the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمsaid, ‘Bilal is a good person and the leader of those who give Azaan.’ (Mu’jam Kabeer, vol. 5, p. 209, Hadees: 5119)

*   He is classed amongst those fortunate people who accepted Islam at an early stage. (Sifa-tul-Safwa, vol. 1, p. 227)

*   Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would worship in solitude, he was a man of virtue and generosity, and he was the slave of the leader of the believers, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.

*   Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was persecuted greatly because of having accepted Islam.

*   He was the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم treasurer. He loved the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and would take the lead in performing good deeds. He had utmost reliance and belief in Allah Almighty. (Hiya-tul-Awliya, Bilal Bin Rabah, vol. 1, p. 199)

*   He was sincere in his belief in Islam and had a pure heart.

*   When the heat would intensify in the afternoon, Umayyah Bin Khalaf would bring him out, lay him on his back on the sandy grounds of Makkah, call for a boulder and place it on his chest. Despite being a victim of this tremendous suffering, he would proclaim, ‘اَحَدۡ’, ‘اَحَدۡ’, meaning ‘Allah is one’, ‘Allah is one.’ (Hilya-tul-Awliya, Bilal Bin Rabah, vol. 1, p. 200)

*   He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ passed away in 20 A.H.

(Ibn-e-‘Asakir, Bilal Bin Rabah, vol. 10, p. 445, Raqm: 974)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ embodied patience and loyalty, and he was a true reflection of Islam. He loved Islam, and he underwent troubles and was even willing to give up his life for the sake of Islam. Let us listen to another incident in which he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ illustrated the conviction in his belief.