While imprisoned in his father's home, Salman (RA) managed to send a message to the Christians through a servant who cooperated with him.

His letter was simple: "You told me your religion originated from Syria. Let me know when merchants come from there so I can return with them."

When word came that Syrian merchants had finished their business and were preparing to depart, Salman (RA) escaped his chains and joined them.

This sheltered young man from a noble Persian family, who once couldn't even navigate through his father's garden, was now embarking on a dangerous journey, traveling with strangers who spoke a different language, crossing hostile territories.

His only motivation was the pursuit of truth.

Upon reaching Damascus, as a young man who had never left the confines of his home, Salman (RA) could have easily been drawn into the allure of newness or the charms of a large city.

Instead, he remained focused on his mission.

He immediately asked, "Who is the most knowledgeable person in this religion?"

When directed to a priest, Salman (RA) approached him humbly.

"Allow me to stay and serve you in the church. I seek nothing in return. Let me be your servant. I'll take care of anything you need. All I want is to learn from you and pray with you."

The priest agreed, and Salman (RA) became his servant.

What could have been a beautiful story of spiritual mentorship quickly turned bitter.

This priest, supposedly the most knowledgeable Christian in Damascus, was not what he appeared to be.

As Salman (RA) observed him closely, he discovered him to be "the most corrupt and evil human being I ever met."

The man would give emotional sermons about charity, collect valuable donations from the people, and then secretly hoard the wealth for himself, distributing only a few coins to the poor for appearances.

He lived contrary to everything he preached and showed no interest in worship.

Salman (RA) was trapped in a difficult position.

As a foreign stranger, exposing the priest would likely end in his death.

The priest died of natural causes, and during his elaborate funeral ceremony, Salman (RA) found the courage to stand before the gathered mourners.

"By Allah, this man was evil," he declared.

"Everything he commanded you to do, he did the opposite. Everything you gave for charity, he kept for himself."

As the outraged crowd prepared to attack him, Salman (RA) said, "I'll prove it. Follow me."

He led them to the priest's quarters and revealed hidden treasure chests filled with gold, silver, and precious items meant for the poor.

The people's sorrow turned to fury.

They refused to bury the priest, instead crucifying his body and pelting it with stones until it rotted so badly they finally threw it in the dumpster.

After this ordeal, a new priest was appointed, and Salman (RA) found him to be the complete opposite of his predecessor.

"I've never seen anyone more righteous who wasn't a follower of Muhammad ﷺ," Salman (RA) later said.

This man devoted himself to worship day and night, recited scripture with tears, and genuinely distributed charity.

Salman (RA) grew to love him deeply.

This righteous teacher became ill and approached death.

Salman (RA) asked at his bedside, "What should I do after you're gone?"

The man replied, "I know of only one person who follows our way, a scholar in Iraq. Go to him and say I sent you."

Thus began Salman's (RA) extraordinary journey from teacher to teacher, each a rare gem preserving the original teachings in a sea of corruption.

From Syria to Iraq, Turkey, Amoria, and finally back to Damascus, Salman (RA) traveled thousands of miles across dangerous territory, spending years with each teacher, absorbing their knowledge and character.

Each journey was fraught with hardship, crossing hostile borders without protection, navigating unfamiliar lands, and learning new languages and customs.

With nothing to his name, all Salman (RA) had was certainty and trust in Allah.

What takes us minutes to read represented decades of Salman's (RA) life, demonstrating extraordinary devotion to finding truth.

With each teacher, Salman (RA) refined his understanding and character.

Strangely, each mentor died while Salman (RA) studied under them, forcing him to continue his search elsewhere.

It was as if Allah was guiding him through this chain of scholars toward his ultimate destination.

When his final teacher in Damascus approached death, Salman (RA) took his hand and pleaded, "I've traveled everywhere to find truth. What am I to do now?"

The dying man delivered life-changing news:

"My son, I know no one left who practices our religion in its pure form. But the time has come when Allah will send a new prophet, a descendant of Ibrahim. His name will be Ahmad. He will appear in the land of the Arabs and migrate to a place between two lava fields, known for its palm trees."

The teacher gave Salman (RA) three signs to recognize the Prophet ﷺ.

"He bears a seal of prophethood between his shoulder blades—an unmistakable birthmark. If you give him charity, he won't eat from it. If you give him a gift, he will accept it."

After decades of searching, Salman (RA) now had a new direction, but with only these cryptic clues and a long journey ahead of him, where would his path lead next?

Interested in continuing the journey of how Salman (RA) finally found the Prophet ﷺ? Let us know below, and we'll share part three tomorrow!