Bilal b. Rabah

Priority: c, Quality: b
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Bilal b. Rabah
The grave of Bilal al-Habashi, Bab al-Saghir Cemetery, Damascus
The grave of Bilal al-Habashi, Bab al-Saghir Cemetery, Damascus
Personal Information
TeknonymAbu 'Abd Allah
LineageBanu Jumah
BirthThree years after 'Am al-Fil/573 CE
Muhajir/AnsarMuhajir
Place(s) of ResidenceMecca, Medina, Syria
Death/Martyrdom20/640-1
Burial PlaceBab al-Saghir Cemetery, Damascus
Religious Information
Presence at ghazwasAll ghazwas
Migration toMedina
Known forThe Prophet's (s) mu'adhdhin


Bilāl b. Rabāḥ (Arabic:بلال بن رباح) known as Bilāl al-Ḥabashī (Arabic:بلال الحبشی) was a companion of the Prophet (s) and the one who was assigned to perform Adhan (call to prayer) in the time of the Prophet (s). Bilal was among the first persons who converted to Islam. He was in charge of the bayt al-mal (treasury) in the time of the Prophet (s) and accompanied him in all battlefields. Bilal lived for a few years after the Prophet (s) taking no orders to call for prayer in the meanwhile, save for few cases. Based on the famous report, he was buried in Bab al-Saghir cemetery, Damascus.

Teknonym

Bilal's family were originally from Nubia in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.[1] Bilal's father was among the captives of Abyssinia[2] and he himself was born in a slave family of Banu Jumah[3] (or Sarah) tribe which resided in Mecca. Some believe that he was born three years after the Year of the Elephant.[4] He was also regarded as Ibn Hamama for his mother was named Hamama. Abu 'Abd Allah was his famous teknonym, and he had other teknonyms as well. He was also regarded as Habashi, Qurashi, and Taymi, according to his origin.

Physical Attributes

Bilal was described as to be tall and slim, with a rather dark skin color, a bent back, long gray hair and a delicate face.[5]

Marriage and Children

There are different accounts of Bilal's marriage. On one account, al-Baladhuri refers to his marriage with a girl from Banu Zuhra, and on another account, he refers to his marriage with a girl from Banu Kinana.[6] It is also said that Bilal decided to get married in a trip to Yemen together with his brother. When he proposed for marriage, he introduced himself as follows: "I, Bilal, and this man, my brother, were both servants from Abyssinia. We were misguided, and God guided us [to the right path]. We were slaves and God emancipated us. If you let us marry your daughters, then thanks to God, and if you do not, then God is the greatest". Before making their final decision, the family of the girls went to the Prophet (s) and asked for his view. The Prophet (s) recommended Bilal to them three times and said, "Who do you want better than him; he is an inhabitant of the Heaven".[7]

Whereas some authors maintain that Bilal did not have any children,[8] al-Sakhawi refers to his son, 'Umar, as a transmitter of hadiths from him.[9] Ibn al-Athir mentions a person called Halal b. 'Abd al-Rahman who was from the progeny of Bilal.[10]

Early Conversion to Islam

He was among the first persons to convert to Islam, and despite bearing excruciating tortures of Meccan idolaters, Umayya b. Khalaf in particular, he did not deny his beliefs.

Release from Slavery

After months of bearing torture and agony, Bilal was bought and released from slavery. Some believe he was released by Abu Bakr, however, it is not historically certain. Abu Ja'far Iskafi, the master of Ibn Abi l-Hadid, has narrated from al-Waqidi, Ibn Ishaq, and others that the Prophet (s) has released Bilal.[11] Likewise, al-Shaykh al-Tusi[12] and Ibn Shahr Ashub[13] perceive him to be released by the Prophet (s), and what is narrated from the Prophet (s) that "I would buy and release Bilal, if I could afford it",[14] does not correspond to historical facts, since lady Khadija (a) had supplied the Prophet (s) with all her wealth to be expended for the sake of God. Furthermore, Abu Bakr was not wealthy enough to be able to buy and release tortured slaves like Bilal.[15]

