8 facts about Hazrat Bilal ؓ

Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ is one of the dearest Sahabah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He was one of the finest and the best known Sahabah, Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ starting from his life as a slave to his burial in Damascus.

1. Hazrat Bilal was a slave

Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was an Abyssinian who was living a life of slavery in Makkah. He was a slave of Ummayah bin Khalaf.

2. The master of Hazrat Bilal

Ummayah bin Khalaf, the master of Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was a bitter enemy of Islam. When Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ converted to Islam, this made him fierce and he wanted either to kill Bilal R.A.

Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ did not fear his master for he knew that Allah was the Omni-Supreme. When his master tried to frighten him, he restrained so much so that Bin Khalaf went for a punishment.

3. Hazrat Bilal was punished in an inhuman way

As a punishment, Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was made to lay on the hot sand of Arabian deserts that would roast under the sparkling sun and heavy rocks were placed over Bilal R.A.

These rocks would burn his body from the upper side while sand would cause burns on the backside. Moreover, these rocks did not allow him to move an inch.

Yet, the man of faith did not abandon his faith, when his master would appear and ask him to either leave Islam or burn in the heat till death. Bilal R.A would loudly cry out Ahad!

Ahad means the one. It showed that he believed in no one but Allah, who is one.

4. Hazrat Bilal was lashed at night

Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was then given lashes at night, his body would get covered with wounds and the heat torture would intensify the pain on the wounds at day time. Yet he was a man of true faith.

When Abu Jahl would get exhausted after torturing Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ he would rest and Ummayah would punish him.

5. Hazrat Abu Bakr bought Bilal

Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ punishment came to an end when Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ bought him from bin Khalaf. Abu Bakr allowed Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ to live a life of freedom.

6. Hazrat Bilal became the first Muazzin of Islam

Now a free Muslim, Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was rewarded for his commitment to Islam. He was made the Muazzin (the one who calls Azan) of the Prophet’s mosque. 

7. Why Hazrat Bilal left Madin?

After Prophet Muhammad ﷺ died, Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ found it difficult to live in Madinah. He could not continue his life in Madina without Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as His memories would reoccur to him every moment. 

Yet he came back to Madinah when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came in his dream and asked why he does not come to pay a visit to Madina.

8. Adhan on the request of Hasan and Hussain

He went back to Madinah and called Azan at the request of Hassan and Hussain رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. It is said that the Azan made people remember of days when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was alive and made everyone shed tears in his be-loving memories. 

Hazrat Bilal رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ again left Madinah after a few years and died in 20 A.H in Damascus. His tomb lies in the Bab al Saghir: a graveyard in Damascus.