According to Islamic narrative, Abdullah ibn Salam was a Jew in Medina (known as Yathrib at the time), who belonged to the Banu Qaynuqa tribe, claiming descent from Joseph.
[2] Abdullah ibn Salam lived a peaceful life but was serious, purposeful and organized in the way he spent his time.
Then he would spend some time in his orchard, looking after date palms, pruning and pollinating.
Abdullah ibn Salam therefore took an immediate and keen interest when he heard reports of the appearance of a prophet in Mecca.
The more he read the more he became convinced that the foretold prophet was Muhammad who appeared among his people in Mecca.
When he reached Medina and stopped at Quba, a man came rushing into the city, calling out to people and announcing the arrival of Muhammad and supposedly told his aunt, who was sitting nearby: "Aunt, he is really the brother of Moses, by God, and follows his religion".
[3] Tradition recounts Abdullah's early life in his own words: When I heard of the appearance of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) I began to make enquiries about his name, his genealogy, his characteristics, his time and place and I began to compare this information with what is contained in our books.
When he reached Yathrib and stopped at Quba, a man came rushing into the city, calling out to people and announcing the arrival of the Prophet.
I returned home and introduced Islam to my wife, my children and the rest of my household.
In a Hadith, it was reported that one day while Muhammad was sitting with the best of his companions, he said "Do you want to see a man walking on Earth and in Paradise?"
Muhammad pointed in the distance and the companions saw he was looking towards Abd Allah ibn Salam.