Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه was an Abyssinian from Africa. He was initially a slave belonging to Abdullah ibn Jud‘an. Bilal used to take some of the sheep out to graze on the outskirts of Makkah.
One day, while he was out grazing the sheep, he saw Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ together with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه.
The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
“O shepherd, we would like some milk from your sheep.”
Bilal رضي الله عنه replied:
“These sheep are not mine except for one share. But if you wish, I can give you my share because this animal normally does not give much milk.”
The Prophet ﷺ then placed his blessed hands upon the animal and milked it.
The milk was enough for Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه to drink.
Then the Prophet ﷺ milked it again, and Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه drank.
Then he milked it again, and the Prophet ﷺ himself drank.
Bilal رضي الله عنه returned over the next few days and noticed something incredible.
All of the sheep had become healthy and full, and they were producing large amounts of milk.
Abu Jahl noticed that something unusual was happening.
So he said to Abdullah ibn Jud‘an:
“Your slave boy is definitely meeting Muhammad.”
They followed Bilal رضي الله عنه and discovered that it was true.
Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه openly declared his shahadah.
The Quraysh then decided to torture him severely.
They stripped him of his clothing.
Dragged him through the burning heat.
Burned him with fire.
Whipped him mercilessly.
They treated him worse than an animal.
They tied ropes around his neck and dragged him through the streets while children spat on him.
And they kept saying:
“Curse Muhammad and praise our gods!”
But Bilal رضي الله عنه continued repeating only one phrase:
“Ahadun Ahad… Ahadun Ahad…”
“He is One… He is One…”
When his body had become nothing but wounds and bones, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه approached Umayyah ibn Khalaf and said:
“Sell him to me.”
A deal was struck for nine ounces of gold.
After the sale, Umayyah mocked Abu Bakr in front of everyone and said:
“Even if you had offered me one ounce of gold, I would still have sold him to you because this slave is worthless.”
Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه replied:
“Wallahi, if you had asked me for one hundred ounces of gold, I would have paid it.”
Bilal رضي الله عنه had an incredibly beautiful voice.
When the Muslims migrated to Madinah, and the Adhan was legislated, the Prophet ﷺ instructed Bilal رضي الله عنه to climb to a high place and call the Adhan.
The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
“Your voice is clearer and sweeter.”
Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه stood up and called the very first Adhan in Islam.
From that day onward, he became known as the Mu’adhin of Rasulullah ﷺ.
His assistant was Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum رضي الله عنه.
After the Prophet ﷺ returned from Al-Isra wal-Mi‘raj, he said to Bilal:
“O Bilal, I heard your footsteps in Paradise.”
SubhanAllah.
One day, a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
“O Messenger of Allah, I have a daughter. If you know anyone suitable for marriage, please tell me.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“Bilal ibn Rabah.”
The man returned later and asked again.
The Prophet ﷺ again replied:
“Bilal ibn Rabah.”
The man returned a third time and asked:
“O Messenger of Allah, is there anyone you have in mind?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“What is wrong with Bilal ibn Rabah? Do you not want your daughter to marry a man from the people of Paradise?”
SubhanAllah.
The man then gave his daughter in marriage to Bilal رضي الله عنه, and they lived happily together.
During the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ instructed the companions regarding the battle cry.
The cry was:
“Ahadun Ahad! Ahadun Ahad!”
The same words Bilal رضي الله عنه used while being tortured in Makkah.
When Makkah was conquered, three people entered the Kaaba together with the Prophet ﷺ:
Uthman ibn Talhah,
Usamah ibn Zaid,
and Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه.
Then the Prophet ﷺ said to Bilal:
“It is time for prayer.”
Bilal رضي الله عنه climbed on top of the Kaaba and called the Adhan.
This was one of the greatest moments in Islamic history.
A former African slave who had once been dragged through the streets of Makkah was now standing on top of the Kaaba calling people to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ then made the famous declaration:
“Islam has removed racism. All people are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust.”
When the Prophet ﷺ passed away, Bilal رضي الله عنه once stood to call the Adhan.
But when he reached the words:
“Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah…”
he could not continue.
He broke down crying.
And when Bilal cried, the companions cried with him.
Because the memories of Rasulullah ﷺ overwhelmed them all.
Later, during the Khilafah of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه, Bilal said:
“O Abu Bakr, I cannot continue calling the Adhan after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Years later, during the Khilafah of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه, Umar traveled to Jerusalem to receive its keys.
The companions requested Umar:
“Convince Bilal to call the Adhan one more time.”
Bilal رضي الله عنه stood and called the Adhan.
And when the people heard his voice again, they burst into tears because it brought back the memories of the days of Muhammad ﷺ.
This was Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 