Bilal ibn Rabah (; 5 March 580 - 2 March 640 CE), also known as Bilāl al-Ḥabashī or simply Bilal, was a close companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born in Mecca, he was formerly enslaved. He is considered the first muʾazzin (caller to prayer) in Islam, personally chosen by Muhammad for his deep and melodious voice."Slavery in Islam." BBC News. BBC, 2009. Web. 2013.Ludwig W. Adamec (2009), Historical Dictionary of Islam, p.68. Scarecrow Press. .Robinson, David. Muslim Societies in African History. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.Levtzion, Nehemia, and Randall Lee Pouwels. The History of Islam in Africa. South Africa: Ohio UP, 2000. Print. He is often regarded as the first African or Black Muslim.
Birth and early life Bilal ibn Rabah was born in Mecca in the Hejaz in the year 580.Janeh, Sabarr. Learning from the Life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW): Peace and Blessing of God Be upon Him. Milton Keynes: AuthorHouse, 2010. Print. Pgs. 235-238 There are differing accounts to the racial identity of his father according to historians. One account states that his father was an Abyssinian prisoner of war who had been given the name of Rabah, in Arabic meaning profitable, he had been handed over as a slave to the Quraishi Arab clan of Banu Jumah, this account is highly contested. Another account states that Bilal's father Rabah was in reality just an Arab who had been taken as a slave and given to the Banu Jumah for service, with some saying that Rabah was actually from the Banu Jumah itself but had somehow become a slave, while some maintain that Rabah was not even a slave and just so happened to have a child with an Abyssinian slave which was very frequent amongst Arabs of higher standing. Yet Bilal was born as a slave as slave-status is determined by the mother in Mecca. The notion of Bilal's father being of Arab ethnicity is further supported by the fact that Bilal was derogatorily called 'Ibn Sawda', son of the black woman by the nobles of the Quraish. Should the nobles of the Quraish have simply wanted to belittle him for being of an African background, they would have simply made of his race, not his mother as in Arab custom, ethnicity is determined by the father, indicating that his father Rabah was an Arab by race and not an Abyssinian captured as a war prisoner, supporting the latter opinion. It is unclear whether Rabah was a Quraishi of Banu Jumah or just an Arab slave from a different clan with some saying that Rabah was an Arab descended from the tribes settled in Abyssinia for trade purposes. However, this can be challenged by the fact that Bilal was seen as an Abyssinian by historians but other notable people such as Usama bin Zayd who are considered as Arab despite having an Abyssinian slave mother, favouring the former account. This in turn can be opined as being a confusion as since Bilal was a slave of Abyssinian origin on his maternal side, the nobles of the Quraish, his owners refused to acknowledge him as a fellow Arab due to the longstanding political discord between the people of Arabia and Abyssinia, especially after the sack of the Kaaba by the Abyssinian army. His mother Hamamah, was a princess of Abyssinia who was captured and enslaved after the event of the Year of the Elephant. Being born into slavery, Bilal had no other option but to work for his master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf. Through hard work, Bilal became recognised as a good slave and was entrusted with the keys to the Idols of Arabia. However, racism and sociopolitical statutes of Arabia prevented Bilal from achieving a great position in society.
Bilal's appearance In his book, Bilal ibn Rabah, Muhammad Abdi-Rauf states that Bilal "was of a handsome and impressive stature, dark complexion with sparkling eyes, a fine nose and bright skin. He was also gifted with a deep, melodious, resonant voice. He wore a beard which was thin on both cheeks. He was endowed with great wisdom and a sense of dignity and self esteem."Abdul-Rauf, Muhammad. Bilāl Ibn Rabāh: A Leading Companion of The Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Indianapolis, Indiana: American Trust Publications, 1977. Print. Pg.5 Similarly, in his book The Life of Mahomet, William Muir states that Bilal "was tall, dark, and with African feature and bushy hair." A source states that Bilal had a nose described as 'ajna', meaning as being a raised nose with hair that was thick and not curly, and eyes that were sparkling and hazel-colored. His skin was described as being 'adam shadid al-udmah', extremely dark brown. Bilal's Arabic appearance of having a raised nose, bushy thick non-curly hair with slightly lightly colored eyes, yet having been very strongly built with his chest being prominent, raised height, dark-skinned, features associated with having African ancestry can be attributed to the fact that his father Rabah was an Arab, and his mother Hamamah was an Abyssinian.Muir, Sir William. The Life of Mohammad From Original Sources. Edinburgh: J. Grant, 1923. Print. Pg. 59 Muir also states that noble members of the Quraysh despised Bilal and called him "Ibn Sawda" meaning, son of the black woman.
Conversion to Islam When Muhammad announced his prophethood and started to proselytize, Bilal renounced idolatry, becoming one of the earliest converts to the faith. Incensed at Bilal's refusal, Umayyah ordered that Bilal be whipped and beaten while spread-eagled upon the Arabian sands under the desert sun, his limbs bound to stakes.Sodiq, Yushau. Insider's Guide to Islam. Bloomington, Indiana: Trafford, 2011. Print. Pg. 23
Torture by Umayyah
When Bilal's master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, found out about his faith, he began to torture Bilal. He put a big rock with iron on top on his chest. The iron was so that the sun's heat reaches him. But he did not give up on his new religion. He had great faith. At the instigation of Abu Jahl, Umayyah bound Bilal and had him dragged around Mecca as children mocked him. Bilal refused to renounce Islam, instead repeating "ahad, ahad" meaning one, one, i.e., one God. Incensed at Bilal's refusal, Umayyah ordered that Bilal be whipped and beaten while spread-eagled upon the Arabian sands under the desert sun, his limbs bound to stakes. When Bilal still refused to recant, Umayyah ordered that a hot boulder be placed on Bilal's chest. However, Bilal remained firm in belief and continued to say "ahad, ahad".
