Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

عبد الله بن سلام

رضي الله عنه

Abdullah ibn Salam

Abdullah ibn Salam al-Isra'ili al-Ansari (born al-Husayn ibn Salam)

A leading Jewish scholar of Medina who recognised the Prophet on arrival, became Muslim and was named by the Prophet among the people of Paradise.

  • The Jewish scholar who embraced Islam
  • A witness from the Children of Israel (as many commentators understand 46:10)
A day in his footsteps
  • KunyaAbu Yusuf
  • Family and tribeBanu Qaynuqa' (a Jewish tribe of Medina), later counted among the Ansar
  • BornNot recorded (a mature scholar at the Hijrah, 622 CE)
  • Died663 CE / 43 AH
  • Resting placeMedina
  • Counted amongAnsar, Scholars and narrators

Introduction

Abdullah ibn Salam, originally named al-Husayn, was a respected rabbi of the Jewish community in Medina. He was a scholar of the Torah, a man of standing among his people, and he heard of the arrival of the Prophet while at work in his date palm grove. He hurried to see the Prophet.

He asked him three questions that only a prophet could answer and, after hearing the answers, declared his faith at once. He then asked the Prophet to question the Jewish leaders about him before they knew he had embraced Islam, so that their true view would be heard. When they praised him highly and then heard he had become Muslim, they turned and cursed him.

He lived in Medina until his death, dedicated to worship, careful in the way he handled worldly things, and a source of both Torah knowledge and the Prophet's teaching. The Prophet gave him the glad tidings of Paradise while he was walking on the earth, and verses of the Quran have been understood to refer to him as the witness from the Children of Israel.

The story

  1. 1 AH / 622 CE, Medina

    Heard the Prophet had arrived; went out to see him and recognised his face as that of an honest man.

    Read the wording
    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2485Sahih
    Arabic text

    … اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجِئْتُ فِي النَّاسِ لأَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَبَنْتُ وَجْهَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ وَجْهَهُ لَيْسَ بِوَجْهِ كَذَّابٍ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَيْءٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ أَنْ قَالَ " أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصَلُّوا وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ …

    “I knew that this face was not the face of a liar”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

  2. 1 AH / 622 CE

    Asked the Prophet three questions that only a prophet could answer, and declared his faith.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3329Sahih
    Arabic text

    … فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا غَشِيَ الْمَرْأَةَ فَسَبَقَهَا مَاؤُهُ كَانَ الشَّبَهُ لَهُ، وَإِذَا سَبَقَ مَاؤُهَا كَانَ الشَّبَهُ لَهَا". قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ قَوْمٌ بُهُتٌ، إِنْ عَلِمُوا بِإِسْلاَمِي قَبْلَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَهُمْ بَهَتُونِي عِنْدَكَ، فَجَاءَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَدَخَلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ الْبَيْتَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى …

    “I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  3. During the Prophet's life

    Was named as one of the people of Paradise, and had a dream interpreted as meaning he would die a Muslim.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3812Sahih
    Arabic text

    قَالَ مَا سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ لأَحَدٍ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ. إِلاَّ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ قَالَ وَفِيهِ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ{وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ} الآيَةَ. قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي قَالَ مَالِكٌ الآيَةَ أَوْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ.

    “I have never heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying about anybody walking on the earth that he is from the people of Paradise except `Abdullah bin Salam”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3813Sahih
    Arabic text

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تِلْكَ الرَّوْضَةُ الإِسْلاَمُ، وَذَلِكَ الْعَمُودُ عَمُودُ الإِسْلاَمِ، وَتِلْكَ الْعُرْوَةُ عُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى، فَأَنْتَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ". وَذَاكَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ. وَقَالَ لِي خَلِيفَةُ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسُ بْنُ عُبَادٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ وَصِيفٌ مَكَانَ …

    “So you will remain as a Muslim till you die”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  4. Caliphate of Uthman

    Tried to calm the rebels and defend Uthman during the siege.

