Iranian companions of Muhammad

Historical sources, quoting Salmān al-Fārsī, mention the following, 'When I entered Madinah, I met an Iranian lady from Isfahān who had accepted Islam. I asked her concerning Muhammad. And it was her who guided me to him.' It is possible that she may have been the only Iranian female companion of Muhammad, as the biographical writers have given her an independent entry.[4]

This individual is only mentioned with regards to the Battle of Uhud, and it is not known how and when he travelled to Medina. According to some reports the name of this youth was Rashīd and he was a part of Muhammad's army during this battle. According to the narration of Al-Waqidi, Rashīd, the slave of Banī MuꜤāwiyah (a section of the Ansār) killed two enemy soldiers. Muhammad called him Abā ꜤAbd Allah, even though he did not have a child at that time.[5]

Abū ꜤAbd Allah Sālim ibn MaꜤqil was from the city of Istakhr (an ancient Persian city) and was a freed slave. He had a melodious voice and would be a reciter of the Quran. It is said that Muhammad introduced him as one of the four individuals whose recitation of the Quran was worthy of being learnt. However, there are some reports that exist within the Shia sources concerning Sālim that decreases his status.[6] For example, it is recorded that he was one of the individuals of Aqabah, i.e., those individuals who wished to kill Muhammad on his return from the Battle of Tabuk by spooking his camel. It has also been reported that he was amongst the individuals who attacked the house of Fatimah after the death of Muhammad. He was also from amongst the first to give the oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr. He may have done so because Umar counted him from amongst the persons who were worthy of holding the Rashidun Caliphate. Eventually, he was killed at the Battle of Yamama, that was fought against the renegades, in which he accompanied his previous master, Abū Ḥuẓayfah and held the Muslim banner aloft.[5]

He was captured during one of the battles and was freed by Muhammad. Some believe that he was a slave that was purchased by Umm Salama for Muhammad and then freed by him.[7]

This individual is mentioned independently in the book Al-Isabah fi tamyiz al Sahabah by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. In it the author quotes Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri as saying, 'There was a Zoroastrian tradesman named Mānāhiyyeh from the city of Marw, Khurāsān, who had travelled to Medina for business purposes. On entering the city, he heard the name of Muhammad and accepted Islam. On doing so, Muhammad gave him the name Muḥammad. After a while he returned to Marw and it is said that his home was located next to the city's masjid, facing the Qiblah.[8]

This historical anecdote indicates that some of the Iranian tradesmen were familiar with the city of Medina, had an association with it and had good business relationships with its people for a long time.[3]

Ibn 'Abd al-Barr and Ibn al-Athir, two biographers of Muhammad's companions, mention an Iranian by the name of Kaysān or Abū Kaysān. They count him as being from amongst the slaves of Muhammad. They have written the following concerning him, 'There is discrepancy regarding his name, it has been recorded as being Mahrān, Ṭahān, Maymūna and Hurmuz.'[9] There is a tradition that is reported from him in which Muhammad is reported to have said, 'Charity is forbidden for us, the Ahl al-Bayt and our servants.'

According to a report, this individual was of those Iranians who became Muslim at the hands of Muhammad.[10] It is also reported that he asked Muhammad about some charity that he had received, to which Muhammad replied, 'Charity is not allowed for me or any one of my family members.' Some are of the opinion that he was one of the freed slaves of Muhammad. It is worth noting that some of the resources specific to the biographies of the companions mention the name of this companion on two separate occasions; however, it is very likely that they are referring to the same person.[7]

Some of the historians have mentioned that this individual is reported by some to be from Persia. His name is said to be Ṣāliḥ ibn Ḥawl ibn Mahr and he is counted from amongst those who were freed by Muhammad.[9] Other historians have mentioned his name as being Ṣāliḥ ibn ꜤAdī, the slave of ꜤAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ꜤAwf Zuhrī.

Shiq'rān accompanied Muhammad at the Battle of Badr. He was also given the responsibility of overseeing the prisoners of Badr and the war booty from the Expedition of al-Muraysi' in the year 6 [Hijri year|AH]]) by Muhammad. He also partook in the shrouding and burial of Muhammad and was amongst a limited number of people who entered Muhammad's grave. Eventually, he died during the caliphate of the second caliph Umar[4]

It has been mentioned in a report that a Persian man named Abū Shāh Yamānī, from the tribe of Abnā', was present at the speech of Muhammad after the conquest of Mecca (in the year 8 AH).[2] After listening to the eloquent and profound speech of Muhammad, he requested that it be written down for him. Muhammad ordered its writing and presented it to Abū Shāh. In other biographical books of the companions, he has been introduced as a Yemeni who, after the Conquest of Mecca, heard Muhammad give a speech about the sanctity of Mecca, and then requested that the speech be written down for him.[10]

