Salman Was a Magian and Discovered Christianity

Ibn Ishaq said: ‘Asim ibn ‘Umar ibn Qatadah al-Ansari narrated to me from Mahmud ibn Labid, from Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, who said: Salman al-Farisi told me—and I heard it directly from him—“I was a Persian from the people of Isfahan, from a village called Jayy. My father was its dihqan, its chief, and I was the dearest of Allah’s creation to him. His love for me grew until he kept me in the house as a girl might be kept. I devoted myself to the Magian religion until I became the keeper of the fire…” The report continues on printed page 215.

“…which I tended so that it never went out for even an hour. My father owned a large estate. One day he was busy with a building project and said, ‘My son, I am occupied today with this building. Go to my estate, inspect it, and do some tasks I need. Do not stay away long, for if you do, you will concern me more than the estate and distract me from everything.’ I went to the estate. On the way I passed a Christian church and heard its people praying. Because my father had kept me at home, I knew little of other people’s affairs. I entered to see what they were doing. Their prayer impressed me, and I became interested in their religion. I said, ‘By Allah, this is better than our religion.’ I stayed with them until sunset, neglecting my father’s estate. I asked where this religion began. They said, ‘In Syria.’ I returned to my father, who had sent people to look for me and had been distracted from all his work. He asked, ‘My son, where were you? Did I not tell you what I told you?’ I said, ‘Father, I passed some people praying in their church. What I saw of their religion impressed me. By Allah, I stayed with them until sunset.’ He said, ‘My son, there is no good in that religion. Your religion and your fathers’ religion are better.’ I replied, ‘No, by Allah, theirs is better.’ He became afraid for me, put a chain on my legs, and confined me in the house.”