In the Name of Allāh.

One of the fundamental teachings of Islām is unity and fairness to people. Allāh created us as males and females and made us into tribes and nations with different races and colours. Islām gives great respect for human equality, anti-racism and classlessness. No wonder the first Muazzin (caller to prayer) in Islām, chosen by the Prophet (ﷺ) himself was the son of a black woman named Bilāl Ibn Rabah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu).

Bilāl was the first African (from Ethiopia) to accept Islām ensuing his full conviction about what he heard of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his teachings. Bilāl rose to the position of eminence in the record of Islām. Undoubtedly, when Allāh loves someone, He makes him among the best through Islām and its understanding. Bilal was bestowed with a symphonic voice, great wisdom, a sense of dignity and self-respect.

He was once a slave in the house of Umayyah Ibn Khalaf (a major antagonist of Islām and the Prophet [ﷺ]). As a slave in pre-Islāmic society, he was treated no better than any piece of an asset since the owner had the right over him. After accepting Islām, his master used all sorts of torture to make him change his mind. He threw Bilāl naked under the boiling sun of the desert, put a heavy rock on his chest, and persuaded him to renounce his newfound way (i.e. Islām). However, our great hero didn’t change his mind. He stood firm upon the veracity. He was eventually sold to Abu Bakr (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu), who was fond of buying Muslim slaves to set them free. Bilāl got freedom and became eminent among others.

I beseech Allāh to be Especially Merciful to Bilāl Ibn Rabah. (Aameen)