Freedom of Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ

One day, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْه was passing by that place where Umayyah bin Khalaf was torturing Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ. Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ scolded Umayyah Bin Khalaf and said: ‘Do you not fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ while hurting this poor person. How long will you continue this for?’ He replied: ‘Abu Bakr! You are the one who has spoiled him (i.e. turned him into a Muslim). You free him.’ Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘I have a slave who is healthier and stronger than Bilal. Give me Bilal and you take him.’ He said: ‘I accept.’ In return of some money and a slave, he bought Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ and freed him.

Status of Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ in the Quran

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ mentions this event in Para 30, Surah Al-Layl, verse no. 19-21:

وَ مَا لِاَحَدٍ عِنْدَهٗ مِنْ نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزٰۤىۙ(۱۹) اِلَّا ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْاَعْلٰىۚ(۲۰) وَ لَسَوْفَ یَرْضٰى۠(۲۱)

 (Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman) And no one has done a (worldly) favour to him, for which recompense may be given in return. He desires only the pleasure of his Lord, Who is Most High. And indeed, soon he will be very pleased.

It is written in Tafseer Khaza’in-ul-‘Irfan: When Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiqرَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ bought Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ at a high price and then freed him, the non-Muslims were surprised and asked: ‘Why did Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ do this?’ Perhaps, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ would have some sort of favour upon him due to which he bought him at an expensive price and then freed him. Upon this, this blessed verse was revealed and everyone was informed that this action of Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiqeen رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ was not a return for any favour, rather, it was to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ bought many slaves due to them embracing Islam and then freed them. (Khaza’in-ul-Irfan, pp. 1108; summarised)