It is narrated in Ikhtisas from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) through authentic chain of narrators that Asbagh bin Nubatah asked Imam Ali (a.s.) about the excellence of Salman. Imam (a.s.) said: what can I say about the one who is created from our Teenat (essence) and whose spirit is connected to ours? The Almighty Allah has made him special with knowledge of the first and the last and the outward and inward.” Imam Ali (a.s.) says: I went to the Holy Prophet (S) and Salman was also present there. A Bedouin came and removed Salman from his seat and himself sat down there.
The Holy Prophet (S) was infuriated at this so much that the nerve between his eyes swelled up and his eyes reddened and he said: “You are removing the one whom the Lord of the worlds loves? Whose love is announced in the heavens and whom the Messenger of God loves on the earth. O Bedouin you are removing such a person, that when Jibraeel comes down, he conveys the greetings of the Almighty Allah for Salman.
O Bedouin, Salman is from me and one who oppresses him is as if he has oppressed me and one who has hurt him has hurt me and one who has driven him away is like he has driven away me and one who had brought him near is like he has brought me near. O Bedouin, do not make a mistake about Salman; because the Almighty Allah has commanded me to inform him about the time of the death, calamities and lineage of the people and tell about things that separate the truth from falsehood.
Bedouin said: O Prophet of Allah, I never knew that the deeds of Salman were of such a level. Was he not a fire-worshipper and then he became a Muslim? The Prophet said: O Bedouin, I narrate the excellence of Salman from Allah and you still say that Salman was a Majus? Indeed he was never a Majus, he only displayed polytheism on the basis of Taqayyah and he kept his faith concealed, Have you not heard the Almighty say:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
“But no! by your Lord! they do not believe (in reality) until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided and submit with entire submission.”25
So, O Bedouin, you should accept what I say and be from the thankful ones. And do not deny my statements or you will be eligible for divine chastisement. And obey the Prophet so that you may be of them too.26