He went out until he came to the prophet (S.A.W) at Qubaa’. He entered and found him sitting with some of his companions. Then he said, “You are in need and a stranger. I have some food which I intend to give out as charity. When they showed me your lodgings, I thought you most deserve it, so I have come to you with it”.
He put the food down. The prophet said to his companions,eat in the name of Allaah,” he abstained and never took of it. He ( Salmaan Al faarisiy) said to himself,” This by Allaah, is one sign. He does not eat of charity!”
He returned to meet the Prophet (S.A.W) again the next day, carrying some food and said to him, ” I can see that you do not partake of charity. I have something which I want to give you as a present.” He placed it before him. He said to his companions,” Eat in the name of Allaah and he ate with them. So he ( Salmaan) said to himself, ” This indeed is the second sign, He eats of presents”. He returned and stayed away for a while. Then he came to him (S.A.W) and saw him sitting, having returned from a burial and surrounded by his companions. He had two garments carrying one on his shoulder and wearing the other. He greeted him, then bent to see the upper part of his back . The prophet ( S.A.W) knew what he was looking for,so he ( the prophet)threw aside his garment off his shoulder and then indeed the sign was there clearly between his shoulders,the seal of Prophethood,was clear just as the Christian monk described.
At once, he staggered towards the prophet, kissing him and weeping. The prophet beckon him to come forward and he sat before him. He narrated his story to the prophet as already described above.
When he became a Muslim, slavery prevented him from taking part in the battles of badr and uhud. Therefore the prophet (S.A.W) advised him, ” Go into terms with your master for him to free you and so he did. The prophet (S.A.W) told the companions to assist him, and Allaah freed him from bondage and then he became a Muslim,taking part in all battles with the prophet, starting with the battle of khandaq and then others. The battle of khandaq being the first he participated in, he contributed greatly to it, by bringing up an id a which is not known to the Arabs i.e digging of trenches which also gives the battle its name (Al khandaq>> the trenches) giving the Muslims victory over the disbelievers and their allies.
To be continued
