The Shining Stars: 22 – Sayyidunā Bilal ibn Rabah

Outline

• Introduction
• The Beginning
• Who Was Bilal ibn Rabah
• Bilal ibn Rabah Accepts Islam
• Sayyiduna Bilal and the Persecution of Quraysh
• Sayyiduna Bilal After Hijrah
• Bilal ibn Rabah, the Mua’dhdhin of the Prophet
• Sayyiduna Bilal in Paradise
• Sayyidunā Bilal After the Prophet’s Passing
• Sayyidunā Bilal’s Household
• Sayyiduna Bilal ibn Rabah’s Passing
• 8 Facts About Sayyidunā Bilal
• The Takeaway…

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent

Introduction

He was among the first 25 people to embrace Islam, and one of the first seven to declare their Islam publicly, regardless of the consequences.

All the companions of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, who embraced Islam in its early days had to endure all sorts of extreme torture from their relatives, or from their masters, for those who happened to be slaves. Be it mental, emotional, physical, economical, you name it. However, all of them fall short in resilience behind our Shining Star of this episode.

He was the first to call to the prayer in Islam. He was the one the prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam tasked to go up the Ka’bah and make the adhān on the Day of the conquer of Makkah. Whenever the prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam wanted some solace through prayer, he would call him, and say”

أرحنا بها، يا بلال

Meaning, go call for prayer, O Bilal!

A statement that implies an order to go and call for prayer

Yes, you’ve guessed it right, I’m talking about Bilal ibn Rabah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu. Sayyidunā Bilāl ibn Rabah is our Shining start for this episode of The Shining Stars Series, brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.

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The Beginning

Assalamu ‘alaykum,

Welcome back to the Shining Stars Series, brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.

All the companions of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam share something in common. That’s they believed in the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and accepted Islam, at a time when it was the most difficult to trust anyone with your future, especially your faith.

However, each of them has a unique story with Islam. Sometimes, it’s so unique that, it can’t be found in the biography of the any other. Sayyidunā Bilāl ibn Rabāh was one of those companions of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam who accepted Islam, among the firsts, and has a story that you can’t find in any of the companions of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

So, who was Bilal ibn Rabah?

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Who Was Bilal ibn Rabah

Little is known about the birthplace of Sayyidunā Bilal raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu. The most authentic reports are that he was born in Makkah.

His full name was Bilal ibn Rabāh. Meaning his father was Rabah. But there’s no much mention about him.

However, his mother’s name was Ḥamāmah. Hamamah was a slave lady to the Banu Jumh clan of Quraysh. In short, Sayyiduna Bilal was born in slavery. Thus, it’s difficult to find more about his roots.

It’s also known that, when Islam arrived, Sayyiduna Bilal was 30 years old.

This means, at the arrival of Islam, Sayyidunā Bilal was ….

That means at the arrival of Islam, Sayyidunā Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ was 10 years younger than the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, 7 years younger than Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, 3 years younger than Sayyidunā Zayd ibn Ḥārithah, same age as Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf and 7 years older than Sayyidunā Khabbāb ibn Aratt raḍiya Allāhu ’anhum.

At the arrival of Islam, Sayyidunā Bilal used to work for ‘Abdullah ibn Jad’ān. He used to rear for him his livestock. It was during rearing the livestock that he chanced upon the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam who talked to him and invited him to Islam. Fortunately, Bilal accepted Islam there and then. And that marked a milestone in his life forever.

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Bilal ibn Rabah Accepts Islam

Sayyiduna Bilal didn’t hesitate to accept Islam, when The Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam presented him to it. However, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam advised him to keep his Islam secret.

With that he became among the first to accept Islam. Here, in the Shining Stars Series, we classify him at number 22 to accepting Islam. While he was among the first 25 to accept Islam, it’s certain that he was one of the first seven Muslims in the history of the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad to declare their Islam publicly. And these first seven are:

1. The Prophet Muhammad
2. Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq
3. ‘Ammar ibn Yāsir
4. Sumayyah (‘Ammār’s Mother)
5. Suhayb ibn Sinān
6. Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ
7. Al-Miqdād ibn ‘Amr

Imam ibn Mājah raḥimahū Allāh reports from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas’ūd, who says:

كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَظْهَرَ إِسْلاَمَهُ سَبْعَةٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعَمَّارٌ وَأُمُّهُ سُمَيَّةُ وَصُهَيْبٌ وَبِلاَلٌ وَالْمِقْدَادُ

“The first people to declare their Islam publicly were seven: The Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, ‘Ammar and his mother Sumayyah, Suhaib, Bilal and al-Miqdad. “

As indicated earlier, At the point of his Islam, he was a slave to Umaymah ibn Khalaf. Umayyah ibn Khalaf is one of the fiercest tyrants of Quraysh who exposed Muslims to extreme sorts of physical torture, humiliation and persecution. Second to Umayyah ibn Khalaf were Abū Jahl and Abū Lahab.

