Al-Ḥusayn ibn Salām—later named ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām (may Allah be pleased with him)—was a leading Jewish rabbi in Madīnah, renowned for his deep knowledge of the Torah. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ migrated to Madīnah from Makkah, ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām accepted Islam after witnessing the Prophet’s noble character, radiant features, and the undeniable alignment of these qualities with what had been preserved in earlier revelation.

Once revered by his people, he too was tested as the Prophet ﷺ was with Quraysh. His community withdrew their respect the moment he declared his Islam. Yet, his principled character, knowledge, and bravery remained a shining example. He is especially remembered for narrating his very first encounter with the Messenger ﷺ and the profound lesson he heard upon his arrival in Madīnah.

The Prophetic Paradigm

ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām (RA) narrates that he heard the Messenger ﷺ say:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ، وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ، وَصِلُوا الأَرْحَامَ، وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ، تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ

“O people! Spread Salām, feed others, maintain family ties, and pray at night while people are asleep — and you will enter Paradise in peace.”

(Narrated by Imams al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, and others)

Deep reflection over this narration has led scholars throughout history to highlight its timing, depth, and enduring relevance. What ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām (RA) heard that day was not just advice, but a framework for building transformative, God-conscious, and paradise-focused societies. Madīnah itself became the living case study of this paradigm.

After embracing Islam, he recited the Shahādah before the Messenger ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ then asked his name, to which he replied, “Al-Ḥusayn ibn Salām.” The Messenger ﷺ said: “From now on, you are ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām.”

Six Core Tenets Derived from the Hadith

1. Holistic Education
2. The Prophet ﷺ began by addressing all people, affirming his mission as a universal teacher and guide.
3. National Security
4. The instruction to spread Salām is more than a greeting. It is both a duʿāʾ for safety and a pledge of peace from harm. Societal peace and security are nurtured when this value is lived sincerely.
5. Social Welfare
6. Feeding others reminds us of Zakah, Ṣadaqah, and Awqāf — a holistic system ensuring care for the poor, sustainability, and communal empowerment.
7. Unity
8. Maintaining kinship bonds ensures families stand for one another’s well-being. By extension, bonds of faith within the Ummah must also be strengthened, leading to a united society.
9. Spiritual Well-being
10. Night prayer revives faith, nurtures closeness to Allah, and transforms one’s spiritual outlook.
11. Keeping the ‘WHY’ in Focus
12. The Messenger ﷺ tied these values to the ultimate reward: safe entry into Paradise. This reminds us that all efforts are means, not ends — true fulfillment lies in living with divine purpose.

Allah Almighty says:

فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ

“So whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted into Paradise — he has indeed triumphed.”

(Āl ʿImrān 3:185)

And no one enters Paradise by deeds alone, but through the mercy of Allah, with deeds serving as a means of His mercy.

The Prophet’s ﷺ First Actions in Madīnah

The Prophet ﷺ immediately prioritised:

1. Constructing Masjid al-Nabawī, which enabled education, worship, unity, social care, and spirituality.
2. Establishing brotherhood between Muhājirūn and Anṣār.
3. Forming peace treaties with surrounding Jewish tribes.

These steps reflect the very tenets embedded in the hadith narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām (RA).

Qurʾānic Outlook

In Sūrat Quraysh (106), Allah reminds the Quraysh to worship the Lord of the Kaʿbah, the One who provides food against hunger and security against fear. This mirrors two of humanity’s deepest needs: sustenance and safety, both addressed in the Prophet’s ﷺ teaching.

Final Thought

Society is but the sum of its individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence, however small, where these principles can be lived and shared. May we become seeds of change in our families, communities, and beyond.

O Allah, benefit us with what You teach us, teach us what will benefit us, and increase us in knowledge. Āmīn.

Your brother,

Sajid Umar

Location: Somewhere en route to the Hereafter

14/05/1442 AH - 29/12/2020