Prophet Mohammad and Iranians

Residents of Iran, based on the Quran and Islamic narrations, never worshiped idols, there is no doubt that the Iranians before Islam were monotheist and have worshiped God as names of "Mazda", "god”.(1) that is why the Muslims in the past put Zoroastrians among the holy book worshipers (Jews and Christians). With the rise of Islam in the Hejaz area, the Iranians found their missing in this religion. Based on the Quran and the narrations and historical resources, it is certain that among states, no nation like Iran welcomed Islam and it is great unique honor for Iranians in the history that they chose the true religion with their wisdom, among the religions, and in this context they were steady assist for Islam. In several different narrations and verses of the Quran and Hadith, the acceptance of Islam by non-Arabs and Iranians are mentioned. This implies the following:
1- Particular attention of the Quran and the Prophet Mohammad toward Iran
2- Iranians have deep competence and enthusiasm in trailblazing to the facts and values.
3- Iranian’s Islam has deep great importance and will be a deserving wellspring for thriving and spreading of Islam in the whole world.
Now, some of the verses and narrations in this field are examined:

A) Verses:

Whenever we discover the secrets and details of exceptionally valuable verses of Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet Mohammad about the Iranians values, it will be cleared that Fourteen centuries ago, they remembered the people of this old Aryan country, very well, and introduced these peoples as pious, brave and have the God-given intelligence and competence. It is very contemplating that panegyric verses were revealed when the Prophet (Mohammad) related them to the Iranians and remembered them very well, while Iranians were not Muslim at that time. This fact turn downs any guesses of that the prophet Mohammad has said such words for Welcoming to the Iranians.
1- Oh you, who are believed, if every one of you return from your religion, God will bring the people (who are with these characteristics); God love them, and they love God. They are humble to the believers, mighty and tough against the unbelievers. They make Jihad in the way of Allah, and do not fear of the people who blames them. (2)
There is a narration that after the revelation of this verse someone asked from Prophet Mohammad, what the purpose of this verse is? And who are the people with these characteristics? The Prophet kept his hand on shoulder of the Salman and replied «he and his nation» and he added: «If religion is hung at the stars in the sky, men of the Persia- Iran- will gain it» (3)
2- - If you disobey from the commandments of God and His Messenger, God will replace you with more obedient people that they are better than you. (4)
Abu Hurairah narrated that some of the companions of the Prophet, while they were beside him, said: O Messenger of God, who are those people that they God mentioned them in the Quran? He put his hand on Salman’s thigh and said: my purpose was Salman and his people, swearing to God that my soul is in its hands, if belief is in Soraya star, men from Persian will take it. (5)
3- If God wants, will remove you and bring others instead of you and God is able to do all the works. (6)
It has narrated that while this verse was revealed, Prophet Mohammad put his hand on Salman’s back and said: the nation that will come and outstrip Arabs in accepting Islam and God’s invitation, is the nation of this man from Iranian. (7)
4- If this people disbelieve it (Allah’s guidance), we choose people that never become infidel. (8)
Great interpreters in their interpretations quoted that purpose of this people (Guardian of religion) are the Iranians. (9)
5- There are others that has not joined to Muslims yet, it means that they will join in the future and become Muslim and they are wise. (10)
When verse of Friday (in Quran) was revealed, Prophet (Mohammad), read the verses of it for the people until came to the above verse. A man asked a question from the prophet: who are this group that haven’t joined us yet? Prophet Mohammad put his hand on Salman’s head and said: swearing to God that my soul is in its hands, if belief is in Soraya star, men from Persia will reach to it. (11)

B) Narrations:

