Islamiyat · May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Question 5

Give an account of the lives of Salman al-Farsi and Abu Talib. Use the AO1 Levels of Response.

Candidates should include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.

Salman al-Farsi. Salman was from Isfahan in Persia. He was born into a Zoroastrian family and was trained to be a Zoroastrian priest in charge of a fire temple. His father kept him confined in the house and eventually he left his family to join a Christian group and travelled around the Middle East visiting and learning from various priests. One of them told him about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) being the final messenger.

Salman found a group of Arab leaders to take him to Madina, but halfway there they made him a slave and sold him to a Jew, who eventually took him to Yathrib. He lived as a slave there and then heard the news of the arrival of the Prophet (pbuh) in Madina.

He found the signs of the priest to be true when he was looking for the seal of the Prophet (pbuh) and about the Prophet (pbuh) not taking charity and so submitted to Islam. He missed Badr and Uhud due to fulfilling his duties as a slave. Eventually the Prophet (pbuh) told him to draw up an agreement for his freedom. The owner agreed to his freedom for 300 date palms and some money. The Prophet (pbuh) himself planted the date palms and gave a golden egg to cover the money that was owed.

At the Battle of Khandaq, Salman had the idea of digging the trench. He was unique, in that he was well versed in Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Islam. He was the first person to translate the Qur’an into a foreign language, translating parts of it into Persian. He is said to have died during the reign of the Caliph ‘Uthman, fighting as an army commander.

He was also a scribe for the Prophet (pbuh) and was entrusted with the important task of writing letters and other important documents.

Abu Talib. Abu Talib was the leader of one of the clans of Quraysh and became the guardian of the Prophet (pbuh) after the death of the grandfather of the Prophet (pbuh). He loved the Prophet (pbuh) like his own son, often preferring Muhammad (pbuh) over his own children.

Abu Talib took the Prophet (pbuh) on trade journeys with him, and on one particular journey the monk, Bahira, told Abu Talib that his nephew would be the final prophet. Abu Talib quickly sold his goods and returned to Makka to protect Muhammad (pbuh), knowing that if he was discovered as the final prophet, he would face danger.

Abu Talib not did become Muslim when the Prophet (pbuh) openly announced Islam, but he did promise to protect the Prophet (pbuh). It was his protection that prevented the Prophet (pbuh) from being persecuted more severely.

When the Makkan leaders demanded Abu Talib to withdraw his protection of the Prophet (pbuh), he was moved by the determination of the Prophet (pbuh) and reaffirmed his support.

When there was a boycott on the Prophet (pbuh) and his tribe, Abu Talib faced the difficulties of the boycott with the Prophet (pbuh) in the valley of Abi Talib (Shib i Abi Talib). Abu Talib’s support for the Prophet (pbuh) was invaluable. Abu Talib died shortly after the boycott, and the Prophet (pbuh) was very saddened by Abu Talib’s death.

What lessons can be learned from Salman’s life experiences with the

Prophet (pbuh)?

Use the AO2 Levels of Response.

Candidates can give other examples and all relevant answers should be credited.

It could be said that Muslims should spend their lives seeking knowledge and it is important to question and understand what is going on in the world around to us. Salman found his Muslim faith because of his constant quest for knowledge.

It could also be said that, no matter what your position, if asked you should give true counsel to those who have asked for it, as Salman at Khandaq did with the Prophet (pbuh), because you may have wisdom that others can benefit from.

Another lesson could be that we should accept help from others when we are in need, as Salman accepted the help of the Prophet (pbuh) in seeking his freedom and he had also sought the help of priests and others when he was seeking the truth for himself.