Close Companion of the Prophet (s)

After his release, Bilal joined the Muslims community. He became the first Muslim to perform Adhan (call to prayer) and accompanied the Prophet (s) in his traveling and residency.[16] He was counted among the "Nujaba" (noble community) and close companions of the Prophet (s).[17] Bilal was in charge of the bayt al-mal (treasury) in the time of the Prophet (s)[18] and accompanied him in all battlefields.[19] In the Battle of Badr, 'Umayya b. Khalaf and his son were killed by Muslims at his request,[20] and according to some accounts, Bilal himself, killed 'Umayya.[21]

The Holy Prophet (s) instituted the bond of brotherhood between Bilal and 'Abd Allah b. 'Abd al-Rahman Khath'ami,[22] and according to Ibn Hisham's (d. 218/833-4) statement, up to Bilal's time, Habasha and Khath'am had the same category in the treasury.[23] On the other hand, some have claimed his bond of brotherhood with 'Ubayda b. Harith[24] or Abu 'Ubayda al-Jarrah.[25] However, this cannot be true, considering Bilal and these two to have been from Muhajirun, while the bond of brotherhood would be held between the Muhajirun (the Emigrants) and the Helpers (Ansar).

Call to Prayer

In the Time of the Prophet (s)

Bilal was the first Muslim appointed to perform Adhan (call to prayer). It is reported that he would mispronounce "sh" as "s", accordingly which the Prophet (s) has said "his "s" is considered as "sh" by God".[26] The day on which Mecca was conquered, following the order of the Prophet (s), Bilal went on Ka'ba and called for prayer which made the pagans of Mecca really disappointed.[27]

After the Prophet (s)

After the demise of the Prophet (s), Bilal took no orders to perform Adhan except on rare occasions.[28] One of such occasions was when Fatima (a) asked him so. However, he left his call unfinished, because it reminded Fatima (a) of all the sufferings she had after her father's (s) demise, and that she couldn't bear the distress.[29]

Next was the time when he came to Medina to make pilgrimage to the tomb of the Prophet (s) and al-Hasanayn (a) wanted him to call for prayer; a call which appeared very inspiring and impressed the people of Medina profoundly.[30]

The last occasion was by the time the Second Caliph had traveled from Medina to Damascus (in 17/638-9, as al-Tabari has recorded) and in a land called Jabiya, at Muslims' request, he asked Bilal to call for prayer. He accepted and people wept bitterly by his Adhan, recalling the time of the Prophet (s).[31]

Most sources have noted realizing the honor of Jihad and accompanying the Mujahidun (soldiers) as the cause of Bilal's emigration from Medina to Damascus and not call to prayer anymore after the demise of the Prophet (s), and they believe his emigration to had been at the time of the caliphate of Abu Bakr or 'Umar b. al-Khattab, while there is no reports of his participation in any war or conquest.[32] In addition, it could be concluded from some reports that his emigration to Damascus was as an objection to some events that happened after the demise of the Prophet (s).

Migration to Syria

Bilal migrated to Syria during the caliphate of Abu Bakr,[33] and on other accounts, during the caliphate of 'Umar b. Khattab.[34] On most sources, he migrated in order to do the jihad and join the mujahids. However, there is no mention of his presence in battles and conquests of Muslims.

Refusal to Pledge Allegiance with the First Caliph

On some sources, after the demise of the Prophet (s), Bilal refused to pledge his allegiance to the First Caliph. Thus, at the command of 'Umar b. Khattab, he left Medina and went to Syria.[35]

Narrator of the Prophet's (s) Hadiths

Bilal was also a narrator of hadith,[36] from whom a community of the companions and Tabi'un has narrated;[37] for instance, he has narrated a long hadith from the Prophet (s) regarding the excellence of Adhan.

