bishop agreed and I entered the church in his service.
I soon found out that the man was corrupt. He would order
his followers to give money in charity while holding out the
promise of blessings to them. When they gave anything to
spend in the way of God , he would hoard it for himself
and not give anything to the poor or needy. In this way he
amassed a vast quantity of gold.
This Is It, But…!This Is It, But…!

12. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤12
When the bishop died and the Christians gathered to buryWhen the bishop died and the Christians gathered to bury
him, I told them of his corrupt practices and, at theirhim, I told them of his corrupt practices and, at their
request, showed them where he kept their donations.request, showed them where he kept their donations.
When they saw the large jars filled with gold and silverWhen they saw the large jars filled with gold and silver
they said.they said.
"By God, we shall not bury him." They nailed him on a"By God, we shall not bury him." They nailed him on a
cross and threw stones at him.cross and threw stones at him.
Crucifixion of HypocrisyCrucifixion of Hypocrisy

13. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤13
I continued in the service of the person who
replaced him. The new bishop was an ascetic
who longed for the Hereafter and engaged in
worship day and night. I was greatly devoted to
him and spent a long time in his company.
The Urge is StrongThe Urge is Strong

14. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 14
• ““O (name), I stayed with you and lovedO (name), I stayed with you and loved
you more than anything I loved before.you more than anything I loved before.
Now you are approached by the decreeNow you are approached by the decree
of Allah (i.e., death), so whom wouldof Allah (i.e., death), so whom would
you recommend for me and what wouldyou recommend for me and what would
you like to order me?”you like to order me?”
• The bishop said:” By Allah! People areThe bishop said:” By Allah! People are
in total loss; they have altered what theyin total loss; they have altered what they
were on. I do not know of anyone who iswere on. I do not know of anyone who is
still holding fast to what I’m on except astill holding fast to what I’m on except a
man in al-Musil. So join him ( He givesman in al-Musil. So join him ( He gives
his name)his name)
The 1The 1stst
BequestBequestThe 1The 1stst
MoveMove

15. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤15
After his death, Salman attached himself to various Christian
recommended religious figures, in the following cities;
Mosul, Nisibin and Ammuriyah.
“O son! I don’t know of anyone who is on the same religion
as we are. However the time has come for the emergence of
the prophesized prophet. This prophet is on the same religion
as that of Abraham.”
The origin of monotheism. Genesis 21:18
The Moves & ProphecyThe Moves & Prophecy

16. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 16
The last one had told him about the appearance of a
Prophet in Arabia in a place located between two
landscapes of black stones. Palm trees spread
between these two landscapes. He would have a
reputation for strict honesty; he would accept a gift
but would never consume charity (sadaqah) for
himself. The seal of prophethood is between his
shoulders.
The ProphecyThe Prophecy

17. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 17
• The prophecies (Deu. 18:17-18 pg.16. I will raise them up aThe prophecies (Deu. 18:17-18 pg.16. I will raise them up a
prophet…) (Genesis 21:21.The holy one coming fromprophet…) (Genesis 21:21.The holy one coming from
Paran), (Isaiah42:1-13.The descendants of Kedar), (IsaiahParan), (Isaiah42:1-13.The descendants of Kedar), (Isaiah
21:13-17.The prophet’s migration& victory) pg.1721:13-17.The prophet’s migration& victory) pg.17
• ““And remember when Jesus, the son of Mary said: ‘ OAnd remember when Jesus, the son of Mary said: ‘ O
children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto youchildren of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you
confirming the Torah which came before me, and givingconfirming the Torah which came before me, and giving
glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me whose nameglad tidings of a Messenger to come after me whose name
shall be Ahmad” Qur’an 61:6shall be Ahmad” Qur’an 61:6
(Salman continues his story.)
The ProphecyThe Prophecy

18. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤18
A group of Arab leaders from the Kalb tribe passed
through Ammuriyah. I asked them to take me with them
to the land of the Arabs in return for whatever money I
had.
They agreed and I paid them. When we reached Wadi
al-Qura (a place between Madinah and Syria), they
broke their agreement and sold me to a Jew.
The Sell-out & SlaveryThe Sell-out & Slavery

19. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤19
I worked as a servant for him but eventually he sold me toI worked as a servant for him but eventually he sold me to
a nephew of his belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah.a nephew of his belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah.
This nephew took me with him to Yathrib, the city of palmThis nephew took me with him to Yathrib, the city of palm
groves, which is how the Christian bishop at Ammuriyahgroves, which is how the Christian bishop at Ammuriyah
had described it. At that time the Prophet was inviting hishad described it. At that time the Prophet was inviting his
people in Makkah to Islam but I did not hear anythingpeople in Makkah to Islam but I did not hear anything
about him then because of the harsh duties which slaveryabout him then because of the harsh duties which slavery
imposed upon meimposed upon me..
The 2The 2ndnd
Sell-Out &The Move to YathribSell-Out &The Move to Yathrib

20. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤20
When the Prophet reached Yathrib after his hijrah from Makkah, I
was in fact at the top of a palm tree belonging to my master doing
some work. My master was sitting under the tree. A nephew of his
came up and said:
"May God declare war on the Aws and the Khazraj (the two main
Arab tribes of Yathrib). By God, they are now gathering at Quba to
meet a man who has come today from Makkah and who claims he
is a Prophet."
The Light Shines in YathribThe Light Shines in Yathrib

21. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤21
I felt hot flushes as soon as I heard these words and I began to
shiver so violently that I was afraid that I might fall on my
master. I quickly got down from the tree and spoke to my
master's nephew. "What did you say? Repeat the news for
me." My master was very angry and gave me a terrible blow.
"What does this matter to you? Go back to what you were
doing," he shouted.
The Uncontrollable ShiverThe Uncontrollable Shiver

22. 2222١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤
That evening, I took some dates that I had gathered and went to theThat evening, I took some dates that I had gathered and went to the
place where the Prophet had alighted. I went up to him and said:place where the Prophet had alighted. I went up to him and said:
"I have heard that you are a righteous man and that you have"I have heard that you are a righteous man and that you have
companions with you who are strangers and are in need. Here iscompanions with you who are strangers and are in need. Here is
something from me as sadaqah(charity). I see that you are moresomething from me as sadaqah(charity). I see that you are more
deserving of it than others."deserving of it than others."
The Prophet ordered his companions to eat but he himself did notThe Prophet ordered his companions to eat but he himself did not
eat of it.eat of it.
The Tests StartThe Tests Start

23. 2323١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤
I gathered some more dates and when the Prophet left QubaI gathered some more dates and when the Prophet left Quba
for Madinah I went to him and said: "I noticed that you did notfor Madinah I went to him and said: "I noticed that you did not
eat of the sadaqah I gave. This, however, is a gift for you." Ofeat of the sadaqah I gave. This, however, is a gift for you." Of
this gift of dates, both he and his companions ate.this gift of dates, both he and his companions ate.
The Second TestThe Second Test

24. 2424١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤
Salman came to Baqee Al-Ghargad (the graveyard inSalman came to Baqee Al-Ghargad (the graveyard in
Yathrib). He greeted the prophet then moved towards hisYathrib). He greeted the prophet then moved towards his
back to see the prophethood seal. The prophet realized whatback to see the prophethood seal. The prophet realized what
Salman was trying to confirm. He took off his garment off.Salman was trying to confirm. He took off his garment off.
Salman recognized the seal and came down on it kissing itSalman recognized the seal and came down on it kissing it
while crying. The prophet told him to move around to talkwhile crying. The prophet told him to move around to talk
with him. Salman told his story to the prophet who in turnwith him. Salman told his story to the prophet who in turn
told him to share it with his companions.told him to share it with his companions.
The Final Sign &The Final Sign &
Emotionally MovingEmotionally Moving
MomentMoment

25. 2525١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤
Salman was released from slavery by the Prophet who paidSalman was released from slavery by the Prophet who paid
his Jewish slave-owner a stipulated price and who himselfhis Jewish slave-owner a stipulated price and who himself
planted an agreed number of date palms to secure hisplanted an agreed number of date palms to secure his
manumission.manumission.
After accepting Islam, Salman would say when askedAfter accepting Islam, Salman would say when asked
whose son he was: "I am Salman, the son of Islam from thewhose son he was: "I am Salman, the son of Islam from the
children of Adam."children of Adam."
The Slavery to Allah AloneThe Slavery to Allah Alone

26. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 2626
He became a governor of al-Mada'in (Ctesiphon) near
Baghdad, Salman would receive a stipend of five thousand
dirhams. This he would distribute as sadaqah. He lived
from the work of his own hands. When some people came
to Mada'in and saw him working in the palm groves, they
said, "You are the Amir here and your sustenance is
guaranteed and you do this work!" "I like to eat from the
work of my own hands," he replied.
His Righteous CharacterHis Righteous Character

27. 2727١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤
As a scholar, Salman was noted for his vast knowledge and
wisdom. Ali said of him that he was like Luqman the Wise.
Ka'b al-Ahbar said: "Salman is stuffed with knowledge and
wisdom an ocean that does not dry up." Salman had a
knowledge of both the Christian scriptures and the Qur'an in
addition to his earlier knowledge of the Zoroastrian religion.
Salman in fact translated parts of the Qur'an into Persian
during the life-time of the Prophet. He was thus the first person
to translate the Qur'an into a foreign language.
His Righteous CharacterHis Righteous Character

28. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 28
• The “prosperous free life”The “prosperous free life”
• Innate nature reactivatedInnate nature reactivated
• Giving oneself the time to findGiving oneself the time to find
outout
• Seeking origin & essence helpsSeeking origin & essence helps
in the search processin the search process
• Honesty& openness prevailHonesty& openness prevail
• ““We found our father followingWe found our father following
a certain way and religion, anda certain way and religion, and
we guide ourselves by theirwe guide ourselves by their
footsteps” 43:22footsteps” 43:22
Significant LessonsSignificant Lessons

29. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 29
• Knowledge is gained by being withKnowledge is gained by being with
knowledgeable peopleknowledgeable people
• The humbleness of those searchingThe humbleness of those searching
for the truth brings them closer to it.for the truth brings them closer to it.
• No compromise at allNo compromise at all
• The confinement” Start of realThe confinement” Start of real
freedom”freedom”
• Salman looks up high to find theSalman looks up high to find the
Truth no matter what it takesTruth no matter what it takes
• Knowledge is gained by being withKnowledge is gained by being with
knowledgeable peopleknowledgeable people
• The humbleness of those searchingThe humbleness of those searching
for the truth brings them closer to it.for the truth brings them closer to it.
• Arrogance vs. HumblenessArrogance vs. Humbleness
Significant LessonsSignificant Lessons

30. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 30
• Corruption, hypocrisy & evil did not stopCorruption, hypocrisy & evil did not stop
Salman’s burning desire from looking for theSalman’s burning desire from looking for the
TruthTruth
• ““O (name), I stayed with you and loved youO (name), I stayed with you and loved you
more than anything I loved before. Now youmore than anything I loved before. Now you
are approached by the decree of Allah (i.e.,are approached by the decree of Allah (i.e.,
death), so whom would you recommend fordeath), so whom would you recommend for
me and what would you like to order me?”me and what would you like to order me?”
• The bishop said:” By Allah! People are inThe bishop said:” By Allah! People are in
total loss; they have altered what they weretotal loss; they have altered what they were
on. I do not know of anyone who is stillon. I do not know of anyone who is still
holding fast to what I’m on except a man inholding fast to what I’m on except a man in
al-Musil. So join him ( He gives hi hisal-Musil. So join him ( He gives hi his
name)name)
Significant LessonsSignificant Lessons

31. ١٤٣٤/٠٧/٤ 31
Salman, because of the influentialSalman, because of the influential
household in which he grew up,household in which he grew up,
might easily have been a majormight easily have been a major
figure in the sprawling Persianfigure in the sprawling Persian
Empire of his time. His search forEmpire of his time. His search for
truth however led him, even beforetruth however led him, even before
the Prophet had appeared, tothe Prophet had appeared, to
renounce a comfortable andrenounce a comfortable and
affluent life and even to suffer theaffluent life and even to suffer the
indignities of slavery. According toindignities of slavery. According to
the most reliable account, he diedthe most reliable account, he died
in the year thirty five after thein the year thirty five after the
hijrah, during the caliphate ofhijrah, during the caliphate of
Othman, at Ctesiphon.Othman, at Ctesiphon.
ConclusionConclusion