1- Prophet Mohammad said: If science is hung at the Soraya star in the sky, men of the Persia- Iran- will gain it. (12) It is noteworthy that this narration has been narrated frequently and in multiple times by multiple narrators and in some narrations, rather than science, faith (belief) and religion is noted, that all of them are the traces of the wisdom, competency and acuity of Iranians. If you look at the history of Muslims well, it is clear that the Iranian effort to highlight the commands of Islam and expanding Islam has been more than the Arabs. Ebn Khaldun wrote: "The surprising fact is that most scholars of the Islamic nation, whether in Islamic science or rational knowledge, are Iranians and all scholars of hadith which they preserved them (Hadith) for the Islamic people, also have been Iranian, and history has proved that no one rose for the maintenance and development of the Islamic nation, except Iranians. (13)
2- Prophet Mohammad smiled alongside prisoners of war, in one of the wars. Someone asked the secret of his smiling. Prophet said: I saw some Iranians from my nation that pull a load of chains (means prisoners) to heaven. (14) As Molana according to this narration, said in Masnavi:
I don’t smile due to your chains
That I trapped you immediately at night
I smile since with chains and shackle
I will take you to orchard and garden (heaven) (15)
3- Prophet Mohammad said: Iranians share from Islam is more than all other nations. (16)
4- Prophet Mohammad said: the most non-Arab prosperous people in Islam, are Iranians. (17)
5- Prophet Mohammad said: Almighty God has chosen two groups: one is Quraysh from Arabs and another one is Persian people form non-Arabs. (18)
Of course, it should not be hidden for the readers that the purpose of the above statements are not that the race causes superiority, but the aim is to notify from the talents, genius and background that are in the Quraysh in Arab race and Iranians in non-Arab race.
6- Imam Ali narrated from the Prophet Mohammad that he said to the Arabs: I swear to God that at the beginning you brought Iranians to accept Islam (with swords), but in the future, Iranians will bring you back to Islam. (19) This statement from the Holy Prophet shows that the Arabs after the demise of the Prophet went out from true path of Islam (like some sects), and these are the Iranians that will make Arabs familiar again with the truth of Islam (by Ahl-e-Bait way of living) in the future. Imam Reza states about the true supporting of Iranians for Islam: God always helped Islam, after the demise of the Prophet until our time and then (by Persians) and gave them such a luck, but divested this luck from some of his relatives to Prophet. (20) History of the Prophet and Iran, due to various verses of the Quran, invitation of the Prophet had global perspective and not limited to the land of Hejaz. << This matter, is only a reminder and wake up alert for the world. (21) I am the messenger of God from your side, the Prophet in his mission is the mercy for the world. (22)
Thus, the prophet Mohammad is a divine gift to the world that the Iranian people were not excluded. Iranian history of Islam reflects the efforts of people who have struggled to find the “Right”. In fact, they are representatives of countless groups who had searched in pursuit of “Right”. On top of all of them, it’s the bright name of Salman Farsi, Prophet Mohammad said about him: <<Salman is from our Ahl-e-Bait family. (23) On the other hand, the Prophet had no superiority about Arabs over Persians and accepted all seekers of truth with a warm embrace and In fact, superiority criterion was nothing else than virtue and piety. (24) Salman Farsi was the first Iranian Muslim (25) that was reached to a level on the path of piety and perfection, to the point where it was introduced as a symbol of the Iranians in the Islamic world. Of course, Salman was not the only Persian that was in the adjacency of the prophet, but historians write that many people were with the Prophet Mohammad, it could be pointed to characters like “Abu MASROOH” who was saying Azan (advising the praying time) (26) and “Abu Al-Hamra Farsi” servant of the Prophet Mohammad and "AZAZMARD" son of Hormuz Farsi and was one of the princes. (27) At the same time, a group of Iranians who lived in Yemen in contemporary with the Prophet, converted to Islam. Their Ruler in Yemen was a person named Bazan, Who was originally Iranian, converted to Islam in 6th HIJRI (Arabic calendar). (28) He wrote that he has converted to Islam and sent a board for homage with Prophet Mohammad to Medina, and Prophet Mohammad said on their welcoming: you are from us and you are on the way toward Ahl-e-Bait. (29)