Well of Salman Al-Farsi

WELL OF SALMAN AL-FARSI

The well of the freed Persian.

The Story of Salman (رضي الله عنه)

Salman Al-Farsi (رضي الله عنه) — the Persian — is one of the most extraordinary companions of Islam. He came from Persia in search of the truth, was enslaved, sold to a Jew of Wadi al-Qura, then bought by a Jew of the Banu Qurayza who took him to Medina, and finally freed thanks to the Prophet ﷺ himself.

How? The Prophet ﷺ and the companions purchased his freedom through a contract with his master. The contract required: 300 palm trees to be planted and bearing fruit, and 40 ounces of gold. The Prophet ﷺ himself planted the palm trees. And the gold was found miraculously. (Musnad Ahmad · Ibn Hisham)

The Well

Once freed, Salman settled in the palm grove area south of Medina. There was a well that took his name — whether he dug it himself or worked on it during his time of slavery.

This well remains in memory of this extraordinary companion. A tradition attributes these words to the Prophet ﷺ: "Salman is one of us, the people of the House (Ahl al-Bayt)." (Mu'jam at-Tabarani, al-Hakim · weak chain)

Salman, the Genius of Khandaq

Salman is also the one who proposed the trench strategy during the Battle of Khandaq (5 AH). A Persian strategy never seen in Arabia. A strategy that saved Medina.

According to the same account (with a weak chain), when the Muhajirun and the Ansar disputed over who Salman belonged to during the digging of the trench, the Prophet ﷺ is said to have declared: "Salman is one of us, the people of the House." (At-Tabarani)