The Legendary Faith of Bilal

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Contents

Tortured by extreme heat for his belief The Prophet ﷺ facilitated Bilal’s freedom These are lessons for our own lives A voice that uplifted the community Action points Also read

Envision someone born as a Black slave into the hierarchical norm of society within the Arabian Peninsula, being accustomed to the belief that ultimate power belongs to the Quraysh tribes and chieftains.

Imagine being that slave at a time when simply believing in one God could bring brutal punishment.

Now imagine, as this slave — who only knows the superiority of the Quraysh over all others and the superiority of their chieftains over their people — rebelling against them with no protection except īmān in Allah, the One and Only, True God.

That was the reality for Bilal ibn Rabah (radiy Allahu ‘anhu).

Tortured by extreme heat for his belief

Due to his faith, Bilal — one of the first to embrace Islam — immediately found himself at the centre of an unwarranted persecution.

The aim seemed to be to make him an example for those that wished to defy their masters and embrace Islam, believing in the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ﷺ.

Bilal’s master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, a powerful figure in Makkah, could not tolerate his new religion. As a result, he faced unimaginable cruelty under the scorching desert sun, with heavy stones placed upon his chest, while his back lay bare upon the burning sand.

Yet, amidst this pain, Bilal’s voice only grew stronger. How true it is, that genuine faith is like gold — refined and strengthened by fire!

Through parched lips, he declared,

“Ahad! Ahad! (The Only One God! The Only One God!)”

This brave stance is no less than a symbol of the strength of belief that transcends all that oppressors are usually used to “quelling”.

The Prophet ﷺ facilitated Bilal’s freedom

The Messenger ﷺ recognised Bilal’s extraordinary strength and, with the intervention of Abu Bakr, Bilal eventually found freedom.

Abu Hurayrah (radiy Allahu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger ﷺ once said to Bilal,

“Bilal, narrate to me which act at the time of morning prayer you did in Islam for which you hope to receive good reward, for I heard during the night the sound of your steps before me in Paradise.

“Bilal said, ‘I did not do any act in Islam for which I hope to get any benefit, but that when I perform complete ablution during the night or day I observe prayer with that purification what Allah has ordained for me to pray.'” [1]

These are lessons for our own lives

Bilal’s story (radiy Allahu ‘anhu) teaches us that genuine faith is unshakeable, even in the face of extreme hardship. It shows us how belief can lift us above physical suffering and societal constraints, where immorality is the norm.

It also highlights the importance of community in supporting one another, as exemplified by the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr’s support for Bilal (radiy Allahu ‘anhum), freeing him from the oppression of his tyrant master.

In a narration reported by Abdullah ibn Umar, the Messenger ﷺ said,

“A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor.

“Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs; whoever brought his [Muslim] brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection.

“And whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” [2]

A voice that uplifted the community

Bilal’s legacy extends far beyond his worldly liberation (radiy Allahu ‘anhu).

Indeed, he was chosen by the Prophet ﷺ to be the first mu’adhin (caller to prayer).

So the voice that once defied persecution, went on to serve to unite the Muslim community in the noble service of calling to the daily prayers and congregational gatherings!

Is this not a beautiful transformation?

Action points

Remember, as in the case of Bilal, true strength is found not in times of ease, but in overcoming trials.
Be a voice for the oppressed and actively seek to alleviate the suffering of others, both near and far.
Strive to extend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate in the Ummah.