Male Sahabah of African Origin

Sayyidina Bilal ibn Rabah

As the sun of Nubuwwah rose, the rays of light spread across the horizon, and the first individuals to witness and attest to its brilliance will always be remembered. We are all aware that Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha was the first woman to embrace Islam, Sayyidina Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu the first man, Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu the first child, and Sayyidina Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu the first slave. But who was the first African to enter the faith? Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam himself informed us when he said:

بلال سابق الحبشة

Bilal is the forerunner of the Africans.^[1]

What a privilege! To be the first from the second-largest continent on earth to answer the call of Islam.

Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the son of Rabah and Hamamah, and attributed to both his father and mother. His agnomen is Abu ‘Abdullah. He was tall and dark in complexion with plenty of hair on his head and scant hair on his face. A slave of African origin, Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu was not seen as one having any value in society, but according to his Creator, he was exceptional.

He entered the fold of Islam in its early days. After embracing the faith, he was mercilessly tormented and tortured by his master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, and other polytheists. Umayyah would drag him on the desert sands of Makkah in the scorching heat of noon and make him lie on his back. He would then order for a huge boulder to be placed upon his chest and would taunt him, “You will remain like this until you die or belie Muhammad and worship al Lat and al ‘Uzza.”^[2]

Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu was also forced to wear steel armour and left to swelter in the burning sun. But Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu was unique, unlike the others who somewhat surrendered. He was absolutely resolute and determined. So, they handed him over to the children of Makkah, who dragged him through the streets.^[3]

In the face of such excruciating torture, what slogan would be suitable to both console himself and enrage his torturers? What would be the appropriate catchphrase? Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu regarded himself worthless and insignificant, the idols of the polytheists hopeless and helpless, and the tortures and torments he was facing impermanent and fleeting. To him, the only Being that was Omnipotent, Supreme, and Eternal was Allah, the Almighty subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. So he chanted, “Ahad! Ahad! (The One! The Unique!)”^[4] All the idols you are inviting me to are useless and hopeless whereas Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala alone is useful and helpful. All your persecutions are transitory, while Allah is Eternal and His blessings and rewards are everlasting. The pain I feel is meaningless, unless it is for The One, The Unique.

The cry, “Ahad! Ahad! (The Unique! The Exceptional!)” was furthermore a reflection of his state. He was unique in his resoluteness and matchless in his confidence. He was unparalleled in his determination in the face of difficulty. Ahad! Ahad! (The Matchless! The Exclusive!) An embodiment of humility coupled with dignity and self-effacement combined with self-confidence. Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu was distinctive in this remarkable excellence.

Let not the hadith qudsi slip your mind:

فإن ذكرني في نفسه ذكرته في نفسي و إن ذكرني في ملأ ذكرته في ملأ خير منهم

If he remembers Me in secret, I remember him in secret; and if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a nobler gathering.^[5]

While the chants of Ahad Ahad echoed in the streets of Makkah, the honourable mention of Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu resounded in the heavens. He promoted Allah’s Oneness on earth, so Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala promoted his prominence in the heavens and on the earth.

His unshakable determination to announce the Oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala earned him a position of dignity by the Almighty subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and in the pages of history, which will never be forgotten. Among the great legends of Islam, his name appears in the top list of Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum who will continue to be remembered by the Muslims till the end of time.

Despite this, Sayyidina Bilal’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu humility was remarkable indeed. When people would list his virtues and excellences, he would submit, “I am only an African. I was a slave yesterday.”^[6]

The hadith aptly spells it out:

ما تواضع أحد لله إلا رفعه الله

No one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala elevates him.^[7]

The manifestation of this promise was soon to be realised. Such honour was to be conferred upon him that not only would his name and his sacrifices become proverbial, but he would be remembered eternally in the annals of history. Thus, the promoter of the slogan Ahad Ahad, the African slave Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu, was going to become the archetype for every Muslim faced with adversity.

While Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would comfort the other persecuted Muslims by advising them to persevere, the torture and cruelty upon Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu was extremely severe. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam expressed his desire to purchase Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu to relieve him of this torment.^[8]

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala bestowed this exclusive honour to the cream of this Ummah, Sayyidina Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu, who purchased him for five gold coins and subsequently emancipated him. The polytheists said mockingly, “Had you refused to buy him except for a single gold coin, we would have sold him to you.” Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu countered, “Had you refused to sell except for a hundred coins, I would have still taken him.’”^[9] Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn al Khattab radiya Llahu ‘anhu would fondly state, “Abu Bakr, our master, freed Bilal, our master.”^[10] Glory be to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala! The second greatest individual of this Ummah calls Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu his master!

After his emancipation, he lived in the close company of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam during the Makkan period. Here, he benefitted spiritually from his noble qualities, and then emigrated to Madinah Munawwarah. Madinah, called Yathrib at the time, was filled with a certain type of infectious disease and the environment did not agree with Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He thus fell ill and developed a severe fever. Reciting poetry, he would express his desire to be in Makkah, away from the disease of Madinah. Hearing this, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam supplicated to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to remove this disease from Madinah and make Madinah beloved to them just as Makkah was, or more beloved, and to bless them in Madinah.^[11]

The Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam contracted brotherhood between him and Sayyidina Abu ‘Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, the trustworthy individual of this Ummah.^[12] Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself was so trustworthy and honest that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam appointed him his personal treasurer and the treasurer of the public treasury too.

The Muslims settled in Madinah and established a base for Islam, al Masjid al Nabawi. A counsel was held concerning the manner in which to invite the congregants for Salah. Various opinions were put forward but none of them were favoured by Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The following morning, Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn Zaid ibn ‘Abd Rabbihi radiya Llahu ‘anhu came rushing, full of joy, to the presence of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and related to him his dream in which an angel taught him the words of the Adhan. Without a delay in statement, Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam instructed him to stand with Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu and dictate the words to him so that the latter might call out the Adhan. “He has a sweeter and louder voice than you,” Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam explained.^[13]

It was not just his loud voice that earned him this position. Rather, the manifestation of Allah’s subhanahu wa ta ‘ala promise was about to be realised. Whoever humbles himself for Allah’s pleasure will be elevated by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala honoured Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu by making him the first Mu’adhin of Islam. The first to proclaim the greatness of Allah, the testimony of faith, and the summons to the greatest form of worship was none other than Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

We learn from a range of traditions that the Mu’adhin will enjoy the greatest rank of distinction on the Day of Qiyamah.^[14] He will receive forgiveness to the extent to which his voice reaches.^[15] Every moist and dry place will testify on his behalf.^[16] Every human, jinn, and creation will bear witness in his favour on the Day of Qiyamah.^[17] In addition, he will receive the reward of all those who performed Salah with him.^[18] Just ponder over these virtues. Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu will receive the reward of all the Salah Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam performed and the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum performed. Fortunate is he indeed!

He remained the Mu’adhin of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam throughout the Madinian period and called out the Adhan for him at home and on journey. The apex of this honour was during the Conquest of Makkah. After Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam overcame the Makkans and destroyed the idols of the polytheists, he instructed Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu to climb up onto the roof of the Ka’bah and proclaim the Oneness and Greatness of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala in his most melodious and thunderous voice.^[19] There, the former slave climbed up the most sacred structure on earth and stood upon it, to call out the greatest call of all times, while the entirety of Makkah watched in awe. A moment that was profoundly inspiring to most but terrifying to the few who still resisted Islam. The one who was dragged in the streets and shoved into the dirt, yet never relented from taking the name of his Lord, was now made to tower above all, while standing upon the most sanctified House on earth, proclaiming the majesty of the Almighty.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala displayed to the world the love and respect He conferred upon Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu. A chief principal was taught: honour and respect in the eyes of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala are not obtained through wealth, knowledge, or lineage, but rather through piety. Some of the disbelievers made condescending remarks about this spectacle upon which Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala revealed:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.^[20]

And his fortune never ended here: he was one of three to enter the Ka’bah with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on the day Makkah was conquered. It was also he who indicated to the Ummah the very spot where Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam performed Salah in the Ka’bah.

