Bilâl Ibn ’Abî Rabâh

’Ahad…’Ahad…’Ahad…Cries echoed by the seven mountains of Makkah… Cries coming from the depths of a believer’s heart, a weak thin body of an Ethiopian slave who had insisted on announcing his becoming a Muslim…He announces it publicly amongst seven other men led by the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, of Islam.

Bilâl was a slave to ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf, one of the very strong men of Quraish, and one of the most powerful non-believers in Makkah who was shocked as much as he was disturbed that his slave would disobey him by announcing his becoming a Muslim, and his believing in Muhammad’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, one and only Allah… It was necessary that Bilâl would be taught a lesson so that the rest of the slaves would not do the same.. His master used to make him lie down under the hot sun on lighted stone… He would put big stones on his back one time, and on his chest another time, until he was totally burnt by the sun and almost died of thirst… He would then sprinkle cold water around him to be absorbed by the sand, but he would not get one drop to wet his cut and dry lips. He would tell him: Say that you do not believe in Muhammad’s God, and I will relieve you from your suffering.. Bilâl would answer from the depths of his heart to that: ’Ahad.. ’Ahad.. ’Ahad.. (meaning Allah is One).. His master on hearing that, would increase the amount of torturing, and Bilâl would also increase his stubbornness… He would then take him, tie him from his neck by a loof rope (rope made of vegetable sponge), and give him to the boys to play with him in Makkah’s roads… They would hit him with stones until they got bored of him, then they would leave him in the sun, while his hands and feet were still tied down…

Waraqah Ibn Nawfal -A monk who became a Christian during Jâhiliya[1]- passes beside him… He sees him in his torment and tells him: Yes Bilâl… ’Ahad.. ’Ahad.. ’Ahad… By Allah Bilâl, if you die, I will regard your grave as a blessed place, and I will pray to Allah to accept me and my prayer when I’m there…

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, feels pity for Bilâl’s condition from that torturing and pain that cannot be endured even by mountains, so he, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, tells ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq: “If we had money, we would have bought Bilâl and set him free”.. ’Abû Bakr understands the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, insinuation and goes to ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf asking him to buy Bilâl from him… He also tries to make ’Umaiyah lose interest in Bilâl, so he sells him for five ounces of silver and tells ’Abû Bakr: By Allah, even if you would offer only one ounce’s worth, I would still sell him to you… ’Abû Bakr answers him saying: By Allah, if you refused to take anything less than one hundred, I would still buy him.. ’Abû Bakr bought him and set him free for Allah’s sake.. ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb says: ’Abû Bakr is our chief, and he manumitted our chief. (meaning Bilâl).

Days pass, and Bilâl stays close to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and becomes the first Mu’adhdhin[2] in Islam… He is Mu’adhdhin during all the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, travelling and inside the country… He never stays behind in any of the conquests or trips, carrying his food which the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said about it one day: “A whole month would pass, and Bilâl and I had no food except a very little amount that could be carried in Bilâl’s under-arm.”.. During the battle of Badr, Bilâl goes out to fight with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, he sees ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf amongst the non-believers; that ferocious man who used to torture him…Bilâl screams saying: ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf!!.. Woe to me if ’Umaiyah remains safe (i.e. alive)… He attacks him like a hurt lion, and by Allah’s help, he kills him with the same hands that used to be tied down… Allah comforts Bilâl’s heart, and his deep anger calms down… The Muslims cry aloud in Badr: ’Ahad .. ’Ahad .. ’Ahad...

Days pass by, and Makkah is widely opened to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and his companion…The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, enters the Ka’bah, he takes with him Bilâl and ’Usâmah Ibn Zaid… He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, prays two Rak‘ahs and breaks the idols, -they were 360 idols- and saying: “Truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism or this Qur’an or Jihad against polytheists) has come and Bâtil (falsehood, i.e. Satan or polytheism) has vanished. Surly Bâtil is ever bound to vanish”[3]…

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, orders Bilâl to rise on top of the Ka’bah and announce the first ’Adhân (call for prayer) in Makkah… Allahu-Akbar.. Allahu-Akbar (Allah is the Most Great.. Allah is the Most Great)…Makkah’s mountains echoes the word of truth from Bilâl’s voice as it had repeated before his suffering words ’Ahad .. ’Ahad…

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, acknowledges Bilâl that he had been promised to go to paradise saying: “O Bilâl… By what have you preceded me to paradise?!.. I heard the sound of your shoes in Paradise just in front of me!!”… Bilâl said: O Prophet of Allah… Whenever I break my Wudû’ (Ablution) I would make ablution again, I found that I owed Allah two Rak‘ahs of prayer by this ablution[4]..

