A Rabbi Who Recognised the Truth
Abdullah ibn Salam was a learned scholar of the Children of Israel in Madinah. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived, he came to know the truth of his message and embraced Islam — about the time the adhan was first instituted. 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 154 — Najeebabadi — Abdullah ibn Salam, a great scholar of the Jews, accepts Islam. The Qur’an itself alludes to his witness — “and a witness from the Children of Israel testifies” (al-Ahqaf 46:10).
Virtues in the Hadith
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas bore witness to the Prophet’s ﷺ singular testimony for him:
مَا سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ لأَحَدٍ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ إِلاَّ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ
”I never heard the Prophet ﷺ say of anyone walking on the earth that he is of the people of Paradise, except of Abdullah ibn Salam.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3812 · Book 63 (Merits of the Ansar), Hadith 37 · USC-MSA: Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 157 · narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas
Life Timeline
Born in Madinah
A learned scholar of the Children of Israel.
Embraces Islam
Around the time the adhan was instituted.
Testified to be of the people of Paradise
Dies in Madinah
References
- History of Islam — Najeebabadi — Abdullah ibn Salam, a great scholar of the Jews, accepts Islam Vol 1 · pp. 154
- Sahih al-Bukhari — Sa'd: the Prophet ﷺ said of no one walking the earth that he is 'of the people of Paradise' except Abdullah ibn Salam pp. 3812 (Book 63, Hadith 37)