Qasim ibn Muhammad was the grandson of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). He was born in the 30th year after the hijrah, which corresponds to the year 650 AD. He is the cousin of Zayn al-Abideen, the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Ja’far as-Sadiq is the grandson of Qasim ibn Muhammad.

He was given the name “Salman” by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He is also known as Salmani Pak (Salman, the Pure), Salman al-Khayr (Salman, the Good), Salman al-Hakim (the Wise) and Salman al-Muhammadi, due to his beautiful character, and the depth of his heart and spirit. Whenever he was asked about his lineage, he gave the following answer to demonstrate how he had become annihilated in Allah:
“I am Salman ibn Islam (Salman, the son of Islam)”

Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) real name was Abdullah. His pure lineage meets with that of the prophet’s grandfather Murra ibn Ka’b at the sixth generation. He was two years younger than the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
In the 38 years of life before he became Muslim he never drank alcohol, nor worshipped an idol and thus displayed a pure and model personality. When Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) announced his prophethood, he believed in him immediately. He was the first man to be honoured with becoming Muslim.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is the most elevated and select of created beings. He is a wonder of art, manifesting Divine power. He is a unique human being in that he was addressed by Allah as ‘My beloved’[1]. The Holy Qur’an is filled with praise and descriptions of his elevatedness. Some of the verses directly praise him whilst others do so implicitly.

Out of all of the human beings that have ever lived, the best in character and the peak of refinement, grace and elegance was undoubtedly the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). All virtues and beautiful character were present in his unparalleled model personality. His heart was like a rose garden filled with beautifully scented roses and delicate graceful flowers. The friends of Allah, who are the heirs of the prophet, are like winds of mercy filtered from that rose garden.

Before moving on to discuss the matter of the noble Chain, it is first necessary to perceive what tasawwuf, which is the arena of the perfect guides, is, with an exact definition that includes everything that it is and is not. Otherwise it will not be possible to fully understand the people of tasawwuf and their teachers, or the Perfect Guides (murshid-i kamil).

The Qur’an is God’s greatest gift to the people of the End of Time. It is the textbook of the learning centre of the world that is filled with divine trial and examination and is God’s last message and final call to humanity.

The Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace and blessings, is a Radiant Lamp (siraj al-munir) before all humanity, or a lamp of eternity illuminating all darkness.
He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is a wonder of the art of the Divine power becoming manifest in humankind. He is the most perfect criterion and the nonpareil exemplar presented to humanity.

On the basis of many spiritual problems, unrest, and hardness of heart lies forgetting the Hereafter and falling into concerns about this world. Many poor people torture themselves to become rich; and many wealthy torture themselves with the ambition to earn more. People lust for the temporal pleasures of this world without thinking about what is the source of them. It should not be forgotten that contentment is the real wealth.

When the Prophet (s.a.s) was about to inform the polytheists of the events that took place on the Night Journey and the Night of the Ascension, he said to Gabriel:
“O Gabriel! My people will not believe in me”.