repented from his previous sins and associated himself with the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami. He adorned his head with the ‘Imamah, kept hair according to the Sunnah, and adorned his face with a beard.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! We were listening to the accounts of Sayyiduna Bilal’s رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ devotion to the Prophet. After accepting Islam and being freed from slavery, the great devotee, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, spent his blessed life in the service of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Undoubtedly, when a true devotee is deprived of seeing his beloved, he finds no peace and becomes restless to see his beloved. It is for this reason that when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم left this physical world, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was grief-stricken and he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would roam the streets of Madina saying: ‘O people! If you have seen the Beloved Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم anywhere, then show me also or tell me where I can find him.’ Thus, due to this grief, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ migrated from Madina to Syria.

Invitation from the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

After migrating from Madina, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ settled in the area of Syria known as ‘Daarayyaa’. One night, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was blessed with the vision of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in his dream, who said: ‘O Bilal! Why this distance? Has the time not come for you to visit me in Madina?’ The great devotee, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ woke up in a state of grief and fear, mounted his animal and set off in the direction of Madina.

When he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ entered the fragrant and illuminating atmosphere of Madina, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ restlessly presented himself at the blessed shrine of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Tears began to flow from his eyes and he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ began to rub his face on the blessed soil of the blessed shrine. The two fragrant flowers of the Prophetic garden, Sayyiduna Imam Hasan and Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما arrived there and Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ embraced both of them and showered them with love. They both said: ‘O Bilal! We desire to hear the same Azaan that you would give in the morning