The following is a homework assignment for Grade 7.
Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) was an Ethiopian slave. He belonged to some people from the tribe of Banu Jumah. He was known for his hard work and loyalty to his master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, a leader of his tribe. Bilal was one of the very early converts to Islam. Hew as tortured mercilessly by his master until Abu Bakr (r.a) bought his freedom.
When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) began preaching Islam, Bilal so deeply moved by the wonderful character of the Prophet (s.a.w) and the remarkable teachings of Islam - universal human equality, fairness, kindness, submission to the God - Creator alone, that Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) decided to embrace this new religion. In fact, he was the first slave in Makkah to become Muslim.
His master Umayyah was a cruel man who hated Islam and subjected Bilal to different kinds of torture to make him give up the faith. A slave was to obey the religion of his master. He did not have permission to think for himself. Bilal however remained steadfast in his belief in Allah, the One. Umayyah would order his men to take him to the desert at the hottest times of the day and throw him on the scorching sand. He would also order them to put a heavy, burning rocks on his chest to crush his ribs and melt his skin. Still Bilal (r.a) did not reject his belief in Allah. Every time he felt pain, he could call out, "Ahad, Ahad" which means Allah is One. Sometimes, Umayyah would also put a rope around his neck and the street boys would drag him through the alleyways and even across the hillocks of Makkah. Bilal (r.a) endured this suffering patiently as a test of faith. His convictions proved unshakable. Abu Bakr (r.a) could not bear the sight of him being tortured to this extent and finally bought his freedom.
Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) emigrated to Madina where he immediately received a warm welcome from
Sa'd bin Khaithmah (r.a). Afterwards he lived in the house of Abu Bakr (r.a). It was Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) who was the first companion to call adhan in Islam. The Prophet (s.a.w) appointed him his mua'dh-dhin.
Bilal (r.a) became one of the closet companions to the Prophet (s.a.w) who took part in all the military campaigns. Once in the Battle of Badr, he came face to face with his former cruel master Umayyah ibn Khalaf and challenged him. They fought fiercely, and finally Bilal overpowered him. He remained with Abu Bakr (r.a) until the latter's death. Then he took part in the campaigns to bring Islam to Syria. He died of plague, at the age of 60+ years old.
Once Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) said to Abu Bakr, "If you have bought me for your own sake,then keep me for your service; but if you have bought me for the sake of Allah, then allow me the freedom to work in the cause of Allah." Bilal made this request after the Prophet's death (s.a.w). He wished to go forth to bring Islam to Syria, but Abu Bakr implored him not leave Madinah, as Abu Bakr was old and the Islamic state was in its infancy, he needed Bilal's help. So Bilal (r.a) remained in Madinah until Abu Bakr (r.a) died. Afterwards, he requested Omar (r.a) to let him go. In the beginning, Omar (r.a) was reluctant to give him permission because he considered Bilal's services to the Muslim state indispensable. So Bilal suggested another companion as his successor. Omar (r.a) accepted this and allowed him to go.
Omar (r.a) used to say about Bilal, "Abu Bakr is our master and he freed our master."
Questions
A. Fill in the blanks:
1. Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) was an ____________ slave.
2. His master was ______________.
3. ______________ bought him for the sake of Allah and freed him.
4. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) appointed Bilal to _______________.
When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) began preaching Islam, Bilal so deeply moved by the wonderful character of the Prophet (s.a.w) and the remarkable teachings of Islam - universal human equality, fairness, kindness, submission to the God - Creator alone, that Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) decided to embrace this new religion. In fact, he was the first slave in Makkah to become Muslim.
His master Umayyah was a cruel man who hated Islam and subjected Bilal to different kinds of torture to make him give up the faith. A slave was to obey the religion of his master. He did not have permission to think for himself. Bilal however remained steadfast in his belief in Allah, the One. Umayyah would order his men to take him to the desert at the hottest times of the day and throw him on the scorching sand. He would also order them to put a heavy, burning rocks on his chest to crush his ribs and melt his skin. Still Bilal (r.a) did not reject his belief in Allah. Every time he felt pain, he could call out, "Ahad, Ahad" which means Allah is One. Sometimes, Umayyah would also put a rope around his neck and the street boys would drag him through the alleyways and even across the hillocks of Makkah. Bilal (r.a) endured this suffering patiently as a test of faith. His convictions proved unshakable. Abu Bakr (r.a) could not bear the sight of him being tortured to this extent and finally bought his freedom.
Sa'd bin Khaithmah (r.a). Afterwards he lived in the house of Abu Bakr (r.a). It was Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) who was the first companion to call adhan in Islam. The Prophet (s.a.w) appointed him his mua'dh-dhin.
Bilal (r.a) became one of the closet companions to the Prophet (s.a.w) who took part in all the military campaigns. Once in the Battle of Badr, he came face to face with his former cruel master Umayyah ibn Khalaf and challenged him. They fought fiercely, and finally Bilal overpowered him. He remained with Abu Bakr (r.a) until the latter's death. Then he took part in the campaigns to bring Islam to Syria. He died of plague, at the age of 60+ years old.