Virtues

Many hadiths are narrated from the Prophet (s) regarding the virtues of Bilal, such as; "Bilal was among the early believers in Islam",[38] "he is the chief of all those who call for prayer",[39] "the garden is eager for three persons; Ali (a), 'Ammar, and Bilal",[40] "three black persons are the chiefs of the garden; Luqman the Wise, Najashi (the king of Abyssinia in the time Prophet (s)), and Bilal",[41] and also a prayer is narrated from the Prophet (s) for him helping lady Fatima (a) with the house chores.[42]

Likewise, Imam Ali (a) has counted him among the early believers in Islam[43] and acclaimed his purity and self-edification.[44] Imam al-Sajjad (a) has recounted his merits and his arguments over the virtues of the Commander of the Faithful (a) with the opponents.[45] Imam al-Sadiq (a) has marked him as "the righteous servant (of Allah)[46], and "a lover of Ahl al-Bayt (a)".[47]

The exegetes of the Qur'an have considered several verses to be revealed regarding the virtues of Bilal and his companions; Qur'an 4:69,[48] Qur'an 6:52,[49] Qur'an 16:110,[50] Qur'an 18:28,[51] and Qur'an 49:11 and 12.[52]

Death

Most history sources have recorded his death in 20/640-1 in Damascus,[53] while 17/638-9, 18/639-40, and 21/641-2 are mentioned as well.[54] Some sources have specified plague as the cause for his death.[55]

Based on the famous report, he is buried in Bab al-Saghir cemetery, Damascus.[56] Some believe that his grave is in Bab Kaysan, Dariya, or Bab al-Arba'in, Halab,[57] but Mazzi speculates that the one who is buried in Halab is Bilal's brother.[58] He was more than sixty years old when he died. Some sources have reported his age at death to be sixty three, sixty four or seventy.[59]

