Bilal Habashi
Bilal Habashi, son of Riyah, was a black slave from Abyssinia who was brought to Mecca and enslaved by Umayyah ibn Khalaf (one of the fierce enemies of the Prophet of Islam). Bilal, who converted to Islam after the Prophet's mission, was tortured by the Umayyah to turn back from Islam, but he did not give up Islam. After a while, on the advice of the Messenger of God (PBUH), he was bought and released and joined to the Muslim community and became the companions of the Prophet.
Bilal Habashi was honored with the position of moazzin by the order of Muhammad ibn Abdullah (the last Prophets) (PBUH), and on the day of the conquest of Mecca, he went to the roof of the Kaaba and called the call to prayer(Azan). (And he continued to call to prayer while the polytheists were throwing stones at him.) Bilal Habashi's fame is also more for his calling to prayer. He was also the treasurer of the treasury during the time of the Prophet and participated in all the wars.
After the death of the Prophet, Bilal was forced to migrate to Damascus due to his refusal to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr, and died there in the year 18 or 20 of the lunar calendar at the age of 60 or 70. His grave in Bab al-Saghir, in Damascus, is the shrine of his lovers.
Biography of Bilal Habashi
Bilal ibn Riyah was born in Mecca between 578 and 582 AD, or according to another narration, three years after the Year of the Elephant (Ammolfil). Bilal's father Riyah was a captive from Abyssinia, and Bilal himself was born into a family of slaves in the Banu Jomah or Sarah tribe (who lived in Mecca).
He became a slave to Umayyah ibn Khalaf, who was an infidel and an enemy of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After Bilal converted to Islam, Umayyah ibn Khalaf was torturing him so that he turn back from Islam. Umayyah would make Bilal lie down on the hot sands of Mecca for days and, by placing a large stone on his chest, order him to abandon Islam and worship Al-Lat and Al-Uzza. Bilal disobeyed his order and would not abandon Islam.
Bilal's appearance is described as follows: tall and thin, very dark-skinned, with a stooped back, long gray hair, and a delicate complexion.
Bilal's acquaintance with the Prophet of Islam
According to some historical reports, Bilal met the Messenger of God (PBUH) while grazing the sheep of Abdullah ibn Jadaan around Mecca. The Prophet asked him to give him some of the milk from his sheep, and Bilal gave it. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him to convert to Islam, Bilal accepted, and the Messenger of God asked him to hide his Islam. According to another report, Bilal had gone to Syria with a caravan as a child, and Abu Taleb returned him to Mecca with the Prophet (PBUH), and in this way Bilal met the Prophet.
Bilal's Liberation from Slavery by the Prophet
After months of suffering and hardship during his time as a slave, Bilal was purchased and freed by the Prophet. The liberation and the position that the Prophet gave to Bilal Abyssinian are a reminder of Islamic equality and a line of invalidity against the delusions of the nobility that considered superiority in tribe, color, wealth, class privileges and ceremonial titles.
Bilal's Joining the Companions of the Prophet
After his liberation, Bilal joined the Muslims and became the first moazzin of Islam and accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) on his travels and in his presence. He accompanied the Messenger of God in all battles, including Badr, Uhod and the Khandaq(Trench), and fought the infidels. In the Battle of Badr, according to Bilal’s behest and pointing, Umayyah ibn Khalaf and his son were killed by the Muslims. However, in another narration, Umayyah was killed by Bilal himself.
Bilal Abyssinian is mentioned among the "nobles" and companions of the Prophet (PBUH). He was also the treasurer of the Prophet's treasury.
Bilal's Adhan(Saying Adhan by Bilal)
Bilal is the first moazzin of Islam. He was the first Muslim to call to prayer in Medina. The first adhan to be officially given on earth was in Medina. This adhan was in a house near the Prophet's Mosque (peace be upon him). A person named Nawar Umm Zeyd ibn Thabet said: My house was the longest of the houses surrounding the mosque. So Bilal would come and call the adhan from there. This adhan was given from the beginning until the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) built his mosque, after which the adhan was given on the roof of the mosque.
On the day of the Conquest of Mecca, Bilal, at the command of the Prophet (PBUH), ascended the Kaaba and pronounced the call to prayer, which was very magnificent. The infidels of Mecca were very upset by this incident and stoned him, but he continued to pronounce the call to prayer. It is narrated that Bilal pronounced “shin” as “sin,” and it is narrated that Bilal’s sin is “shin” in the sight of God Almighty.
Bilal’s failure to pronounce the call to prayer after the Prophet’s death
Bilal did not pronounce the call to prayer for anyone after the Prophet’s death, except on a few occasions. One of these occasions was at the request of Hazrat Fatima (PBUH), but when Hazrat Fatima Zahra remembered the sufferings that she had suffered after her father’s death and could not bear the intense sadness, Bilal was forced to leave the call to prayer unfinished.
Another time was when he came to Medina to visit the grave of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and the two sons (Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (PBUH)) asked him to pronounce the call to prayer, and he accepted. This event affected Medina.
The last time was when the second Caliph went from Medina to Syria (according to Tabari in 17 AH) and in the region of Jabeyyah, at the request of the Muslims, he asked Bilal to call the call to prayer; he accepted and everyone wept remembering the time of the Messenger of God.
Bilal's Migration to Syria
The reason for Bilal Abyssinian's migration to Syria has been mentioned in two narrations: One is that he realized the virtue of jihad and joined the Mojahideen, because after the death of the Prophet, Bilal went to Syria with the army of Usamah ibn Zeyd and helped Usamah in this war.
Others have considered the reason for his migration to be his refusal to pledge allegiance to the first caliph (Abu Bakr). After the death of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), Bilal refused to pledge allegiance to the first caliph, and for this reason, he left Medina on the orders of Umar ibn Khattab and went to Syria.
Bilal's Death in Damascus
Most sources have mentioned the date of his death in the 20th lunar year in Damascus. His age at the time of his death is mentioned as more than 60 years. Some sources also mention his age at the time of his death as 63, 64, and 70 years. Some sources have attributed his death to the plague.
According to a famous narration, Bilal Abyssinian is buried in Bab al-Saghir in Damascus. His tomb in Bab al-Saghir, Damascus, is a favorite haunt for his lovers.
Conclusion
The name of Bilal Abyssinian is a reminder of faith, belief, and steadfastness in the path of the goal, patience and resistance against the enemy, steadfastness and tolerance of torture in the path of God. The position that the great Prophet of Islam gave to Bilal Abyssinian, who was once a black slave, indicates the equality of humans of every race, color, nationality, and language in the view of Islam. According to verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujuraat (The Chambers) ; “surely the noblest, most honorable of you in God’s sight is the one best in piety, righteous-ness, and reverence for God. surely God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” The revelation of this verse was in honor of Bilal and in rejecting the false criteria and delusional thoughts of the disbelievers, and it raised Bilal’s status and position doubly.
Hazrat Ali (AS) considered Bilal to be one of the earliest converts to Islam and praised his sincerity and self-purification. There is also a hadith from the Prophet (PBUH) which states: Paradise is desired by three people: Ali, Ammar and Bilal.