The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, dies, and Bilâl goes to ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq saying: O Khalifah (Caliph) of Allah’s Prophet… I heard the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, saying: “The best deeds of my people is fighting in the Cause of Allah”[5]… And I want to dedicate myself to Allah until I die, so please allow me to move to Shâ’m.. So ’Abû Bakr says: O Bilâl… I ask you by Allah’s sake… Bilâl, by my honourable status and by my right… I have grown older in age, and my time is near… Stay with me, and don’t leave me.. Bilâl stayed with ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq as his Mu’adhdhin until ’Abû Bakr died and ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb became Khalîfah (Caliph)… Bilâl went to ‘Umar and told him what he had told ’Abû Bakr before… ‘Umar tried to convince him to stay, but he refused and went to Shâ’m with a brother (in Islam) called ’Abû Ruwayhah… They both went to ask two sisters to marry them…Bilâl told the girls’ parents: We have come to you proposing to your daughters… We were non-believers, but Allah guided us to the Right Path… We were slaves, but Allah set us free, and we were poor, but Allah made us rich… If you let us get married, our gratitude will be to Allah… And if you refuse us, we believe that there is no might or power except with Allah… They wed them their daughters, thanks be to Allah…Bilâl was settled in Shâ’m until ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb arrived there…Bilâl announced ’Adhân in Bait-ul-Maqdis[6] (Jerusalem), which made him highly emotional and he wept until he performed ’Adhân, and ever since, he stopped performing ’Adhân…

One day, Bilâl sees in his sleep the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, telling him: “Why are you so harsh on me Bilâl?!.. Is it not time yet for you to visit me?!”… Bilâl woke up from his sleep feeling very sad, and he took off directly to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Holy Mosque in Al Madînah… He approached the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, grave and kept on weeping and wallowing himself against it…Al Hasan and Al Husain, may Allah be pleased with them, saw him and approached him… When he saw them, he cried, kissed and hugged them… They told him: O Bilâl… We wish that you announce ’Adhân during Sahar (late night) time… He could not refuse that particular request in that particular time and place.. At Sahar time, he went on top of the mosque and announced: Allahu-Akbar.. Allahu-Akbar… Al Madînah was shaken… And when he said: Lâ ilâhâ illallâh, (I testify that there is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), it shook even more… And when he said: Muhammad-ur-Rasûl-Allâh, (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), all the men and women came out to the streets… And there has never been since then, more crying and weeping men and women than that day; for his ’Adhân and deep voice had touched people’s sorrows and deep longing for the master of all people, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,.

After that special night, Bilâl took off returning to Shâ’m and stayed there, optimistically rejoicing the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, words to him: “The men who declare ’Adhân are the men with the longest necks on the Day of Judgment”[7]…

It is the moment of departure, and Bilâl is over sixty years old… He dies and is buried in Shâ’m… He joins with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, in paradise, offering himself to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, service in paradise, as he used to do in his previous life.. And the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, would hear the sound of his shoes in front of him.

[1] Jâhiliya: Ignorance belonging to the period before the advent of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,. Un-Islamic practices which either existed or were inherited from the era before the advent of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,.

[2] Mu’adhdhin: A call-maker who pronounces the ’Adhân loudly calling people to come and perform the Salât (prayer).

[3] As At Tirmidhi narrated that Ibn Masûd (may Allah be pleased with him) said.

[4] As Al-Sheikhain narrated that ’Abû Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said.

[5] Narrated by Imâm Muslim.

[6] Bait-ul-Maqdis: The famouse mosque in Jerusalem which is regarded as the third sacred mosque in Islam; the first and second being Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm at Makkah and the mosque of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, at Al-Madînah, respectively.

[7] As Muslim narrated that Mu‘âwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said.

