Calling Mankind to the Truth

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.