Omar (r.a) used to say about Bilal, "Abu Bakr is our master and he freed our master."
Questions
A. Fill in the blanks:
1. Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) was an ____________ slave.
2. His master was ______________.
3. ______________ bought him for the sake of Allah and freed him.
4. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) appointed Bilal to _______________.
I like these story
ReplyDeleteWhile reading about the companions we cannot help but be moved by their lives. How we long to have their awe and reverence for Allah! How we long to spend the same hours in
ReplyDeleteworship as they! How we long to be as brave as they were in the face of danger! How we long to be as
patient as they were under torture!
Narrated `Abd Allah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The best people are
those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the
latter. Then there will come some people who will bear witness before taking oaths, and take oaths
before bearing witness." (Bukhaarii)
What I love about Bilal (r.a) is that long before he received fame as a mu'adhin, he was only a slave who looked after herds of sheep and camels. He did not even have a handful of dates to his name. In our society, there would have been no place for such indigent and destitute worker. Do we honestly give a second-thought to car mechanics? To janitors in public restrooms? What sort of recognition do they receive? The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) proved that every human being is valuable - not because of the colour of his skin, his clothes or the size of his bank account. Every person who seeks truthfulness, certainty, purity, and self-sacrifice is valuable.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to Bilal (r.a). No noble roots, not even an Arab – a person of colour. What future could he possibly have with no fancy education and less than minimum wage salary? He didn’t have a lot of options in life. All he had was an open mind. He listened to the discussions of his master and his guests about their friend Muhammad (s.a.w) who has started to claim that he was a Prophet of Allah. They had no problems with Muhammad (s.a.w) before; in fact they said he was honest and noble. But suddenly, they felt so much rage, anxiety and malice towards him. Was he really speaking against the idols? That Allah has no divine partnership with any statue, animal or human being. Umayyah ibn Khalaf was amazed and upset with the Qur’an. Bilal (r.a) decided that he wanted to hear the truth for himself.
What I love about Bilal (r.a) is that – though a less than ordinary man ... he had an extraordinary mind. His body was enslaved but his thoughts were certainly free. He didn’t pity his poverty. He was not discouraged by his bullies from being inquisitive. When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) came with fascinating answers regarding God, hope, happiness, life after death, good and evil, equality, Qur’an, Allah’s plan, Allah’s love –his heart was attentive. Many of us are too busy with just surviving to think about these things. As kids, our lives are wrapped around assignment deadlines and TV timetables. As adults, the ongoing work and family responsibilities are so exhaustive that we’d be happy to just find an extra 5 minutes to doze off. Yet it is important that we rise above our needs and ask ourselves the reason for our creation. Why is Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) the greatest man who ever lived? How did his message (Qur’an) change the course of human history?
When Bilal (r.a) embraced the answers to the above questions, he became the most commemorated and celebrated man in Muslim history. His title, muadhin, remains the most contested Islamic position in every Muslim neighbourhood around the globe. Parents are proud to name their son after this ex-slave.
Bilal (r.a) also gives me strength to overcome physical pain. I think the torture he endured is tantamount to any chronic suffering. Severe pain of any time, even migraine or toothache is no picnic. Bilal (r.a) had no pain-killers or other treatments to bring relief. The only thing which helped him reduce the unpleasant sensation and increased his pain tolerance was the thought of Allah. To cope with the physical punishments in the desert, he focused on nothing but ultimately that his body is in Allah’s control. By calling upon Allah’s Name, Ahad Ahad – he took charge of his body from the people who were hurting him. Once you give yourself to Allah, your muscles can relax, go limp and slacken. Your body doesn’t flail nor your fists clench. In your mind, you let go of everyone/everything. You hold yourself close to Allah. You undertand that pain is a test that is meant to prove the sincerity of our faith and purity of character. It is meant to show us who we really are. No one can put up a facade under pressure. Eventually every caves under pain. When it comes down to it, when our body hurt, our brain convinces us to do whatever it takes to survive. It is the brain’s way of exposing what we are really made of.
ReplyDeleteBilal (r.a) was made of unshakable belief in Allah. In excruciating agony, he only called out to Allah. He spoke nothing except of Allah’s Name. Just like a small child pleads his mother to pick him up. Bilal cried out only to Allah until the beating stopped. He didn’t even utter a single word of contempt towards the people who were punishing him. Any person in his place would be fed up with the thrashing and lashing. Instead, Bilal (r.a) convinced his punishers that they can beat him all day, every day but this will not legitimize their idols. His pain will not add to their divinity.
Whenever I read about Bilal (r.a), my whole body is filled with cooling, luminous mist that dissolves all negative sensations. It is possible to be a great person, to feel like a million dollars. It is possible to overcome pain with sabr, duaa and dhikr.