	By What Have You Preceded Me To Paradise Bilâl Ibn ’Abî Rabâh May Allah be pleased with him
	Back To Main Page Back To Amongst The Prophet’s Companions
	’Ahad…’Ahad…’Ahad…Cries echoed by the seven mountains of Makkah… Cries coming from the depths of a believer’s heart, a weak thin body of an Ethiopian slave who had insisted on announcing his becoming a Muslim…He announces it publicly amongst seven other men led by the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, of Islam. Bilâl was a slave to ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf, one of the very strong men of Quraish, and one of the most powerful non-believers in Makkah who was shocked as much as he was disturbed that his slave would disobey him by announcing his becoming a Muslim, and his believing in Muhammad’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, one and only Allah… It was necessary that Bilâl would be taught a lesson so that the rest of the slaves would not do the same.. His master used to make him lie down under the hot sun on lighted stone… He would put big stones on his back one time, and on his chest another time, until he was totally burnt by the sun and almost died of thirst… He would then sprinkle cold water around him to be absorbed by the sand, but he would not get one drop to wet his cut and dry lips. He would tell him: Say that you do not believe in Muhammad’s God, and I will relieve you from your suffering.. Bilâl would answer from the depths of his heart to that: ’Ahad.. ’Ahad.. ’Ahad.. (meaning Allah is One).. His master on hearing that, would increase the amount of torturing, and Bilâl would also increase his stubbornness… He would then take him, tie him from his neck by a loof rope (rope made of vegetable sponge), and give him to the boys to play with him in Makkah’s roads… They would hit him with stones until they got bored of him, then they would leave him in the sun, while his hands and feet were still tied down… Waraqah Ibn Nawfal -A monk who became a Christian during Jâhiliya[1]- passes beside him… He sees him in his torment and tells him: Yes Bilâl… ’Ahad.. ’Ahad.. ’Ahad… By Allah Bilâl, if you die, I will regard your grave as a blessed place, and I will pray to Allah to accept me and my prayer when I’m there… The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, feels pity for Bilâl’s condition from that torturing and pain that cannot be endured even by mountains, so he, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, tells ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq: “If we had money, we would have bought Bilâl and set him free”.. ’Abû Bakr understands the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, insinuation and goes to ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf asking him to buy Bilâl from him… He also tries to make ’Umaiyah lose interest in Bilâl, so he sells him for five ounces of silver and tells ’Abû Bakr: By Allah, even if you would offer only one ounce’s worth, I would still sell him to you… ’Abû Bakr answers him saying: By Allah, if you refused to take anything less than one hundred, I would still buy him.. ’Abû Bakr bought him and set him free for Allah’s sake.. ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb says: ’Abû Bakr is our chief, and he manumitted our chief. (meaning Bilâl). Days pass, and Bilâl stays close to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and becomes the first Mu’adhdhin[2] in Islam… He is Mu’adhdhin during all the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, travelling and inside the country… He never stays behind in any of the conquests or trips, carrying his food which the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said about it one day: “A whole month would pass, and Bilâl and I had no food except a very little amount that could be carried in Bilâl’s under-arm.”.. During the battle of Badr, Bilâl goes out to fight with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, he sees ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf amongst the non-believers; that ferocious man who used to torture him…Bilâl screams saying: ’Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf!!.. Woe to me if ’Umaiyah remains safe (i.e. alive)… He attacks him like a hurt lion, and by Allah’s help, he kills him with the same hands that used to be tied down… Allah comforts Bilâl’s heart, and his deep anger calms down… The Muslims cry aloud in Badr: ’Ahad .. ’Ahad .. ’Ahad... Days pass by, and Makkah is widely opened to the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and his companion…The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, enters the Ka’bah, he takes with him Bilâl and ’Usâmah Ibn Zaid… He, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, prays two Rak‘ahs and breaks the idols, -they were 360 idols- and saying: “Truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism or this Qur’an or Jihad against polytheists) has come and Bâtil (falsehood, i.e. Satan or polytheism) has vanished. Surly Bâtil is ever bound to vanish”[3]… The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, orders Bilâl to rise on top of the Ka’bah and announce the first ’Adhân (call for prayer) in Makkah… *Allah*u-Akbar.. *Allah*u-Akbar (Allah is the Most Great.. Allah is the Most Great)…Makkah’s mountains echoes the word of truth from Bilâl’s voice as it had repeated before his suffering words ’Ahad .. ’Ahad… The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, acknowledges Bilâl that he had been promised to go to paradise saying: “O Bilâl… By what have you preceded me to paradise?!.. I heard the sound of your shoes in Paradise just in front of me!!”