Zāʾidah narrated, through ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Rufayʿ, from Abū Ẓubyān, from Jarīr ibn ʿAbd Allāh, who said:
“I once halted at al-Ṣiffāḥ on an exceptionally hot day. There I saw a man asleep under the scorching sun, seeking what little shade a tree could give. Some food lay beside him, his travel pouch was under his head, and he was wrapped in a cloak. I ordered my servant to cast extra shade over him, and we dismounted. When he awoke, it turned out to be Salman. I said to him, ‘We shaded you without realizing who you were.’

He replied, ‘Jarīr! Humble yourself in this world, for whoever humbles himself Allah will exalt on the Day of Resurrection, and whoever exalts himself in this world Allah will abase on the Day of Resurrection. Even if you strove to find a single dry twig in Paradise, you would not succeed.’

I asked, ‘Why is that?’

He answered, ‘Because the very roots of its trees are gold and silver, and their upper branches are laden with fruit. Jarīr, do you know what causes the darkness of the Fire?’

I said, ‘No.’

He said, ‘People’s wrongdoing.’ (1)

Shuʿbah reported to us from Ḥabīb ibn al-Shahīd, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Buraydah:

Salman used to earn his living with his own hands. Whenever he made something, he would buy meat or fish with it, then invite the lepers so that they might eat with him. (2)

Sulaymān ibn al-Mughīrah, through Ḥumayd ibn Hilāl, said:

A bond of brotherhood was established between Salman and Abū al-Dardāʾ. Abū al-Dardāʾ settled in Syria, while Salman took up residence in Kūfah. Abū al-Dardāʾ wrote to him:

‘Peace be upon you. To proceed: after you left, Allah has granted me wealth and children, and I have settled in the Holy Land.’

Salman wrote back: ‘Know that goodness does not lie in an abundance of wealth and offspring. Goodness is when your forbearance increases and the knowledge you possess benefits you. The land does nothing for anyone; rather, it is deeds that sanctify. Work as though you see your Lord, and count yourself among the dead.’ (3)