Beloved Companions Series: Bilal Ibn Rabah

[KIWI MUSLIM]

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate


"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

Beloved Companions Series: Bilal Ibn Rabah

Amr Khaled

Translated by the http://www.daralislamlive.com team.


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Bilal becomes a Muslim

Bilal (Radeeya Allah ‘Anho)* embraced Islam in the first year of Muhammad’s prophecy at the age of 30. There was an age difference of ten years between him and the Prophet (P.B.U.H)* , as the Prophet received the message of Islam at the age of forty. Bilal was one of the first people in Makkah to embrace Islam.

Bilal had something valuable; he was the third person who became a Muslim in Makkah. This is a very important point, because he was a slave to a very cruel, disbelieving man from Quraish; Umaya Ibn Khalaf. This man lived and died a disbeliever, and Bilal wished to declare his religion openly although he was forbidden to do so. Even though he had to hide his beliefs from his cruel master, his declaration of faith was accepted. Bear in mind, that during the period of severe suffering in Makkah, no one openly declared their faith in Islam except seven people. Firstly the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), secondly Abu Bakr (R.A.) and the third person was Bilal Ibn Rabah (R.A.). Because he loved his religion so much, he couldn’t hide it, and so forsook his life for the sake of Allah.

Bilal stood in the middle of Makkah and testified, "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". He was among the Companions who were greatly harmed by the disbelievers because of his faith in Islam.

Umaya Ibn Khalaf used to take him to the desert and wait until the temperature reached forty or fifty degrees. He ordered his servants to undress Bilal, then cover him in an iron material, and place a heavy stone on his chest, which was so heavy that ten men couldn’t lift. They would leave him like that for hours.

They would then return to him, and by then Bilal would literally be melting. They would demand Bilal to reject his faith in Allah and Muhammad (P.B.U.H.); but Bilal’s endless response would be: "Only one, only one" (meaning only One God). He stayed in this situation for endless days and months. However, Bilal remained patient until Abu Bakr went to Umaya Ibn Khalaf and told him, "Why don’t you have mercy on this poor man?" Umaya replied, "You give mercy to him". Abu Bakr said, "Yes, I will buy him. How much will you sell him for?" A slave at that time was worth Deenars of silver. Since Bilal was in poor health and was beaten excessively, he was worth only one silver Deenar. The spiteful Umaya Ibn Khalaf said, "I will sell him for nine silver Deenars." Abu Bakr replied, "And I will buy him for that price." Umaya laughed and said, "You know Abu Bakr, if you had argued the price with me, I would have sold Bilal to you for one Deenar”. So Abu Bakr replied, "Umaya, if you had demanded one hundred Deenars, I would still have bought him!"

Brothers and sisters, spend wealth on people around you who are in need, be devoted and ready to sacrifice yourself. When you live solely for yourself and your children, you will live small and die small. But when you live for others, Allah will extend your life with each person you have helped.

If I asked women here, what is the state of your wardrobes? Filled with clothes? Do you wear them all? You'll find that you don’t wear half of them. Why? Because fashion changes, and because you’re going to lose weight next year, etc. This is a selfish and greedy act. Give to those who need; those who can benefit from your unwanted goods.

The Migration to Madinah

Bilal stayed with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) until the migration to Madinah (Al Hijrah), where they left Makkah to Madinah.

Something strange occurred in Madinah. The Prophet’s Mosque had been built, but people found it difficult to know the prayer times. How would they know when it is the time for prayer? One of the Muslims suggested ringing a bell, to signal that it is time for prayer. This idea was rejected, since the Christians use a bell to call members to church. Another Muslim suggested that they could raise a flag and walk with it to signal it was time to pray. But this idea was also rejected. A companion called ‘Abdullah Ibn Zayd (R.A.) came and said, "O Allah’s Prophet! This night I dreamt I saw a man selling bells, so I asked him if I could buy one. He replied, why do you need it? I said, so that people would know it was time to pray. The man replied, I can tell you something better than that. I asked him what it was. He said: to call for the prayer.”

O brothers and sisters! His dream was about the religion! Some of the youths’ dreams are to get a particular car, and that’s all they dream of!

While ‘Abdullah Ibn Zayd told them of his dream, ‘Omar Ibn Al-Khattab said, "I swear Allah’s messenger I saw exactly what he saw too!" Upon this, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, "Thanks be to Allah for this blessed vision. Tell Bilal to call for the prayer. He has a more beautiful voice than yours.”

Does Islam care about beauty, and how to make things look and sound beautiful? Is that our religion? Yes that's our religion! This is Islam.

So the call for the prayer heared, and Bilal became the first caller for the prayers in Islam, and the first caller for the prayer for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

Battles and the Return to Makkah

Bilal stayed with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and never missed a single battle with him. When he was going to the battle of Badr to face the disbelievers, imagine who was among them? Umaya Ibn Khalaf! Bilal had come face to face with him! What would you do to the one who had tortured you? When Bilal saw him he said, "Umaya Ibn Khalaf, the head of the disbelievers, I won’t survive if he survives." During the battle, Umaya Ibn Khalaf was killed.

