(394) We cite what appeared concerning the reason for his emigration from the lands of Persia to the Hijaz, which is what Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Musa related in the Book of Occultation: Sheikh Abu Sa’id Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Abi al-Salt al-Qummi narrated to me: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar and Muhammad ibn Idris both narrated to me from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Muhammad ibn Mihran, from his father, from one who mentioned from our Master Musa ibn Ja’far—exalted be his glory: I said: "O son of the Messenger of God—exalted be his glory—will you not inform us how the Islam of Salman occurred?"

He said: "Yes, my father—exalted be his glory—narrated to me that Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—Salman, and Abu Dharr were gathered in the mosque of the Messenger of God—exalted be his glory. Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—said: 'O Salman, will you not inform us of the beginning of your affair?'"

Salman said: "By God, O my Master, had anyone other than You asked me, I would not have informed him. I was a man from the people of Shiraz, among the sons of the local landowners (dahhaqeen). I was dear to my father. While I was walking with him during one of their festivals, I came across a hermitage where a man was calling out: 'I bear witness that there is no deity except God, and I bear witness that Jesus is the Spirit of God and His Word, and that Muhammad is the Beloved of God.' I felt the love of Muhammad enter my flesh and blood, and neither food nor drink was pleasant to me thereafter.

My mother said to me: 'What is the matter with you, my son? Why did you not prostrate today for the rising of the sun?' I resisted her until she grew quiet. When I returned to my house, I saw a book hanging from the ceiling. I asked my mother: 'What is this book?' She said: 'O Rozaba, when we returned from our festival, we saw it hanging. Do not approach that place, for if you read it, your father will kill you.' I struggled with her until night fell and my parents slept.