Salman Farsi was passing through the blacksmiths’ market of Kufah when he observed that a crowd had gathered around a youth who lay on the ground, senseless. When the people saw Salman, they requested him to recite a supplication so that the youth could come out of his unconsciousness.
As soon as Salman came closer, the youth got up and said: “There is nothing wrong with me. It is just that I was passing through this market when I noticed the blacksmiths striking metal with their iron hammer and this made me recall what Allah has said in the Qur’an: “In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them.”4 As this verse crossed my mind, I was overcome by this state.”
Salman became interested in the youth, grew fond of him and made him his brother. They were always friends with each other till one day the youth fell ill and was almost on the verge of dying. Salman sat down near his head and then, addressing Izra’eel, said: “O’ Izra’eel! Be tolerant and lenient towards my young brother and be kind and gentle to him!”
“O’ Servant of Allah! I am the friend of all the believers and kind to them all,” Izra`il replied.( Dastan-e-Jawanan, Page 94 )