During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu, when soldiers were being mobilised to strengthen the armies marching on Syria, Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu requested the Khalifah to allow him to join the reinforcements. He expressed his desire to wage Jihad in the path of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. Again we see him seeking obscurity, rather than fame. Let me be an unknown soldier, striving in the path of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, sacrificing my life for my Beloved, than live as the official Mu’adhin of the Islamic capital. The more Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu humbled himself seeking the countenance of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, the more Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala elevated his name.

The honour of calling out the Adhan in al Masjid al Nabawi was secured by someone else after his departure from Madinah, but his name will not shine like the name of Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu. The African soldier continued fighting in the Path of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. Only when Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu came to Greater Syria to take the keys of al Bayt al Maqdis, did Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu once again call out the Adhan upon his request. His pleasant voice made people recall the happy days of the time of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and they wept. “On no other day were more people seen weeping than on that day,” explains the narrator.^[21]

A life spent initially enduring hardships in the path of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, was followed by participation in expeditions and campaigns alongside the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He went from calling out the Adhan to waging Jihad with the Muslim troops in Syria. His life ended in 17/18 AH in Damascus. Sayyidina Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu breathed his last at the ripe age of 65.

On his deathbed, he exclaimed, “Tomorrow, we will meet the dear friends, Muhammad and his comrades.” His wife mourned, “Oh! What a disaster,” so he said, “Oh! What happiness!”^[22] Tomorrow, on the plains of Resurrection, we hope to be in the company of the beloved of Allah, Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his faithful attendant and friend, our Master Bilal radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

NEXT⇒ Usamah ibn Zaid

^[1] Al Tabaqat al Kubra, vol. 3 pg. 213. Grade: Mursal Sahih.

^[2] Tanwir al Ghabash fi Fadl al Sudan wa al Habash, pg. 122.

^[3] Al Mustadrak, Hadith: 5238; Hilyat al Awliya’, vol. 1 pg. 149.

^[4] Al Mustadrak, Hadith: 5238; Hilyat al Awliya’, vol. 1 pg. 149.

^[5] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 7405; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2675.

^[6] Al Tabaqat al Kubra, vol. 3 pg. 219; Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 2 pg. 214; Raf’ Sha’n al Hubshan, pg. 284.

^[7] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2588.

^[8] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, vol. 1 pg. 352; Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, vol. 11 pg. 234.

^[9] Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 36589; Hilyat al Awliya’, vol. 1 pg. 38.

^[10] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3754; Jami’ al Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3656.

^[11] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 5654.

^[12] Al Isabah, vol. 1 pg. 326.

^[13] Jami’ al Tirmidhi, Hadith: 189; Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 499.

^[14] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 387.

^[15] Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 515; Sunan al Nasa’i, Hadith: 645.

^[16] Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 515; Sunan al Nasa’i, Hadith: 645.

^[17] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 7548.

^[18] Sunan al Nasa’i, Hadith: 646; Sahih al Jami’ al Saghir, Hadith: 6643; Sahih al Targhib, Hadith: 231.

^[19] Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah, vol. 4 pg. 202; Sirat Ibn Kathir, vol. 3 pg. 575; Raf’ Sha’n al Hubshan, pg. 274.

^[20] Surah al Hujurat: 13.

^[21] Raf’ Sha’n al Hubshan, pg. 282; Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 2 pg. 214; al Isti’ab, vol. 1 pg. 142.

^[22] Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, vol. 1 pg. 359.

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