Stories
Bilal
One, One
3 min, Intro
Bilal ibn Rabah was an enslaved Abyssinian in Makkah. He accepted Islam, and was tortured for it. Once freed, he became the first mu'adhdhin, the one who calls to prayer. His story is Islam's answer to race and rank.
Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
The thread
Bilal, born enslaved in Makkah, is tortured on the burning sand and answers only: One. Freed, he becomes the voice that calls the community to prayer, and climbs onto the Ka'bah where he was once tortured. After the Prophet dies, it is reported, he can no longer bring himself to give the call in Madinah.
"One, One"
Bilal was born into slavery in Makkah, to Abyssinian parents. When he accepted Islam, his owner, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, punished him for it.
According to the early biographies, he was laid on the burning sand at midday, with a heavy rock on his chest, and told to deny Muhammad's God.
What did he say? Only this: "Ahad, Ahad": One, One. In the end, Abu Bakr bought his freedom.
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١
1 Say: “He is Allah, the One;
Under the rock, Bilal said only: One.
The first call to prayer
The man tortured for saying One became the voice that called Muslims to prayer. When the call to prayer was established in Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ chose Bilal for his voice.
Then came the conquest of Makkah. Bilal climbed onto the Ka'bah to call the prayer, where he had once been tortured.
The Qur'an's principle was lived out: the noblest of you in God's sight is the most mindful of Him, not the best born.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرࣲ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبࣱا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرࣰ ١٣
13 O people, We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most noble of you before Allah is the most righteous among you. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
In God's sight the noblest is the most God-conscious, not the best born.
Footsteps in Paradise
Once, the Prophet ﷺ asked Bilal a question. He had heard Bilal's footsteps ahead of him in Paradise. So what deed did Bilal hope most from?
Bilal's answer was a small one. He said: I never make wudu', by day or night, without praying after it what I am able to.
The story has a quiet ending. After the Prophet died, it is reported that Bilal could no longer bring himself to give the call to prayer in Madinah. He moved to Syria, where he died.
O Bilal, tell me of the deed you hope most from in Islam, for I heard the sound of your footsteps ahead of me in Paradise.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1149, Sahih Muslim 2458 Sahih In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
For Bilal, a small, steady habit outweighed his past.