Bilal and his Suffering

Bilal r.a (Rodiallahu anhu) is a one of the best know of the galaxy of Sahabah as Moazzin of the Prophet's Mosque. He was an Abyssinian slave of a disbeliever in Mecca. His conversion to Islam was, naturally, not liked by his master and he was, therefore, persecuted mercilessly. Ummayah bin Khalaf, who was the worst enemy of Islam, would make him lie down on the burning sand at mid-day and would place a heavy stone on his breast, so that he could not even move limb. He would then say to him:

"Renounce Islam or swelter and die."

Even under these afflictions, Bilal r.a would exclaim:

"Ahad-The One (Allah).. Ahad"-The One (Allah)

He was whipped at night and, with the cuts thus received, made to lie on the burning ground during the day to make him either forsake Islam or to die a lingering death from wounds. The tortures would get tired and take turns (Abu Jahal, Ummayah and others) and vie with one another in afflicting more and more painful punishment, but Bilal r.a would not yield. At last Abu Bakar r.a bought his freedom, and he became a free muslim.

As Islam taught implicitly the oneness of Almighty Creator, while idolaters of Mecca believed in many gods and goddesses with minor godlings, therefore Bilal repeated:

"Ahad (The One), Ahad (The One)."

This shows his love and devotion to Allah. Allah was so dear to him that no amount of persecution could distract him from reciting His Holy name. It is said that the urchins of Mecca would drag him in the streets, with his words "Ahad!.. Ahad!" ringing in their wake.

Look how Allah rewarded his steadfastness! He was to have the honour of becoming the Prophet's Moazzin. He was always to remain with him at home ad abroad to call out the Azan for his Solat. After the Prophet's death it became very hard for him to continue his stay in Madinah where he would miss him at every step and in every corner. He therefore left Madinah and decided to pass the rest of his life striving in the path of Allah. Once he beheld the Prophet s.a.w in his dream saying to him:

"O, Bilal! How is it that you never visit me."

No sooner did he get up than he set out for Madinah. On reaching there, Hasan r.a and Hussein r.a (The Prophet's grandsons) requested him to call out the Azan. He could not refuse them, for there were very dear to him. But as soon as the Azan was called, the people of Madinah cried openly out of their anguish at the memory of the happy old days of the Prophet's time. Even the women came out of their houses weeping. Bilal r.a left Madinah again after a few days and died in Damascus in year 20 After Hijrah.



Abyssinian, slave, Abyssinian slave, enemy, painful punishment, painful, punishment, Holy name, Holy, memory, freedom