The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 20
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 20 name unchanged. However, if a person’s name was polytheistic, the Holy Prophet sa would change it. The name of Ḥaṣīn bin Salām was not polytheistic, but perhaps the Holy Prophet sa thought it was appropriate to change his name to a purely Muslim one, since this individual was the first Muslim convert from among the Jews. First Muslim From Among the People of Persia It was approximately in this era that Salmān ra , the Persian, became Muslim. Salmān ra was a resident of the country of Persia, and was originally a follower of the Zoroastrian religion. His inherent virtue however, did not allow him to feel satisfied with the current state of that religion. He left his country in search of a better religion, and eventually reached Syria, where he became a Christian. It was in this era that he was made a slave during a plunder, but this very slavery became the means of his accepting Islām. After an exchange of numerous masters, finally an individual of Madīnah purchased him and kept him. As such, when the Holy Prophet sa arrived in Madīnah, Salmān ra presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa , and became a Muslim. Thereafter, he gradually arranged for the money, and obtained freedom from his master. The very first time he participated in Jihād , 1 was in the Battle of the Ditch. It was upon his proposal that a ditch was dug. Salmān ra was an extremely pure and virtuous man, and lived a very ascetic lifestyle. Once a person inquired as to the name of his father, to which he responded with great simplicity, “I am the son of Islām. ” On one occasion, the Holy Prophet sa said: ِ سَلْمَان ُ مِنَّا اَھْل َ الْبَیْت “Salmān is from among us, that is, the Ahlul-Bait 2. ” 3 On one occasion, when the Qur’ānic verse was revealed that an era would come when a community like the Companions would be born, who would be the true bearers of their teaching, the Companions inquired, “O Messenger of Allāh! Who are these people?” Upon this, the Holy Prophet sa placed his hand on the shoulder 1 Striving in the cause of Allāh [Publishers] 2 Literally means ‘People of the House. ’ A term used for the house-folk of the Holy Prophet sa. 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 4, p. 360, Aṭ-Ṭabaqatuth-Thāniyatu Minal- Muhājirīna Wal-Anṣār / Salmān Al-Fārisī, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)