See Also

Notes

  1. Ṣafdī al-Wāfī, vol. 21, p. 114.
  2. Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil, vol. 1, p. 66.
  3. Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 505; Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 232.
  4. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 238; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 179; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 475.
  5. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 238-239; Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 88; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 180.
  6. Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 1, p. 189.
  7. Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 571.
  8. Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 431; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 244.
  9. Sakhāwī, al-Tuḥfat al-laṭīfa, p. 21.
  10. Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh, vol. 10, p. 630.
  11. Ibn Abī l-Ḥadīd, Sharḥ Nahj al-balagha, vol. 13, p. 273; Shūshtarī, Qāmūs al-rijāl, vol. 2, p. 393.
  12. Ṭūsī, al-Rijāl, p. 8.
  13. Ibn Shahrāshūb, Manāqib, vol. 1, p. 171.
  14. Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 181; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 243; Dhahabī, Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ, vol. 1, p. 352.
  15. ʿĀmilī, al-Ṣaḥīḥ min sīrat al-nabīyy al-aʿẓam, vol. 2, p. 36-38; 277-283; Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 211; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 181; Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil, vol. 2, p. 66-67; Dhahabī, Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ, vol. 1, p. 352.
  16. Ibn Isḥāq, al-Sīyar, p. 299; Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 2, p. 136-137, 177-179, vol. 3, p. 234; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 2, p. 66-67.
  17. Ibn Ḥanbal, Musnad, vol. 1, p. 148; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 452.
  18. Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 243.
  19. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 239; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 178; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 433.
  20. Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 531; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 452-453.
  21. Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 182; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 243.
  22. Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 355.
  23. Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, vol. 1, p. 356; Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 88.
  24. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 51; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 178.
  25. Nawawī, Tahdhīb al-asmā, chapter 1, part 1, p. 136; Ibn Ḥajar, al-Iṣāba, vol. 1, p. 326.
  26. Qummī, Muntahā l-āmāl, p. 292.
  27. Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 5, p. 136; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 466; Rāwandī, al-Kharāʾij wa l-jarāʾiḥ, vol. 1, p. 97-98, 163-164.
  28. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 236-237; Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 88; Ṣadūq, Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh, vol. 1, p. 184; Mufīd, al-Ikhtiṣāṣ, p. 73.
  29. Ṣadūq, Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh, vol. 1, p. 194.
  30. Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 244-245; Nawawī, Tahdhīb al-asmā, chapter 1, part 1, p. 136; Mizzī, Tahdhīb al-kamāl, vol. 4, p. 289.
  31. Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 88; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 4, p. 65-66; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 470-471.
  32. Amīn, Aʿyān al-Shīʿa, vol. 3, p. 605.
  33. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 236-237; Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 88; Abū Naʿīm, Ḥilyat al-awlīyā', vol. 1, p. 150-151; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 181.
  34. Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 180-181; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 467; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 244.
  35. Qummī, Safīnat al-biḥār, vol. 1, p. 389.
  36. Ṣadūq, Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh, vol. 1, p. 189-194; Fattāl al-Nayshābūrī, Rawḍat al-wāʿiẓīn, vol. 2, p. 343-345.
  37. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 7, p. 509; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 180; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 429, 435; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 244; Nawawī, Tahdhīb al-asmā, chapter 1, part 1, p. 136-137; Mizzī, Tahdhīb al-kamāl, vol. 4, p. 288-289.
  38. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 232; Abū Naʿīm, Ḥilyat al-awlīyā, vol. 1, p. 149.
  39. Abū Naʿīm, Ḥilyat al-awlīyā, vol. 1, p. 147; Dhahabī, Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ, vol. 1, p. 355.
  40. Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol.10, p. 451; Ṣafdī, al-Wāfī, vol. 21, p. 276.
  41. Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 462.
  42. Warrām, Tanbīh al-khawāṭir, vol. 2, p. 230.
  43. Ṣadūq, al-Khiṣāl, vol. 1, p. 312; Fattāl al-Nayshābūrī, Rawḍat al-wāʿiẓīn, vol. 2, p. 37.
  44. Ibn Fahd Ḥillī, ʿUddat al-dāʿī, p. 27.
  45. Tafsīr-i Imām al-ʿAskarī (a), pp. 621-623.
  46. Kashshī, Ikhtīyār maʿrifat al-rijāl, p. 39.
  47. al-Mufīd, al-Ikhtiṣāṣ, p. 73.
  48. Ibn Shahrāshūb, al-Manāqib, vol. 3, p. 87.
  49. Ṭūsī, al-Tibyān, vol. 4, p. 144; Zamakhsharī, Tafsīr al-kashshāf, vol. 2, p. 27; Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 3, p. 387-388; Abū l-Futūḥ al-Rāzī, Rawḍ al-Jinān wa Rawḥ al-Janān, vol. 7, p. 149.
  50. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 248; Ṭūsī, al-Tibyān, vol. 6, p. 431.
  51. Ṣafdī, al-Wāfī, vol. 10, p. 276.
  52. Zamakhsharī, Tafsīr al-kashshāf, vol. 4, p. 370; Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 5, p. 136; Abū l-Futūḥ al-Rāzī, Rawḍ al-Jinān wa Rawḥ al-Janān, vol. 10, p. 253; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 466.
  53. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 238; Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 88; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 4, p. 112; Khaṭīb Baghdādī, Tārīkh-i Baghdād, vol. 1, p. 184.
  54. Ṭūsī, al-Rijāl, p. 8; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 179; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 433, 476-479; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 244.
  55. Ṭūsī, al-Rijāl, p. 8; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 476; Mizzī, Tahdhīb al-kamāl, vol. 4, p. 290; Ibn Ḥajar, al-Iṣāba, vol. 1, p. 327.
  56. Ṭūsī, al-Rijāl, p. 9; Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 3, p. 238; Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 179; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 433, 476-479.
  57. Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 10, p. 480; Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 1, p. 244; Nawawī, Tahdhīb al-asmā, chapter 1, part 1, p. 137; Dhahabī, Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ, vol. 1, p. 359-360.
  58. Mizzī, Tahdhīb al-kamāl, vol. 4, p. 291.
  59. Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, al-Istīʿāb, vol. 1, p. 179; Nawawī, Tahdhīb al-asmā, chapter 1, part 1, p. 137; Mizzī, Tahdhīb al-kamāl, vol. 4, p. 290.

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