  5. 43 AH / 663 CE

    Died in Medina.

A day in their footsteps

6 small, repeatable practices from Abdullah ibn Salam's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Spreading salam, feeding people and praying at night

    He narrated the very first words he heard from the Prophet in Medina: spread the greeting of peace, feed others, and pray while people sleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace. He made this the foundation of his own conduct.

    Try this today

    Greet more people, feed someone and make a small night prayer, as this is the Prophet's first advice in Medina.

    Sit with this

    Which of the three, salam, food or night prayer, comes least easily to you?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2485Sahih

    … اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجِئْتُ فِي النَّاسِ لأَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَبَنْتُ وَجْهَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ وَجْهَهُ لَيْسَ بِوَجْهِ كَذَّابٍ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَيْءٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ أَنْ قَالَ " أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصَلُّوا وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ …

    “Spread the Salam, feed(others), and perform Salat while the people are sleeping”

    Grade: Sahih (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih (Al-Albani)

  2. Praying two light rak'ahs and leaving

    Qays ibn Ubad saw him enter the mosque with a sign of solemnity on his face, pray two light rak'ahs, and leave, without calling attention to himself.

    Try this today

    Pray a short, humble voluntary prayer when you enter the mosque, and avoid showing off.

    Sit with this

    Could you pray somewhere today without anyone noticing that you did?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3813Sahih

    … فِيهِمَا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ، وَتَبِعْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّكَ حِينَ دَخَلْتَ الْمَسْجِدَ قَالُوا هَذَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ. قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ لِمَ ذَاكَ رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ، وَرَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي فِي رَوْضَةٍ ـ ذَكَرَ مِنْ سَعَتِهَا وَخُضْرَتِهَا ـ وَسْطَهَا عَمُودٌ …

    “He prayed two light rak`at and then left”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  3. Refusing to speak without knowledge

    When people said he was among the people of Paradise, he replied that one should not say what one does not know, and then told his own story of the dream. He was careful with the reputation people gave him.

    Try this today

    Be careful about praising yourself or others beyond what you know, and keep humble.

    Sit with this

    When were you last praised for something you knew was not quite true?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3813Sahih

    … أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ لِمَ ذَاكَ رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ، وَرَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي فِي رَوْضَةٍ ـ ذَكَرَ مِنْ سَعَتِهَا وَخُضْرَتِهَا ـ وَسْطَهَا عَمُودٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، أَسْفَلُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ وَأَعْلاَهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ، فِي أَعْلاَهُ عُرْوَةٌ فَقِيلَ لَهُ ارْقَهْ. قُلْتُ لاَ أَسْتَطِيعُ. فَأَتَانِي مِنْصَفٌ فَرَفَعَ …

    “one ought not say what he does not know”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  4. Honouring a guest with a simple meal

    He invited Abu Burdah to his home, offering sawiq and dates, and the cup from which the Prophet had drunk. He also warned him how to avoid riba in gifts from debtors.

    Try this today

    Host with what you have, and use the occasion to share beneficial advice.

    Sit with this

    What simple thing do you have that could become a meal shared with a friend?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3814Sahih

    … عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَلَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ سَلاَمٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تَجِيءُ فَأُطْعِمَكَ سَوِيقًا وَتَمْرًا، وَتَدْخُلَ فِي بَيْتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّكَ بِأَرْضٍ الرِّبَا بِهَا فَاشٍ، إِذَا كَانَ لَكَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ حَقٌّ فَأَهْدَى إِلَيْكَ حِمْلَ تِبْنٍ، أَوْ حِمْلَ شَعِيرٍ أَوْ حِمْلَ قَتٍّ، فَلاَ تَأْخُذْهُ، …

    “Will you come to me so that I may serve you with Sawiq (i.e. powdered barley) and dates”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

  5. Seeking the best of deeds

    With other Companions he sat discussing that if they knew which deed was most beloved to Allah they would do it, and he narrated how Surat as-Saff came down in response.

