An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
17. Calling Mankind To The Truth
~ 315 ~
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF ONE’S
HEARERS
Salman Farsi, commander of a Muslim army that
fought in the Persian wars, was asked by his
soldiers why he did not give them the order to
attack the fort to which they had laid siege. He
replied that he first wanted an opportunity to invite
his opponents to accept Islam, for that was as the
Prophet had done. Addressing the occupants of the
fort, Salman Farsi said, “I am a Persian like
yourselves, yet you can see how I am obeyed by
these Arabs. Accept Islam and you shall have the
same rights and responsibilities as we have. You
may adhere to your religion if you agree to pay the
tax. If not, we will fight against you.” According to
Abul Buhtari, Salman said all this in Persian, the
language of those he was addressing.
FAILURE TO REFORM SHOULD NEVER ELICIT
CURSES
Tufayl ibn Amr Ad-Dawsi, who had come to
Makkah on the pilgrimage to the Holy Ka’bah, was
addressed by some members of the Quraysh, who
said, “You, who have come to our town, must be