However, it is more probable that he was from the Al-Abna' of Yemen, i.e., an Iranian who travelled and settled in Yemen, as has been reported by Ibn Ḥajar. And like many other Yemenis, became Muslim while accompanying one of the many delegations that went to meet Muhammad.[2]

Some of the historical sources and biographical accounts of the companions have mentioned that Abū Ḥamrā' was from Persia and was one of the slaves and servants of Muhammad.[11]

The name of this companion is recorded as being Hilāl ibn Ḥārith ibn Ẓafr from either a branch of the Banī Sahm Quraysh tribe or from the tribe of Aslamī or Sulmī. Other names for him and his father have also been mentioned. It has been said that during the Muslim expeditions, he took up residence in the city of Ḥumṣ, Shām.[12]

Traditions in praise of the Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful) have also been reported from him. For example, he has reported, 'During the few months that I accompanied Muhammad or while I was in Madinah, I would see him (sawa) go to the house of ꜤAlī (as) and Fatima (sa) every day before the dawn prayer and say, "Peace be upon you People of the House! Indeed, Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.”'[10]

His name may have been Fayruz al-Daylami and there is disagreement in his moniker. It has been recorded as Abū ꜤAbd Allah, Abū ꜤAbd al-Raḥmān and Abū Ḍiḥāk. It has been said that the name Abū ꜤAbd Allah was given to him by Muhammad. He was from amongst the Al-Abna' Persians who resided in Sanaa. After hearing about the invitation of Muhammad, he accompanied a delegation to meet him. After meeting him and accepting Islam, he returned to Yemen.[9]

He was a narrator of prophetic traditions, and it is him who is intended when within the chain of narration it appears, 'reported to us al-Daylamī'

Some historians have said that he was a companion who resided in Shām, whereas others have denied this and have stressed that he resided in Yemen. The common opinion is that he passed away during the caliphate of Uthman, while others have said that he passed away in the year 53 AH, during the governance of Mu'awiya I.[10]

Khusraw Parwīz wrote a letter to Badhan asking him to rise and oppose Muhammad. This letter indicates the authority and rulership of Badhan in Yemen. In response to this letter and command from Khusraw Parwīz, Badhan dispatched two Persians who resided in Yemen, named Bābawayh and Khar Khusraw, to Medina with the responsibility of capturing Muhammad and then taking him to Khusraw Parwīz.[13] They managed to meet Muhammad, who foretold them of the death of Khusraw Parwīz. He then invited Badhan, the Sassanid ruler of Yemen to Islam and assured him that if he were to accept Islam, he would remain the ruler of Yemen.

According to another report, Muhammad gifted Khar Khusraw a belt made of gold and silver; as a result of this gift, the Ḥumayrīyyān (a tribe from Yemen and possessors of a government by the same name) believed him to be an owner of miracles, as a belt in their language was this very name.[5]

After returning to Yemen, and following Bādhān's acceptance of Islam, Bābawayh and Khar Khusraw, like the rest of the Iranians residing in Yemen, also became Muslim. It has been recorded that Bādhān informed Muhammad of his conversion to Islam. This occurred in the 10th year A.H.[5]

Ibn Sa'd writes that he was an Iranian who resided in Yemen who came to meet Muhammad and returned to the Al-Abna' of Yemen after accepting Islam. He was also influential in the conversion of the daughter of NuꜤmān ibn Buzruj (Buzurg), as he went to them on his return from Medina and encouraged them to accept Islam.[13] In addition, he sent letters to both Fīrūz ibn Daylamī and Margbūdh, asking them to accept Islam, which they did. Also, the son of Margbūdh, whose name was ꜤAṭā, was the first person to gather the Quran in the city of Sanaa.[14]

He is commonly known by way of his name, whereas there are different opinions concerning this.[15] Some have said his name was Ibrāhīm, while others have said it was Hurmuz. According to historical reports, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the uncle of Muhammad, gifted him to Muhammad. When Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib became Muslim, Muhammad was told about it by Abū RāfiꜤ, who was then freed by him.[15]

His name has also been recorded as being Yazid. Daylam is an area located in the north of Iran. Hence it is possible to consider his as being Iranian because of his attribution to that area.[16] Some biographers of the companions have written a specific entry on him and have said that he was the slave of Sahm ibn Māzin. According to a report from his son, Sanān, Zayd, along with his master, went to meet Muhammad and became Muslim. However, the historical sources do not mention any further details, such as the time and other specifics of his conversion. The only other time he is mentioned is after the death of Muhammad, as it is reported that he was amongst the ranks of Ali's army at the beginning of the Battle of Siffin.[16]