| Born in southern Persia, an illiterate, he became one of the most beloved and most devoted disciples of Bahá'u'lláh who entrusted him with many dangerous and important missions. |
| [GWB 350] |
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| Shaykh Salman, a faithful disciple from the village of Hindiyan, received the tablet The City of Unity. His original name was Shaykh Khanjar prior to being named Salman by Bahá'u'lláh. This name was chosen in replication of Muḥammad giving the name Salman to a beloved follower named Ruz-bih. |
| Shaykh Salman had an important and essential role in dissemination of the Writings in Persia when Bahá'u'lláh was exiled to Baghdad in Iraq. This man, known as "Messenger of the Merciful," was the first messenger to come to Iraq from Persia, and continued the courier function for 40 years. He traveled thousands of miles on foot, delivering letters to Bahá'u'lláh and returning with tablets to the believers, despite active searches along the border to block the communication. In later years, he continued this function for Abdu'l Baha. |
| Shaykh Salman had stamina, endured hardship and mistreatment, and lived in poverty. Although illiterate and unable to read the messages, he had spiritual depth and wisdom, and was known for his purity of heart. For protective reasons, the names of recipients of the tablets were not written on them. Shaykh Salman would have someone read the messages to him, and through understanding of the content, he would know the person to receive it. Throughout his years of service, this simple and primitive man never lost a single message to confiscation. His wisdom was so respected that his judgment was honored in decisions to allow audiences of the believers with Bahá'u'lláh. |
| [Revelations of Bahá'u'lláh, vol. 1, pages 109-114] |
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