Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

دلائل النبوة في إسلام الحبر: عبد الله بن سلام:

Chapter: Evidence of Prophecy in the Islam of the Clergy: Abdullah bin Salam:

Volume: intro (Page:36)

English:

The Conversion of Abdullah bin Salam

"Indeed, Jews are a people prone to confusion. I wish for you to hide me in one of your houses, keep me hidden, and then ask them about me. They will disclose to you about who I was amongst them before they find out about my conversion to Islam. For if they hear about my conversion, they will accuse and dispraise me," he said.

He then proceeded to conceal me in one of his houses. They entered and conversed with him, asking questions. He asked them, "What kind of man is Abdullah bin Salam amongst you?" They responded, "He is our master and the son of our master, our scholar, and our learned man."

As soon as they finished their conversation, I appeared before them and said, "O assembly of Jews, fear Allah and accept what revelations have come to you. By Allah, you indeed know that He is the messenger of Allah. You find His name and characteristics written in your Torah. I bear witness that He is the messenger of Allah. I believe in Him, corroborate Him, and recognize Him." They responded, "You're lying," and then they turned against me.

I then said, "O Messenger of Allah, didn't I tell you that they are a people prone to confusion, treachery, lying, and wickedness?" Therefore, I openly proclaimed my Islamic faith and that of my family. My aunt, the daughter of Haarith, embraced Islam, and her faith was exemplary.

A Complementary Narrative of Abdullah bin Salam's Conversion to Islam

This account about Abdullah bin Salam's conversion to Islam does not contradict the first, but rather reinforces and elucidates it. Abdullah bin Salam, while harvesting dates from a palm tree for his family, first heard about the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). He hurriedly left behind his work and came, bringing with him his harvest tool. He listened to Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him), then returned to his family.

The Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) asked, "Whose of our dwellings is the closest?" Abu Ayyub, then, replied, "Mine is, O Prophet of Allah, this is my residence, and this is my door." The Prophet said, "Go and prepare a place for us to rest." So he went on to prepare a place and came back to say, "O Prophet of Allah, I have prepared a place for you to rest. Please, sit down and be comfortable, by the blessings of Allah."

When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) arrived, Abdullah bin Salam, may Allah be pleased with him, came forward and said:

Arabic:

إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ قَوْمُ بُهْتٍ، وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ تُدْخِلَنِي فِي بَعْضِ بُيُوتِكَ: تُغَيِّبُنِي عنهم، ثم تسألهم عنّي، فيخبرونك كَيْفَ أَنَا فِيهِمْ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَعْلَمُوا بِإِسْلَامِي، فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمُوا بِذَلِكَ، بَهَتُونِي وَعَابُونِي،قَالَ: فَأَدْخَلَنِي بَعْضَ بُيُوتِهِ، فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَكَلَّمُوهُ، وسألوه، قَالَ لَهُمْ: أَيُّ رَجُلٍ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ فِيكُمْ؟ قَالُوا:سَيِّدُنَا، وَابْنُ سيدنا، وحبرنا وَعَالِمُنَا.قَالَ: فَلَمَّا فَرَغُوا مِنْ قَوْلِهِمْ، خَرَجْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: يَا مَعْشَرَ يَهُودَ، اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَاقْبَلُوا ما جاءكم به، فو الله إِنَّكُمْ لَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ، تَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَكُمْ في التوراة، اسمه وَصِفَتِهِ، فَإِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ رسول الله، وأؤمن بِهِ، وَأُصَدِّقُهُ وَأَعْرِفُهُ، قَالُوا: كَذَبْتَ.. ثُمَّ وَقَعُوا فِيَّ.قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أَلَمْ أُخْبِرْكَ أَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ بُهْتٌ؟ أَهْلُ غَدْرٍ، وَكَذِبٍ، وَفُجُورٍ؟ قَالَ: فَأَظْهَرْتُ إِسْلَامِي وَإِسْلَامَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي، وَأَسْلَمَتْ عَمَّتِي ابْنَةُ الْحَارِثِ فحسن إسلامها» .وهذه رواية أخرى عن إسلام عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سَلَامٍ لا تناقض الأولى وإنما تؤيدها وتفسرها.سمع به (بِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ وَهُوَ فِي نَخْلٍ لِأَهْلِهِ يَخْتَرِفُ لَهُمْ مِنْهُ، فَعَجِلَ أَنْ يَضَعَ التي يحترف فِيهَا، فَجَاءَ، وَهِيَ مَعَهُ فَسَمِعَ مِنْ نَبِيِّ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ،فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيُّ بُيُوتِ أَهْلِنَا أَقْرَبُ؟ قَالَ:فَقَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ: أَنَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ، هَذِهِ دَارِي، وَهَذَا بَابِي. فَقَالَ: اذهب فهيء لَنَا مَقِيلًا. فَذَهَبَ فَهَيَّأَ لَهُمَا مَقِيلًا، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ، قَدْ هَيَّأْتُ لَكُمَا مَقِيلًا، قُومَا عَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللهِ فَقِيلَا.قَالَ: فَلَمَّا جَاءَ نَبِيُّ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جَاءَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سَلَامٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، فَقَالَ:

Vols: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Chapters