Umayyah would tie up anyone, the relatives or master of whom he could convince, to allow him to torture him and force him out of Islam. What more of his own slave, one of whom happened to be Sayyidunā Bilal raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu.

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Bilal ibn Rabah and the Persecution of Quraysh

Bilal ibn Rabah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu was enslaved by the fiercest enemy of Islam, Umayyah ibn Khalaf. Umayyah, who was from the Banū Jumḥ clan, one of the clans within the Quraysh tribe, he could get anyone to do what he wanted, including their life decisions. Meaning, if he asked anyone take their own life, they won’t hesitate to doing so.

However, this pride of Umayyah was broken, when he failed to get Bilal to denounce Islam and go back to idol worshiping.

Unfortunately for him, with Bilal, he failed to get him to denounce his faith.

Therefore, as much as he hated Islam, he hated Bilal even more, for stepping on his pride. So he would tie him up, and drag him on his stomach to the scorching heat of the sands of the desert of Makkah. He would then put a heavy rock on Bilal’s chest, and insist not to take it down until Bilal denounces Islam or dies. All that, and Bilal kept saying:

Ahadun Ahad!

The One and Only… The One and Only.

This means, I believe in the One and Only… Allah, subḥānahū wa ta’ālā.

The author of Hilyatul-Awliyā’ reports, that Waraqah ibn Nawfal once passed by Bilal when he was been tortured by Umayyah ibn Khalaf… And Bilal kept repeating Aḥadun Aḥad… Then Waraqah said to Umayyah, if you kill him while he’s saying Aḥadun Aḥad, I’ll make his grave a shrine for seeking blessing.

Later in the future, when Bilal was asked why he chose ‘Aḥadun, Aḥad,’ he would say, “he used Aḥadun aḥad, because his persecutors couldn’t stand it.” Meaning nothing triggered them and annoyed them like ‘Aḥadun, Aḥad!”

While being tortured, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr knew about him and decided to buy him from Umayyah. After long negotiations, Umayyah agreed to sell Bilal. Upon buying Bilal, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr freed him for the sake of Allah.

To this, Sayyidunā ‘Umar used to say, “our master Abu Bakr has freed our master, Bilal.”

And Sayyidunā Bilāl used to say, “I’m one of the righteous deeds of Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu.”

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Sayyiduna Bilal After Hijrah

Sayyidunā Bilāl was among those who migrated to Madīnah, in the early days of migration. And the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam made him a brother to ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Ḥārith ibn al-Muṭṭalib.

Sayyidunā Bilal participated in the Battle of Uhud and Badr alongside the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. During the Battle of Badr, he confronted his former master, and had the honour to be the one who killed, Umayyah ibn Khalaf. Umayyah ibn Khalaf, the man who did all who could to deter Bilal from Islam, but failed miserably.

Sayyidunā Bilāl also participated in all the battles, in which Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam participated.

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Bilal ibn Rabah, the Mua’dhdhin of the Prophet

After the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam and his companions raḍiya Allāhu ’anhum settled down in Madinah, adhān was prescribed. And the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam chose Sayyidunā Bilāl to be the one who raises the adhān.

With that, he became the first Mu’adhdhin in Islam. He remained the Mu’adhdhin of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam at home and away.

Whenever the prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam wanted some solace through prayer, he would call him, and say”

أَرِحْنَا بِهَا، يَا بِلال

Give us some comfort through it, O Bilal!

Bilal being the first Mu’adhdhin has become a trademark for him, such that, in Malaysia and Singpore, the Mu’adhdhin is called Bilal. I suspect that’s the case in Indonesia and Brunei too, probably elsewhere too.. Can someone kindly confirm that in the comments area below? thank you.

As the Mu’adhdhin of the Prophet, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam   tasked him to go up the Ka’bah and raise Adhān on the Day of Conquer of Makkah.