When the Muslims returned to Makkah, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) returned the favour to Bilal. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, "Bilal, climb on the Ka‘bah’s back and call out for the prayer". It doesn’t end there. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) asked, "Where is the Ka‘bah’s key?” There were 10,000 people standing in front of the Ka‘bah and the space inside the Ka‘bah would not allow more than one person to pray next to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). Who will enter with Allah's Prophet?! Surely Abu Bakr or ‘Omar or ‘Othman? No, it’s a pious and loyal day, "Where's Bilal, come Bilal, pray with me inside the Ka‘bah”. No one had prayed in the Ka‘bah with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), except one person, Bilal Ibn Rabah. From then on, when ‘Omar met Bilal he used to say, "Bilal, Abu Bakr is your master, and you are our master." ‘Omar used to say this to Bilal! Look at what he learnt from the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

Once the Prophet asked Bilal, "Bilal, tell me the best deed you have done, as I heard your footsteps in Paradise." "I swear the most I’ve done is that whenever my ablution was nullified, I would perform ablution immediately, and I would always pray two Raka‘s after ablution.” Bilal replied. “That's it Bilal!” The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) exclaimed.

Brothers and sisters, do you want to hear your feet walking in Paradise? Don’t move except when you are pure and on ablution. How can you leave your house in the morning while you are not?

The Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) Death

Clearly, the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) final moments in this world revealed Bilal’s finest characteristics as he was so emotional and seemed to be the person who suffered the most.

The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) died on a Monday, Madinah has never witnessed such tears and unhappiness as that day. He died on ‘A’isha’s chest; see the tenderness of his wife? She left her home, not knowing what to say to the people. She opened the doors to the mosque and said, "Allah's messenger has died, Allah's messenger has died.”

The people in the mosque burst out in tears. Anas Ibn Malak said, "The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) first came to Madinah on a Monday, and everything on that day was filled with light. Now he died in Madinah on a Monday, and everything on this day was filed with darkness."

One of the Companions that were away from Madinah said, "When I returned I found all the doors closed, and heard weeping from inside the houses."

The first prayer after his death came, and Bilal ascended to call for the prayer saying, “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest”, "there is no God but Allah, there is no God but Allah". When he reached to, “I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah", the people in the mosque burst into tears and Bilal’s voice broke down, tears overcoming him. He couldn’t continue the call for prayer and descended the pulpit. When the next prayer came, Bilal ascended to call for the prayer and the same thing happened again.

O people, how can you latch onto other things and forget the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)?

Bilal stayed in this state for three days, wanting to call for the prayer but could not bring himself to do so. He went to Abu Bakr and said, "Abu Bakr, discharge me from being the caller for prayer." He requested this after ten years of calling for prayers. Abu Bakr wondered, “Why?” Bilal replied, "I can’t call anyone for the prayer after Allah's messenger. Every time I tried I failed". Abu Bakr again wondered, “Why?” Bilal said, “I can’t stay in Madinah after the Prophet’s death.”

Brothers and sisters, visit Madinah, visit the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), and send your salutations to him! Perform an Umrah* !

Abu Bakr said, “No I want you to stay with me”. Bilal said, "If you released me from slavery under Umaya for yourself then lock me up, and if you released me for Allah, then leave me to whom you released me for."

Imagine how lovely and kind this former slave was. Abu Bakr said, "I swear I didn’t buy you except for Allah’s sake, or spent my wealth except for Allah, or released you except for Allah, go Bilal, do what you wish."

Where do you think he went? He’s a soldier of Islam. Does it mean that as a result of the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) death, Bilal will stop everything and stay at home? No! He just can’t stand to stay in Madinah, because of the memories and the emotional ties.

Life After the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)

Bilal went to Palestine, where he joined the army which struggled to take back Palestine and Al Quds. ‘Omar Ibn Al-Khattab sent out the armies, and they defeated the enemies and won. Bilal prayed with the Companions in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

O Allah! Reward us with a prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque!

The Muslims sent for ‘Omar Ibn Al-Khattab to receive Palestine’s keys. He didn’t go in person to receive Egypt's keys, or Iraq's keys but he went to Palestine; see the significance of the country!

‘Omar met the armies and told them to gather in a wide open space, so they met on Golan Heights. ‘Omar asked, "Where's Bilal?" It had been years since they had last met, and the happiness of meeting each other was immense. "Bilal, call forthe prayer" Bilal said, "Ruler of the Believers, I don’t call anyone for the prayers after the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)." ‘Omar said, "Bilal, this is a victorious day, this is a day of dignity, a day which would make the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) pleased." So Bilal ascended Golan Heights and called: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest”, "there is no God but Allah, there is no God but Allah" until “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" was stated and the whole army burst into tears. They even heard ‘Omar’s weeping voice!