    Try this today

    Do not only discuss what is best; act on it, and watch that your words match your deeds.

    Sit with this

    Is there a good deed you talk about more than you do?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 3309Sahih Isnaad

    … بْنُ كَثِيرٍ فِي إِسْنَادِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ. وَرَوَى ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ أَوْ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ. وَرَوَى الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ نَحْوَ رِوَايَةِ …

    “Why do you say that which you do not do?”

    Grade: Sahih Isnaad (Ahmad Muhammad Shakir); Sahih Isnaad (Al-Albani)

  6. Using the time before sunset on Friday for du'a

    He asked the Prophet about the hour of acceptance on Friday and learned that it is in the last hours of the day, noting that the one who is waiting for prayer is considered in prayer.

    Try this today

    On Fridays, set aside the last part of the day for du'a.

    Sit with this

    What would you ask for if you knew the hour before Friday sunset was listening?

    Source

    Sunan Ibn Majah 1139Hasan Sahih

    … حَاجَتَهُ. قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَوْ بَعْضُ سَاعَةٍ. فَقُلْتُ صَدَقْتَ، أَوْ بَعْضُ سَاعَةٍ. قُلْتُ: أَىُّ سَاعَةٍ هِيَ؟ قَالَ:" هِيَ آخِرُ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ سَاعَاتِ النَّهَارِ" قُلْتُ: إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ سَاعَةَ صَلاَةٍ. قَالَ:" بَلَى. إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا صَلَّى ثُمَّ جَلَسَ، لاَ يَحْبِسُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ، فَهُوَ فِي …

    “It is the last hours of the day”

    Grade: Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani); Hasan Sahih (Muhammad Fouad Abd al-Baqi)

Virtues

  • Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas said he never heard the Prophet say of anyone walking on earth that he is of the people of Paradise except Abdullah ibn Salam.

    “I have never heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying about anybody walking on the earth that he is from the people of Paradise except `Abdullah bin Salam”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ مَا سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ لأَحَدٍ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ. إِلاَّ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ قَالَ وَفِيهِ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ{وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ} الآيَةَ. قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي قَالَ مَالِكٌ الآيَةَ أَوْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ.

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3812Sahih

  • The Prophet interpreted his dream to mean he would remain a Muslim until he died.

    “So you will remain as a Muslim till you die”

    Arabic text

    … صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تِلْكَ الرَّوْضَةُ الإِسْلاَمُ، وَذَلِكَ الْعَمُودُ عَمُودُ الإِسْلاَمِ، وَتِلْكَ الْعُرْوَةُ عُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى، فَأَنْتَ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ". وَذَاكَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ. وَقَالَ لِي خَلِيفَةُ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسُ بْنُ عُبَادٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ وَصِيفٌ مَكَانَ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3813Sahih

Sayings and moments

  • One ought not say what he does not know.

    “one ought not say what he does not know”

    Arabic text

    … أَنْ يَقُولَ مَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ لِمَ ذَاكَ رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ، وَرَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي فِي رَوْضَةٍ ـ ذَكَرَ مِنْ سَعَتِهَا وَخُضْرَتِهَا ـ وَسْطَهَا عَمُودٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، أَسْفَلُهُ فِي الأَرْضِ وَأَعْلاَهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ، فِي أَعْلاَهُ عُرْوَةٌ فَقِيلَ لَهُ ارْقَهْ. قُلْتُ لاَ أَسْتَطِيعُ. فَأَتَانِي مِنْصَفٌ فَرَفَعَ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3813Sahih

Words on this page

Ansarالأنصار
"The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
Du'aدعاء
Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Rak'ahركعة
One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
Ribaربا
Usury or unjust gain in an exchange, including interest on loans; it is forbidden.
Salamسلام
The greeting of peace, "as-salamu alaykum", and its reply.
Surahسورة
A chapter of the Quran. There are 114.
Tahajjudتهجد
Voluntary prayer at night after waking from sleep, especially in the last third of the night.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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