Religion & Spirituality - 3 December 2006

Bilal is very lovingly remembered by all Muslims of the world as one of the earliest great African Muslim.

He was born in a village in a mountainous place in Western Arabia. Bilal's father was called Rebah and his mother was known as Hamama.[1] They had come to Arabia as slaves from Ethiopia. The father and mother were slaves of Ummayya bin Khalaf, a rich man from the tribe of Quraish. Bilal was therefore born in slavery and served as a housekeeper. His master Ummayya bin Khalaf was not a Muslim.

When Bilal was about the age of 40, it was the time when Prophet Muhammad started teaching the new religion of Islam, Bilal was attracted by the teaching of Prophet Muhammad. He accepted the religion of Islam and became a Muslim.

When Ummayya bin Khalaf and his family went to worship idols, Bilal would pray to Allah as taught by Islam.

In the early days of Islam the tribe of Quraish who were strong and many and lived in and around Makkah, disliked Islam.

They also disliked Prophet Muhammad and his new teachings. If any person accepted the new religion, they oppressed and harassed him.

One day Ummayya bin Khalaf came to know of Bilal's secret prayers. He called Bilal and asked,

"Oh Bilal, do you worship and bow down to the God of Muhammad?"

Bilal was not afraid. He replied,

'Yes Master, I do worship Allah, the only God."

The reply angered Ummayya greatly. He began to torture Bilal. He was tied with ropes and made to lie on the burning hot desert sand at mid-noon. He was then asked to forget the God of Islam and worship the 'great' idols known as LAT and UZZA. But Bilal was strong in his new belief. He refused to worship idols and kept crying "AHAD-AHAD", meaning "One God, One God." The tortures continued and were increased. Hot iron rod were stamped on his pained body. Yet Bilal would not yield.

On one hot day Bilal lay on the burning hot sand tied to the ground. A very heavy stone was placed over his chest. Bilal could no longer bear the heat and the load so great. He had also grown weak. In that tied condition even water was denied to him. In the condition he lay and lost his senses. As the day neared its end, it became cooler; he regained his conscious (senses). He found that the heavy stone was no more on his chest. He wondered who had come to free him from pain. His heavy eyes slowly opened only to look at the bright smiling face of Prophet Muhammad.

Prophet Muhammad had heard of and seen the torture of Bilal. It pained him extremely to learn that a true believer should suffer in such a manner. He also felt pity for the poor man He told Abu Bakr to purchase Bilal from Ummayya and set him free. This was done. In similar ways the Prophet had many slaves set free. He insisted that slaves be treated fairly and kindly. By his own conduct he also set such examples.

When Bilal first came before the Holy Prophet, he praised the Holy Prophet in two poetic lines of his native language. The Prophet asked Hassan bin Thabit to translate it in Arabic. He translated it in words which means:

"When in the world, the virtues are described, thou art mentioned as the model of virtues in our midst."

Among the slaves from Africa, Bilal was the first to accept Islam. He had a strong faith in Allah and a great love for the Prophet. He had a pure character. Soon he earned high respect of the Prophet and other great Muslims of the time. The Prophet liked Bilal's sweet voice and made him the first Muazzin -The Caller To The Prayers.

All through his life Bilal remained a close companion of Prophet Muhammad and was with him at every occasion. When the Prophet died he was very saddened. Thereafter all his life he looked grieved and very solemn. He had gone to Madina when the Prophet had migrated. After the death of the Prophet he did not feel happy to stay in Madina. He sadly discontinued giving 'adhan' and migrated to Damascus, Syria. He died there after about eight (or ten) years. His grave is still existing in the famous Muslim graveyard in Damascus. People still go to his grave to pay respect and salute him.

2006-12-03 06:48:05 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:47:05 · 36 answers · asked by kg0413 1

2006-12-03 06:46:38 · 20 answers · asked by . 3

2006-12-03 06:46:07 · 8 answers · asked by Faerie loue 5

2006-12-03 06:45:46 · 12 answers · asked by CHEESUS GROYST 5

i go to a christian church and i have to speak in front of the entire church on this topic so i was wondering if any one could just give me a few ideas on the topic it would be greatly appreciated!! :)

2006-12-03 06:45:01 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:44:03 · 9 answers · asked by i_love_waffles89 1

2006-12-03 06:41:34 · 32 answers · asked by themicrowavemaster 2

2006-12-03 06:41:13 · 10 answers · asked by i_heart_jake_ryan118 1

And if so, what is your source? I heard this from Bill O'Rielly and he won't quote his source so I'm very skeptical here.

2006-12-03 06:39:46 · 22 answers · asked by bowlingcap 2

2006-12-03 06:39:25 · 16 answers · asked by Dr.Do 2

know what He was saying?

2006-12-03 06:38:53 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:37:26 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:36:45 · 21 answers · asked by . 3

Do you think i'll make a good primate

2006-12-03 06:36:15 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Issiah 53:10
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand


53:10 "He shall see his seed." The Hebrew word for "seed", used in this verse, always refers to physical descendants in Scriptures e.g., Gen. 12:7; Gen. 15:13; Gen. 46:6; Ex. 28:43. A different word, generally translated as "sons", is used to refer to spiritual descendants (see Deut. 14:1, e.g.).

so how could this verse be talking about Jesus?

2006-12-03 06:35:24 · 14 answers · asked by Gamla Joe 7

Ok my mom goes to church every sunday since then, if she says something and me and my siblings don't listen, she says we're possesed by evil spirits and starts praying. I dont get it she never wants me to watch any tv like america's next top model or even cartoons she talks about watch preaching all the time how fun is life if you only watch preaching all the time? what do you think is wrong with her?

2006-12-03 06:35:06 · 23 answers · asked by Julia M 1

I'd say Quakers, as they were always vocally against slavery and instrumental to abolition. On the other hand, I find it perverse that black folks let the baptists take hold.

2006-12-03 06:34:51 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

tell me all you know about hanukkah (serius answers only plz) i need it for a school project... =)

2006-12-03 06:34:20 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:34:07 · 18 answers · asked by charmed_ones710 2

The squirrel was standing in front of a statue of the Virgin.

2006-12-03 06:34:00 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:33:51 · 5 answers · asked by Labatt113 4

2006-12-03 06:33:01 · 13 answers · asked by chuck 3

No, because it directly contradicts itself in numerous places and you can't hold two contrary opinions at the same time.

2006-12-03 06:31:55 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

Can anyone please explain the differences between the muslim concept of heaven and the christian concept of heaven?

2006-12-03 06:31:20 · 9 answers · asked by the hamburglar 4

...but without Ned's meekness?

2006-12-03 06:31:17 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-12-03 06:30:49 · 13 answers · asked by A fan 4

Also, what are the 3 main responsiblities of clergy?

2006-12-03 06:30:02 · 2 answers · asked by Connie R 1

2006-12-03 06:29:01 · 12 answers · asked by denw333 1

i.e. in man's image...

2006-12-03 06:27:46 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous