IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT,
THE MOST MERCIFUL
SALMAN AL-FAARISIY (The Seeker after Truth)
From Persia comes our hero this time, and from Persia many came to embrace Islam in the long run, and it made some of them extraordinary, impassable in faith and knowledge in religion and worldly affairs. It is one of the wonders of Islam and its greatness that it never enters a country on Allah's earth but that it exerts invaluable influence on all its potentialities and forces, bringing forth the latent genius of its people and followers. From there came forth Muslim philosophers, physicians, jurists, astronomers, inventors and mathematicians.
Behold, they reached all heights, broke all frontiers, until the first era of Islam flourished with great geniuses in all fields of intellectual activity such as administration and science. Verily, they came from various nations, but their religion remained one. The Prophet (PBUH) had prophesided this blessed sprad of his religion. Indeed, he had been so promised by his Almighty Lord. He had pointed to the time, place, and day, and he had seen in his mind's eye the banner of Islam fluttering in all corners of the earth and over the palaces of its earthly rulers.
Salmaan Al-Faarisiy (The Persian) bore witness to this and was firmly connected with what happened. That was one the Day of Al-Khandaq (The Trench) in the year A.H. 5, when the leaders of the Jews approached Makkah to stir up the polytheists and form an alliance against the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims, asking the polythiests to enter upon a treaty for decisive battle eradicate the new religion.
The ungodly war was planned: the Quraish and allies would attack Al-Madinah from outside, while the Bani Quraidhah would attack from within, behind the ranks of the Muslims, who would then fall prey and be crushed. One day the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims were taken unaware by a huge well-armed army marching on Al-Madinah. The Qur'aan depicts the scene thus:<When they came against you from above you and from below you and your eyes turned away and your hearts reached to your throats, and you imagined vain thoughts about GOD; in that place the believers were tried and shaken most severely>(33:10-11).
Twenty-four tousand fighters under the command of Abu Sufyaan and 'Uyainah Ibn Hisn were advancing on Al-Madiinah to storm it and to lay siege to it in order to get rid of Muhammad, his religion, and his Companions. This army did not represent the Quraish alone, for they were in alliance with all the tribes, and all had vested interests that were threatened by Islam. It was a last and decisive attempt embarked on by all the enemies of the Prophet (PBUH), based upon individual, collective, and tribal interests.
The Muslim found themselves in a precarious situation. The Prophet (PBUH) assembled his Companions for consultation. Certainly they were gathered to reach a decision on defense and battle, but how could they put up a defense? And then a long-legged man with flowing hair for whom the Prophet (PBUH) bore great love, Salmaan Al-Faarisiy, held up his head and took a look at Madiinah, which surrounded by hills, mountains, and exposed open country which could be easily broken through by the enemy.
Salmaan had much experience, in warfare and its tactics in his native Persia. So he proposed to the Prophet (PBUH) something which the Arabs had never seen before in warfare. It was the digging of a trench in the exposed places around Al-Madiinah.
And Allah knows what could have been the position of the Muslims in that battle had they not dug the trench, which was no ssoner seen by the Quraish than they were stunned by despair. The forces of the enemy still remained in their tents for a month, unable to take Al-Madiinah, until Allah sent them one night a storm which devastated their tents and tore them asunder.
Then Abu Sufyan announced to his forces that they should return to where they had come from. They were despondent and frustrated.
During the excavation of the trench, Salmaan took his place among the Muslims while they dug and removed the sand. The Prophet (PBUH) was also taking part in digging where Salmaan was working in a group. Their pickaxes could not smash a stubborn rock, in spite of the fact that Salmaan was strong build and hardworking. A single stroke of his would break a rock pieces, but he stood in front of this stubborn one. He let all those around him to break it, but in vain. Salmaan around that stubborn and challenging rock.
The Prophet (PBUH) returned with Salmaan to see the rock himself. When he saw it, he called for a pickax and asked the Companions to keep back from the splinters. He said, "In the name of Allah, " and then raised his blessed, firm hands gripping the pickax and let it fall.
The rock broke, making a great light. Salmaan said the he himself saw that light shining upon Al-Madiinah. The Prophet (PBUH) raised the pickaxe and gave a second blow and the rock broke more. At that moment the Prophet (PBUH) said loudly, "Allahu Akbar' - Allah is the Greatest - I have been given the keys to Rome: its red palaces have been lit for me and my nation has vanquished it."
The Prophet (PBUH) struck his third blow. Then the rock shattered and its glittering light was seen! The Prophet (PBUH) told them that he was now looking at the palaces of Syria, Sana'a and others like them, and the cities of the world over which the banner of Islam would flutter one day. The Muslims shouted in deep faith, "This is what Allah and His Prophet have promised us!".
Salmaan was originator of the project to dig the trench, and he was associated with the rock out of which poured some secrets of the unseen and of destiny. When he called the Prophet (PBUH), saw the light, and heard the glad omen, and he lived to see the prophecy fulfilledand abided in its reality. he saw the great capitals of Persia and Rome (Byzantium), the palaces of Sana'a, Syria, Egypt and Iraq. He saw every trembling with the blessed ecstasy which was issuing forth from the high minarets in all parts of the world, spreading the light of guidance and goodness.
Alhamdulillah.....