Emancipation News of the persecution of Bilal reached some of Muhammad's companions, who informed him. Muhammad sent Abu Bakr to negotiate for the emancipation of Bilal, who manumitted him after either purchasing him or exchanging him for coins.Ibn Hisham, Sirah, V. 1, p. 339-340Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat, V. 3, p. 232
Bilal in Medina
In the newly formed Islamic state of Medina, Bilal had become a prominent contributing member of the Muslim society taking on important roles.
Adhan Muhammad chose Bilal as the first mu'azzin (reciter of the Adhan).Ludwig W. Adamec (2009), Historical Dictionary of Islam, p.68. Scarecrow Press. . Quote: "Bilal, ..., was the first mu'azzin." Sunni view
The majority of mosques around the world recite the Athan according to the Sunni tradition. A dream was seen by Abdullah ibn Zaid where an angel in the form of a man wearing a green garment taught the words of the adhan. Muhammad then instructed Abdullah to teach those words to Bilal because he had a louder voice than him. Umar ibn al-Khattab also saw the same dream. The detail of this story is mentioned below.
It is narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah that Abdullah ibn Zaid said the following:
Shia view
Shias, in contrast, do not accept Abdullah ibn Ziyad's story. They state that the Adhan was revealed to Muhammad just as the Qur'an al-Majid was revealed to him. Shias believe that the Adhan could not be left to the dreams or reveries. Furthermore, Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy states, "If the Prophet could teach the Muslims how to perform prostrations, and how, when, and what to say in each prayer, he could also teach them how and when to alert others before the time for each prayer." According to the Shia traditions, the angel who taught Muhammad how to perform ablutions preparatory to prayers and how to perform prayers also taught him the Adhan.
Treasury Bilal rose to prominence in the Islamic community of Medina, as Muhammad appointed him minister of the Bayt al-Mal (treasury).Charbonneau, Joshua (Mateen). The Suffering of the Ahl-ul-bayt and Their Followers (Shi'a) throughout History. Washington, D.C.: J. M. Charbonneau, 2012. Print. In this capacity, Bilal distributed funds to widows, orphans, wayfarers, and others who could not support themselves.Razwy, Ali A. A Restatement of the History of Islam & Muslims 570 to 661 CE. Stanmore, Middlesex, U.K.: World Federation of K S I Muslim Communities Islamic Centre, 1997. Print. Pg. 553
Military campaigns during Muhammad's era
He participated in the Battle of Badr. Muhammad's forces included Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Ammar ibn Yasir, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Abu Bakr, Umar, Mus`ab ibn `Umair, and Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam. The Muslims also brought seventy camels and two horses, meaning that they either had to walk or fit three to four men per camel.Lings, pp. 138–139 However, many early Muslim sources indicate that no serious fighting was expected, and the future Caliph Uthman stayed behind to care for his sick wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of Muhammad. Salman the Persian also could not join the battle, as he was still not a free man.
Conquest of Makkah
During the Conquest of Makkah in 630 CE, Bilal played a significant role in the events that marked the triumph of Islam in the city. As one of Muhammad’s closest companions, Bilal was chosen to perform the adhan (call to prayer) from the Kaaba after the city was peacefully captured by the Muslim forces. Bilal's act of calling the adhan from the Kaaba is a historic moment, symbolizing the end of idolatry in Makkah and the establishment of Islam as the central faith in the region. His association with the adhan, which he had famously recited during the early days of Islam, now took on an even greater significance as it marked a moment of Muslim victory and the peaceful conquest of Makkah.
Ibn Kathir mentioned in Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah from Malik ibn Anas states:
Bilal's role in the Conquest of Makkah was not just symbolic; it also represented the recognition of his loyalty and dedication to the faith from its earliest days, despite the hardships he had endured as a slave in Makkah. This momentous occasion is often remembered as one of the most significant events in early Islamic history.
His piety
Bilal was among the sahabah promised Paradise in this world, as mentioned in the story of his footsteps being heard in paradise.
Poetry Bilal reportedly recited the following poem in praise of Muhammad in his native Abyssinian language:
Alternatively, it has been claimed that this poem is actually in the Sindhi language and was written in praise of either Yahya al-Baramaki or his son Al-Fadl. However, the language of the poem does not match any known dialect of Sindhi.
After Muhammad Sunni view In the Sīrat Abī Bakr Al-Ṣiddīq that compiled many narrations and compiled historical circumstances regarding the rule of Caliph Abu Bakr, Bilal accompanied the Muslim armies, under the commands of Said ibn Aamir al-Jumahi, to Syria.Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Sideeq. Riyadh: Maktaba Dar-us-Salaam, 2007. Print.