Hazrat Bilal (RA) was a great and loyal companion of the Holy Prophet (SAWW) whose life is very inspiring for all the Muslims. He was known for his beautiful voice who is today remembered as one of the earliest African Muslim.
Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) belonged to Western Arabia. His father Rebah and mother Hamama had to arrive Arabia from Abyssinia now known as Ethiopia as slaves. Both of his parents were slaves of Ummayya bin Khalaf who was a rich man of Quraish. Thus, Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) also had to start his life in slavery.
In the days of idol worshipping in Makkah, Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) was 40-years-old, when he heard about the Holy Prophet (SAWW) and the monotheistic Islam about which he was preaching. He heard that he was also preaching about equality and justice.
Thus, while grazing the cattle of his master, he thought about the message of Holy Prophet (SAWW) and believed that stones or idols couldn’t do anything and hence, he met Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) secretly and accepted Islam.
One day when Ummayya bin Khalaf who was non-Muslim, came to know about Bilal’s acceptance of Islam, he became angry that how his slave dared to do something with his own free will. At that time, those who accepted Islam were being harassed and oppressed by the non-Muslims so Ummayya bin Khalaf did the same and decided to oppress Bilal.
Thus, Ummayya asked Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) that had he started to worship the God Muhammad (SAWW) to which Bilal said: “Yes Master, I do worship Allah, the only God.”
This answer of Bilal further increased the wrath of Ummayya bin Khalaf and he started to torture Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) heartlessly. He was tied to ropes and was made to lay down on the hot sand of desert in the mid-noon when it was burning. He was asked to leave Islam and worship idols to which he kept on saying, “Ahad-Ahad,” which means “One God, One God.” Thus, his master continued to torture him but Bilal remained strong.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) upon knowing about the oppression faced by Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) due to his acceptance of Islam went to Ummayya and asked him to sell his slave. Ummayya agreed and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) declared Bilal as free man after transaction.
Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) remained a close companion of Holy Prophet (SAWW). When the mosque of Quba was constructed, Holy Prophet (SAWW) selected Hazrat Bilal to give azan, thus, making him first official Muezzin of Islam.
The life of Hazrat Bilal (RA) is very inspirational for Muslims. He tolerated worst days of his life under his master but never left Islam. He was a great companion of Holy Prophet (SAWW) who is honoured and loved by Muslims a lot.