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Sayyiduna Bilal in Paradise

The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam heard the sound of his footsteps in Jannah. And asked him:

يَا بِلاَلُ حَدِّثْنِي بِأَرْجَى عَمَلٍ عَمِلْتَهُ عِنْدَكَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ مَنْفَعَةً فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ اللَّيْلَةَ خَشْفَ نَعْلَيْكَ بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ

“O Bilal, tell me about the deed you carried out in Islam, which you are most hopeful with, for I heard during the night the sound of your footsteps before me in Paradise.”

Then Sayyiduna Bilal raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu said:

قَالَ بِلاَلٌ مَا عَمِلْتُ عَمَلاً فِي الإِسْلاَمِ أَرْجَى عِنْدِي مَنْفَعَةً مِنْ أَنِّي لاَ أَتَطَهَّرُ طُهُورًا تَامًّا فِي سَاعَةٍ مِنْ لَيْلٍ وَلاَ نَهَارٍ إِلاَّ صَلَّيْتُ بِذَلِكَ الطُّهُورِ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ ‏.‏

“I did not do any act in Islam for which I hope to get any benefit more than that, whenever I perform wuḍū’, whether it’s during night or daytime I will perform prayer with that purification as much as Allah wills for me to pray.”

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Sayyidunā Bilal After the Prophet’s Passing

The only thing that made the companions accept the fact that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam has passed on is their faith, that everyone is here to pass on, and that there’s a hereafter. And that, we can’t reach the hereafter until we experience death.

The Prophets of Allah are not exceptions in this. The companions knew this reality. However, they remain humans. They too had emotions. And Sayyidunā Bilāl was just one of those emotional companions. For 13 years, he called to the prayer for the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. And suddenly, a day came, and he had to call to the prayer with the Prophet nowhere to respond and come to lead that prayer.

He started to adhān. However upon reaching

أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ…ـ

He was chocked in tears. He couldn’t continue. And that was the last time he made adhān.

After that, he sought the permission of the Caliph, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr, and joined the Muslim army to Syria, where he settled down, until his passing.

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Sayyidunā Bilal’s Household

There are no much reports about the household of Sayyidunā Bilāl raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu. Some reports indicate that he married Hālah bint ‘Awf, the sister of ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf. However, Bilal didn’t have successors.

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Sayyiduna Bilal ibn Rabah’s Passing

When he was about to pass on, his wife said, “what a sad day?” But Bilal lifted his blanket and said to her, “don’t say: what a sad day. Instead, say: what a joyous day.” “Tomorrow, we’re meeting our beloved ones, Muhammad and his companions.

Some reports indicate that he passed on, in the 20th year of the hijrah of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam.

What is certain about his death is that he died in Sham (present-day Syria, Jordan, and surroundings). It’s however uncertain which part of Sham is passed on in.

Sayyidunā Bilāl died in Syria. At the age of 60s.

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8 Facts About Sayyidunā Bilal

Here are eight facts you’ll want to remember about Sayyiduna Bilal ibn Rabah…

• Sayyidunā Bilal was among the firsts to accept Islam.
• He was among the first seven to declare their faith of Islam publicly.
• Despite being under tyranny of Quraysh, none put the pride of the tyrants to the test like Bilal did.
• He would pray two raka’ah every time he performed wudu’.
• He was given glad tiding of Paradise while was still alive.
• He was the first Mu’adhdhin in Islam.
• He remained the main Mu’adhdhin for the Prophet until the Prophet’s passing.
• As the Mu’adhdhin of the Prophet, he was the one tasked with going up Ka’bah to raise Adhān on the Day of Conquer of Makkah.

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The Takeaway…

Imaginably, the pains Bilal had to endure is unbearable. But can you imagine that the pain his master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf and the other tyrants of Makkah at the time had to endure for failing to subject Bilal was more than that of Bilal.

Sayyidunā Bilāl could have given in to the requests of the tyrants of Makkah and said what they wanted him to say. They wanted him to praise the idols, Lāt and ‘Uzzā. Just like ‘Ammār did. And he would be set free. But he refused and chose to be like Sumayyah, who died with her head high, or live as a free person.

And Allah granted him the freedom of this life and the Paradise of the next life.

How many of us is willing to be like Bilal and Sumayyah?

That was Sayyidunā Bilāl ibn Rabāh, raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu. One of the third 10 to embrace Islam. One of the first seven to declare their Islam publicly. The first to raise adhān, and the personal Mu’adhdhin to the Prophet until the passing of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. And a Shining Star worth your time and attention to look up to, for inspirations and role modeling.

Until we meet again in our next episode of the Shining Stars to look up to another Shing Star, for inspirations, I leave you in Allah’s protection.

Wassalamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah.

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