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Bilal Ibn Rabah\u2019s acceptance of Islam is a powerful story, involving slavery, conversion, torture, and rescue.\u00a0 It touches on aspects of racism, is a lesson in pluralism, and teaches us that piety is the only way to measure of a person\u2019s worth. Bilal\u2019s story is also the story of the adhaan, or call to prayer, for Bilal was also Islam\u2019s first muaddhin[1]. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Across the globe, one of the most poignant symbols of Islam is the melodious call to prayer.Its sublime sound rings out across cities and meadows, on beaches, in fertile fields and in barren valleys.\u00a0 Once heard, the sound of the adhaan is never forgotten and many people have entered the religion of Islam simply from hearing this soulful sound. \u00a0Ad<\/em>thaan<\/em>, which means announcement is mentioned only once in the Quran but never the less, it plays an integral part in the life of a Muslim.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For those born into Islam it is often the first sound they hear.\u00a0 Immediately after birth, the father or any other important Muslim in the child\u2019s life holds the newborn and whispers the words of adhaan into his right ear.\u00a0 The time for prayer is announced five times per day, from lofty minarets or from watches and computers.\u00a0 When a Muslim hears the adhaan, preparation for prayer begins. Bilal, because of his beautiful voice had the honour of being the first man in the world to call the Adthaan<\/em> and call the worshippers to prayer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cO believers, when proclamation is made for prayer on the Day of Congregation, hasten to God\u2019s remembrance and leave business aside; that is better for you, if you did but know.\u201d\u00a0 (Quran 62:9)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n In the year 622 Prophet Muhammad, Bilal and most of the fledgling Muslim community migrated to Medina.\u00a0 It was here that Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, began the work of setting up the Muslim nation. Bilal was at his side whenever possible and as one commentator said, \u201cEvery event in Mohammad\u2019s life was an event in the life of Bilal\u201d[2].\u00a0 It is said that Bilal was so close to Prophet Muhammad he had the duty of waking him in the mornings.[3]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n According to authentic traditions Prophet Muhammad was concerned and anxious to find a way to summon the Muslims to prayer. He wanted something unique. It was here that Abdullah bin Zaid, one of the Companions, informed the Prophet about a dream that he had.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u2018There appeared to me in a dream a man who was wearing two green garments, in whose hand was a bell.\u00a0 I said, \u201cO slave of God, will you sell that bell?\u201d he said, \u201cWhat will you do with it?\u201d I said, \u201cWe will call the people to prayer with it.\u201d\u00a0 He said, \u201cShall I not show you something better than that?\u201d I said, \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 He said, \u201cSay, Allaahu akbar Allaah akbar \u2026\u201d[4]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n God is great! \u00a0God is great! \u00a0I testify that there is no true deity but God.\u00a0 I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.\u00a0 Come to prayer! \u00a0Come to prayer! \u00a0Come to salvation! Come to salvation! God is great! God is great! \u00a0There is no true deity but God.[5]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The Tradition continues.\u00a0 \u2018Prophet Muhammad listened to the description of the dream and said, \u201cThis is a true dream, (meaning a dream sent by God).\u00a0 Get Bilal and tell him what you have seen, teach him the words so that he can give the call, because he has a beautiful voice.\u201d \u00a0So I went to Bilal and told him my dream,\u00a0 so he gave the call to prayer.\u00a0 Umar ibn al-Khattab heard the call while still in his house; he rushed out, dragging his cloak behind him, saying, \u201cBy the One who sent you with the truth, O Messenger of God, I saw the same dream.\u201d\u00a0 Prophet Muhammad was pleased and said \u201cPraise be to God.\u201d<\/span><\/strong>\u2018[6]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In the decade after the migration Bilal accompanied Prophet Muhammad on all his military expeditions, and had the honour of carrying Prophet Muhammad\u2019s spear. He fought in the Battle of Badr, and in the aftermath he killed his former master, Umaya ibn Khalaf.\u00a0 Bilal was also present at the battle of Uhud and the battle of the Trench.[7]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Bilal\u2019s \u00a0life after his conversion to Islam contained many moments of great joy however his finest hour must have been in 630 BCE, on an occasion regarded as one of the most hallowed moments in Islamic history.\u00a0 After the Muslim forces had conquered Mecca, Bilal ascended to the top of the Kaba, the house of God, to call the believers to prayer.\u00a0 This was the first time the call to prayer was heard within Islam\u2019s holiest city.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n After the death of Prophet Muhammad, Bilal never felt the same again.\u00a0 A day after the Prophet\u2019s death, Bilal went to make the usual adhaan for morning prayer.\u00a0 While giving the adhaan he broke down and steams of tears began to roll freely down his cheeks.\u00a0 He managed to finish the rest of the adhaan in a low voice.\u00a0 After that, Bilal stopped calling the Adthaan<\/em> in Madina.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The memories of Madina were too hard for him to live with, and he left for another place.\u00a0 Later, upon his visit to Madina at the behest of the Prophet Muhammad\u2019s grandsons he agreed to give the Ad<\/em>thaan<\/em>.\u00a0 Old memories that lay deep down in his heart were revived and those who had experienced the golden days with Prophet Muhammad could not hold back their tears.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is believed that Bilal died in Syria between 638 and 642BCE. Imam al-Suyuti\u00a0in his\u00a0book \u2018Tarikh al-Khulafa\u2019\u00a0writes, \u201cHe (Bilal) died in Damascus when he was just over sixty years old.\u201d Others are of the opinion that he died in Medina.\u00a0 We can be sure that his eternal abode is Paradise for Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, called Bilal \u201ca man of paradise\u201d[8].<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Footnotes: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [1] The one who calls the believers to prayer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [2] H.A.L Craig.\u00a0 (http:\/\/www.alhamra.com\/Excerpts\/BilalExcerpt.htm)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [3] Barry Hoberman [4] Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, & Ibn Majah<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [5] English translation<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [6] Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, & Ibn Majah<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [7] H.A.L Craig.\u00a0 (http:\/\/www.alhamra.com\/Excerpts\/BilalExcerpt.htm)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [8] Saheeh Muslim<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ref. www.islamreligion.com \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bilal Ibn Rabah\u2019s acceptance of Islam is a powerful story, involving slavery, conversion, torture, and rescue.\u00a0 It touches on aspects of racism, is a lesson in pluralism,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1334,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prophet-mohammad"],"yoast_head":"\n
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(http:\/\/www.saudiaramcoworld.com\/issue\/198304\/the.first.muezzin.htm)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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