The rest of Bilal's story can be narrated in few lines. Bilal settled in Damascus in Syria. A few months before he died, he saw a vision; he saw the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) telling him, "O Bilal! What’s this unfriendliness, didn’t you miss visiting me Bilal?” As soon as he woke up, he hurried to Madinah. He stood in front of the Prophet’s grave (P.B.U.H.) and greeted him: "Peace be upon you Allah's messenger, peace be upon you Allah's beloved."

Let me tell you a real pleasant thing, no one salutes the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), without an Angel going to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and informing him of this greeting, and so the Prophet would reply to your greeting! The Prophet (P.B.U.H,) said, "Allah has angels walking on earth, if they find someone who is praying and greeting me, they carry the greeting to me, so I reply to your greeting."

Hassan and Hussain, the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) grand-children, came to Bilal and he hugged them and cried. They said, “We’ve missed your call for the prayer, Bilal” so he ascended to call for the prayer. Seven years had passed since he last did this. The whole of Madinah was captivated as they remembered this precious sound as they listened to the call for prayer.

The call to the prayer has such sweetness. By the way brothers and sisters, people living in America, Australia and Europe know this feeling! When you are deprived of it, you feel as if you are hearing what is closing you from your lord (Glory be to Allah).

People came out of their homes when they heard the call to prayer, moving towards the voice. Madinah cried like it hadn’t since the death of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).

Bilal died in Damascus in Syria, where his grave lies. He died at the age of sixty. While dying, his wife felt sad and cried out, “O disaster, O disaster”. Bilal replied, "Don’t say O! Disaster, say O! Joy, O! Joy, for tomorrow I meet the beloved Muhammad and his Companions."

Conclusion

Let's remember the details of Bilal’s life:

He is the first caller of the prayers for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
He embraced Islam at the age of 30.
He was among the first Muslims.
Abu Bakr released him from slavery.
He remained calling the prayers for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) for ten years.
He was the only one who prayed in the Ka‘bah with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
He died in Damascus 17 A.H *. at the age of 60.
He said the well known quote on his death bed, "O! Joy, tomorrow I meet the beloved Muhammad and his Companions."
Reflection

A question to every one: If we were with the Companions, would we be like them or not?

I don’t know the answer, but what I am certain of, is that whoever complies with Allah’s orders, and complies with, and preserves the Prophet’s Sunnah, certainly Allah will reward him. Tell yourself, I want to have the same situation as the Companions, and to do as they did! Perhaps you will take the same reward.

I wish to tell you a little message, brothers and sisters. Life is short and its days are countable. That's not a call to detach ourselves from life. No, we want to succeed in life, and want people living well with skills and knowledge of languages, excelling in their practical life, and to have money; many of the Companions were rich. The ten who have been promised Paradise, seven of them were wealthy. But we don’t want life to be in our hearts; we want the common thing in our hearts to be our longing to enter Paradise, and to enjoy life without disobeying Allah's orders.

Talking about emotions, in the battle of Khaybar, the women wanted to go with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and he accepted, but he found a young slave-girl among the women. So he wondered what made her come out. He called her and asked her, "Would you like to ride behind me?" So she rode behind the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and each time she came to get down the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) would say to her, "Give me your hand” to help her descend without falling and harming herself.

At the end of the battle, while distributing the booty, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was searching for whom? For the young girl! He saw her and took out a necklace, and she stretched out her hands to take it. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, "No I will be the one who will put it on you." She later said, "I swear, I have never taken it off, since the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) put it on, and I have ordered that it is to be buried with me until I meet the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) on the Day of Judgment, so I may tell him this is the necklace O Allah's messenger”. See how kind the Prophet was?

If you want to die as Bilal, to be able to say those words, "O! Joy!" Who can say it unless someone who lived obedient to Allah? Bilal lived for sixty years, thirty of them for Islam. So what will be our fate? A good ending or bad one?

The best scene to end this lesson on is to imagine Bilal calling the prayer on Golan Heights, with ‘Omar standing alongside the army. Will we see this scene again? We hope so!


Endnotes
* Radeeya Allah ‘Anho’, R.A. is the abbreviation, literally means ‘May Allah be pleased with him’.
* P.B.U.H. is the abbreviation of ‘Peace be upon him’, referring to the Prophet.
* Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage which is optional and can be performed at any time.
* A.H. is the abbreviation of ‘After Hijrah’.



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Translated by the http://www.daralislamlive.com team.

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"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"



Whoever desires a reward in this life of the world, then with Allâh (Alone and none else) is the reward of this worldly life and of the Hereafter. And Allâh is Ever All­Hearer, All­Seer. (An-Nisa 4:134)


Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah's Sight than the smell of musk." (See Hadith No. 128, Vol. 3). [Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 584]