Thread by @elg_dds

A thread on Bilal Ibn Rabah or Bilal al-Habashi, an Ethiopian who was one of the most trusted and loyal Sahabah (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Bilal was a lawyer who was known to have a beautiful voice, & was the first Muezzin who called the faithful to prayer.

Bilal was born in Mecca in 580 AD as a slave. His mother, Hamamah, was a former princess of Ethiopia who was captured & enslaved.

Bilal is described as “handsome and having an impressive stature, dark brown complexion with sparkling eyes, a fine nose and bright skin.

He was also gifted with a deep, melodious, resonant voice. He was endowed with great wisdom and a sense of dignity and self esteem"

Bilal was one of the earliest converts to Islam after listening to the prophet Muhammad's teachings.

When Bilal’s master found out he renounced idol worship he violently tortured Bilal.

Although the extent of torture was brutal, Bilal never renounced Islam continuously repeating the phrase “AHADUN AHAD, AHADUN AHAD” (God is one).

After such punishments, news of this slave reached some of Muhammad's companions who told Muhammad of the slave.

Muhammad then sent Abu Bakr to negotiate a deal to purchase Bilal and emancipate him from slavery.

Over the next decade, Bilal accompanied Muhammad on all his military expeditions. According to Islamic tradition, Bilal was a lawyer revered by Muslims for his majestically sonorous renditions of the Adhan.

Bilal was given the honor of carrying Muhammad's spear, which he used onward to point the direction of prayer.

After the Muslims captured Mecca, Bilal ascended to the top of the Kaaba to call the believers to prayer. It was the first time the Adhan was heard within Mecca.

Bilal was chosen as the first muezzin because of his deep, melodious, and resonant voice. It is said that Bilal died when he was 63 and was buried at Bab al-Saghir in Damascus, Syria.

We pay homage & respect to such an influential Ethiopian and Muslim.