… Bilâl said: O Prophet of Allah… Whenever I break my Wudû’ (Ablution) I would make ablution again, I found that I owed Allah two Rak‘ahs of prayer by this ablution[4].. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, dies, and Bilâl goes to ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq saying: O Khalifah (Caliph) of Allah’s Prophet… I heard the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, saying: “The best deeds of my people is fighting in the Cause of Allah”[5]… And I want to dedicate myself to Allah until I die, so please allow me to move to Shâ’m.. So ’Abû Bakr says: O Bilâl… I ask you by Allah’s sake… Bilâl, by my honourable status and by my right… I have grown older in age, and my time is near… Stay with me, and don’t leave me.. Bilâl stayed with ’Abû Bakr As-Siddîq as his Mu’adhdhin until ’Abû Bakr died and ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb became Khalîfah (Caliph)… Bilâl went to ‘Umar and told him what he had told ’Abû Bakr before… ‘Umar tried to convince him to stay, but he refused and went to Shâ’m with a brother (in Islam) called ’Abû Ruwayhah… They both went to ask two sisters to marry them…Bilâl told the girls’ parents: We have come to you proposing to your daughters… We were non-believers, but Allah guided us to the Right Path… We were slaves, but Allah set us free, and we were poor, but Allah made us rich… If you let us get married, our gratitude will be to Allah… And if you refuse us, we believe that there is no might or power except with Allah… They wed them their daughters, thanks be to Allah…Bilâl was settled in Shâ’m until ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb arrived there…Bilâl announced ’Adhân in Bait-ul-Maqdis[6] (Jerusalem), which made him highly emotional and he wept until he performed ’Adhân, and ever since, he stopped performing ’Adhân… One day, Bilâl sees in his sleep the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, telling him: “Why are you so harsh on me Bilâl?!.. Is it not time yet for you to visit me?!”… Bilâl woke up from his sleep feeling very sad, and he took off directly to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Holy Mosque in Al Madînah… He approached the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, grave and kept on weeping and wallowing himself against it…Al Hasan and Al Husain, may Allah be pleased with them, saw him and approached him… When he saw them, he cried, kissed and hugged them… They told him: O Bilâl… We wish that you announce ’Adhân during Sahar (late night) time… He could not refuse that particular request in that particular time and place.. At Sahar time, he went on top of the mosque and announced: *Allah*u-Akbar.. *Allah*u-Akbar… Al Madînah was shaken… And when he said: Lâ ilâhâ illallâh, (I testify that there is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), it shook even more… And when he said: Muhammad-ur-Rasûl-Allâh, (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), all the men and women came out to the streets… And there has never been since then, more crying and weeping men and women than that day; for his ’Adhân and deep voice had touched people’s sorrows and deep longing for the master of all people, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,. After that special night, Bilâl took off returning to Shâ’m and stayed there, optimistically rejoicing the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, words to him: “The men who declare ’Adhân are the men with the longest necks on the Day of Judgment”[7]… It is the moment of departure, and Bilâl is over sixty years old… He dies and is buried in Shâ’m… He joins with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, in paradise, offering himself to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, service in paradise, as he used to do in his previous life.. And the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, would hear the sound of his shoes in front of him. Back To Main Page Back To Amongst The Prophet’s Companions [1] Jâhiliya: Ignorance belonging to the period before the advent of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,. Un-Islamic practices which either existed or were inherited from the era before the advent of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him,. [2] Mu’adhdhin: A call-maker who pronounces the ’Adhân loudly calling people to come and perform the Salât (prayer). [3] As At Tirmidhi narrated that Ibn Masûd (may Allah be pleased with him) said. [4] As Al-Sheikhain narrated that ’Abû Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said. [5] Narrated by Imâm Muslim. [6] Bait-ul-Maqdis: The famouse mosque in Jerusalem which is regarded as the third sacred mosque in Islam; the first and second being Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm at Makkah and the mosque of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, at Al-Madînah, respectively. [7] As Muslim narrated that Mu‘âwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said.