Hz. Salman al-Farsi Garden

Salman al-Farsi (d. 36/656) is recorded in history as the first Iranian companion to accept Islam. He was born in Jay, near Isfahan, to a wealthy Zoroastrian family. After years of spiritual searching, he first converted to Christianity; he lived in various monasteries; and with the last teacher's will stating, "A prophet will emerge in the Arabian Peninsula, and his signs are as follows," he headed towards Arabia. During his journey, he was deceitfully enslaved and sold to a Jew in Medina. Upon seeing the Prophet, he recognized the signs and believed. To be freed from slavery, he needed to cultivate the garden and pay in gold. The Prophet and the companions personally planted the date saplings; every date palm that the Prophet planted thrived, and the garden became fruitful. During the Battle of the Trench (H. 5/M. 627), Salman suggested the trench-digging technique seen in Iran to the Muslims. This tactic protected Medina against a very large army. The Prophet said, "Salman is one of us," considering him part of his family. When there was a debate about whether he was a Muhajir or an Ansar, he said, "Salman is one of us, he is from our household." The garden of Salman al-Farsi in Medina is a tangible remnant of both the adventure of escaping slavery and the humble life shared with the companions. [Source: TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, "Salman al-Farsi" article, islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/selmanı-farisi; Ibn Sa'd, et-Tabakāt, IV, 75-82; Bukhari, Menāqib al-Ansār 48]