Bilal ibn Rabah
Bilal ibn Rabah, also known as Bilāl al-Ḥabashī or simply Bilal, was a close companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born in Mecca, he was of Abyssinian descent and was formerly enslaved. He is considered the first muʾazzin in Islam, personally chosen by Muhammad for his deep and melodious voice.
According to Islamic tradition, Bilal was one of the earliest converts to Islam and is often regarded as the first African or Black Muslim. He died in 640 CE, around the age of 59.
Birth and early life
Bilal ibn Rabah was born in Mecca in the Hejaz in the year 580. There are differing accounts to the racial identity of his father according to historians. One account states that his father was an Abyssinian prisoner of war who had been given the name of Rabah, in Arabic meaning profitable, he had been handed over as a slave to the Quraishi Arab clan of Banu Jumah, this account is highly contested. Another account states that Bilal's father Rabah was in reality just an Arab who had been taken as a slave and given to the Banu Jumah for service, with some saying that Rabah was actually from the Banu Jumah itself but had somehow become a slave, while some maintain that Rabah was not even a slave and just so happened to have a child with an Abyssinian slave which was very frequent amongst Arabs of higher standing. Yet Bilal was born as a slave as slave-status is determined by the mother in Mecca. The notion of Bilal's father being of Arab ethnicity is further supported by the fact that Bilal was derogatorily called 'Ibn SawdaBilal's appearance
In his book, Bilal ibn Rabah, Muhammad Abdi-Rauf states that Bilal "was of a handsome and impressive stature, dark complexion with sparkling eyes, a fine nose and bright skin. He was also gifted with a deep, melodious, resonant voice. He wore a beard which was thin on both cheeks. He was endowed with great wisdom and a sense of dignity and self esteem." Similarly, in his book The Life of Mahomet, William Muir states that Bilal "was tall, dark, and with African feature and bushy hair." A source states that Bilal had a nose described as 'ajnaConversion to Islam
When Muhammad announced his prophethood and started to proselytize, Bilal renounced idolatry, becoming one of the earliest converts to the faith. Incensed at Bilal's refusal, Umayyah ordered that Bilal be whipped and beaten while spread-eagled upon the Arabian sands under the desert sun, his limbs bound to stakes.Torture by Umayyah
When Bilal's master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, found out about his faith, he began to torture Bilal. He put a big rock with iron on top on his chest. The iron was so that the sun's heat reaches him. But he did not give up on his new religion. He had great faith. At the instigation of Abu Jahl, Umayyah bound Bilal and had him dragged around Mecca as children mocked him. Bilal refused to renounce Islam, instead repeating "ahad, ahad" meaning one, one, i.e., one God. Incensed at Bilal's refusal, Umayyah ordered that Bilal be whipped and beaten while spread-eagled upon the Arabian sands under the desert sun, his limbs bound to stakes. When Bilal still refused to recant, Umayyah ordered that a hot boulder be placed on Bilal's chest. However, Bilal remained firm in belief and continued to say "ahad, ahad".Emancipation
News of the persecution of Bilal reached some of Muhammad's companions, who informed him. Muhammad sent Abu Bakr to negotiate for the emancipation of Bilal, who manumitted him after either purchasing him or exchanging him for coins.Bilal in Medina
In the newly formed Islamic state of Medina, Bilal had become a prominent contributing member of the Muslim society taking on important roles.Adhan
Muhammad chose Bilal as the first mu'azzin.Sunni view
The majority of mosques around the world recite the Athan according to the Sunni tradition. A dream was seen by Abdullah ibn Zaid where an angel in the form of a man wearing a green garment taught the words of the adhan. Muhammad then instructed Abdullah to teach those words to Bilal because he had a louder voice than him. Umar ibn al-Khattab also saw the same dream. The detail of this story is mentioned below.It is narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah that Abdullah ibn Zaid said the following:
Shia view
Shias, in contrast, do not accept Abdullah ibn Ziyad's story. They state that the Adhan was revealed to Muhammad just as the Qur'an al-Majid was revealed to him. Shias believe that the Adhan could not be left to the dreams or reveries. Furthermore, Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy states, "If the Prophet could teach the Muslims how to perform prostrations, and how, when, and what to say in each prayer, he could also teach them how and when to alert others before the time for each prayer." According to the Shia traditions, the angel who taught Muhammad how to perform ablutions preparatory to prayers and how to perform prayers also taught him the Adhan.Treasury
Bilal rose to prominence in the Islamic community of Medina, as Muhammad appointed him minister of the Bayt al-Mal. In this capacity, Bilal distributed funds to widows, orphans, wayfarers, and others who could not support themselves.Military campaigns during Muhammad's era
He participated in the Battle of Badr. Muhammad's forces included Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Ammar ibn Yasir, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Abu Bakr, Umar, Mus`ab ibn `Umair, and Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam. The Muslims also brought seventy camels and two horses, meaning that they either had to walk or fit three to four men per camel. However, many early Muslim sources indicate that no serious fighting was expected, and the future Caliph Uthman stayed behind to care for his sick wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of Muhammad. Salman the Persian also could not join the battle, as he was still not a free man.Conquest of Makkah
During the Conquest of Makkah in 630 CE, Bilal played a significant role in the events that marked the triumph of Islam in the city. As one of Prophet Muhammad’s closest companions, Bilal was chosen to perform the adhan from the Kaaba after the city was peacefully captured by the Muslim forces.Bilal’s act of calling the adhan from the Kaaba is a historic moment, symbolizing the end of idolatry in Makkah and the establishment of Islam as the central faith in the region. His association with the adhan, which he had famously recited during the early days of Islam, now took on an even greater significance as it marked a moment of Muslim victory and the peaceful conquest of Makkah.
