عَنْ اَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ اَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِؑ قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ مُحَدَّثًا وَ كَانَ سَلْمَانُ مُحَدَّثًا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا آيَةُ الْمُحَدَّثِ قَالَ يَأْتِيهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَنْكُتُ فِيْ قَلْبِهِ كَيْتَ وَ كَيْتَ
Abu Baseer (r.a.) reports that Imam Abu Abdillah (al-Sadeq a.s.) said, “Ali (peace be upon him) was the spoken one (muhaddath) (i.e. the angels spoke to him) and so was Salman (r.a.)”.
I asked, “What is the sign of a muhaddath?”
He (peace be upon him) replied,
“An angel comes to him and inspires in his heart such and such.”
Note:
This tradition underlines the importance of Salman (a.r.) and his ilk who submit to the Imams (peace be upon them). Salman (r.a.) was neither a Prophet nor an Imam and yet he attained such a high position only on account of his submission and obedience to the infallible guides (peace be upon him). The road to perfection is always open to betterment. There is no limit for it. Never should one think that he has attained enough. Rather, regardless of his achievements, he/she must always think that he/she has done nothing especially vis-à-vis serving the divine proofs (peace be upon him).
References:
1. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 26, p. 67, H.4
2. Al-Amaali of al-Shaikh al-Toosi (r.a.), p. 407, H. 914/62, 9th Majlis