Ibn Kathir mentioned in Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah from Malik ibn Anas states:
Bilal's role in the Conquest of Makkah was not just symbolic; it also represented the recognition of his loyalty and dedication to the faith from its earliest days, despite the hardships he had endured as a slave in Makkah. This momentous occasion is often remembered as one of the most significant events in early Islamic history.
His piety
Bilal was among the sahabah promised Paradise in this world, as mentioned in the story of his footsteps being heard in paradise.Poetry
Bilal reportedly recited the following poem in praise of Muhammad in his native Abyssinian language:Alternatively, it has been claimed that this poem is actually in the Sindhi language and was written in praise of either Yahya al-Baramaki or his son Al-Fadl. However, the language of the poem does not match any known dialect of Sindhi.
After Muhammad
Sunni view
In the Sīrat Abī Bakr Al-Ṣiddīq that compiled many narrations and compiled historical circumstances regarding the rule of Caliph Abu Bakr, Bilal accompanied the Muslim armies, under the commands of Said ibn Aamir al-Jumahi, to Syria.Purnam Allahabadi, a Sufi poet from Pakistan, composed a Qawwali named Bhar Do Jholi Meri Ya Muhammad which was sung by Sabri Brothers in which he mentioned how time had stopped when some companions blocked Bilal from delivering the Adhan, and appealed that it was incorrect. Because the companion Bilal was of an Abyssinian origin, he could not pronounce the letter "Sh". A hadith of Muhammad reports that he said, "The 'seen' of Bilal is 'sheen' in the hearing of Allah," meaning God does not look at the external but appreciates the purity of heart.
Shia view
After Muhammad died in 632 CE, Bilal was one of the people who did not give bay'ah to Abu Bakr. It is documented that when Bilal did not give bay'ah to Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab grabbed Bilal by his clothes and asked, "Is this the reward of Abu Bakr; he emancipated you and you are now refusing to pay allegiance to him?Bilal replied, "If Abu Bakr had emancipated me for the pleasure of Allah, then let him leave me alone for Allah; and if he had emancipated me for his service, then I am ready to render him the services required. But I am not going to pay allegiance to a person whom the Messenger of God had not appointed as his caliph." Similarly, al-Isti'ab, a Sunni source, states that Bilal told Abu Bakr: "If you have emancipated me for yourself, then make me a captive again; but if you had emancipated me for Allah, then let me go in the way of Allah."
This was said when Bilal wanted to go for Jihad. Abu Bakr then let him go."
The following is a poem by Bilal on his refusal to give Abu Bakr bay'ah:
Being exiled from Medina by Umar and Abu Bakr, Bilal migrated to Syria.
Abu Ja'far al-Tusi, a Shia scholar, has also stated in lkhtiyar al-Rijal that Bilal refused to pay allegiance to Abu Bakr.
Death
The Sunni scholar al-Suyuti in his Tarikh al-khulafa wrote: "He died in Damascus in 17 or 18 AH, but some say 20 AH, or even 21 AH when he was just over sixty years old. Some said he died in Medina, but that is wrong. That is how it is in al-Isabah and other works such as the Tahdhib of an-Nawawi."When Bilal's wife realized that death was approaching Bilal, she became sorrowful. It is documented that she cried and said, "What a painful affliction!" However, Bilal objected to his wife's opinion by stating, "On the contrary, what a happy occasion! Tomorrow I will meet my beloved Muhammad and his faction !"
He is believed to have been buried in the Bab al-Saghir cemetery, Damascus. However, there exists another shrine, believed to be the burial of Bilal, near a small village called al-Rabahiyya, in Amman, Jordan.
Descendants and legacy
The descendants of Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi are said to have migrated to the land of Ethiopia in East Africa. The Keita dynasty who ruled the Empire of Mali in West Africa also claimed descent from him. According to Mali oral tradition "Bilali Bounama" had seven sons and the oldest Lawalo migrated to Mali. In Morocco, Bilal became the patron saint and mythological ancestor of the Gnawa. In Essaouira, they built the shrine Zawiya Sidna Bilal despite him being buried in Syria. Because of this, they also venerate local saints.Though there are some disagreements concerning the hard facts of Bilal's life and death, his importance on a number of levels is incontestable. Mu'azzins, especially those in Turkey and Africa, have traditionally venerated the original practitioner of their profession. The story of Bilal is the most frequently cited demonstration of Islam measuring people not by their nationality nor social status nor race, but by their Taqwah.
In 1874, Edward Wilmot Blyden, a former slave of African descent, wrote: "The eloquent Adzan or Call to Prayer, which to this day summons at the same hours millions of the human race to their devotions, was first uttered by a Negro, Bilal by name, whom Mohammed, in obedience to a dream, appointed the first Mu'azzin. And it has been remarked that even Alexander the Great is in Asia an unknown personage by the side of this honoured Negro."