Beloved Companions Series:
Bilal Ibn Rabah
(part 2 of 2)
Amr Khaled
www.daralislaamlive.com
Those who didnt read part 1 , read from
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveIslam_LiveIslam/message/233
Continued ....
* The Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) Death
Clearly, the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) final moments in this world revealed Bilals
finest characteristics as he was so emotional and seemed to be the person who
suffered the most.
The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) died on a Monday, Madinah has never witnessed such tears
and unhappiness as that day. He died on Aisha chest; see the tenderness of his
wife? She left her home, not knowing what to say to the people. She opened the
doors to the mosque and said, "Allah messenger has died, Allah messenger has
died.”
The people in the mosque burst out in tears. Anas Ibn Malak said, "The Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) first came to Madinah on a Monday, and everything on that day was
filled with light. Now he died in Madinah on a Monday, and everything on this
day was filed with darkness."
One of the Companions that were away from Madinah said, "When I returned I
found all the doors closed, and heard weeping from inside the houses."
The first prayer after his death came, and Bilal ascended to call for the
prayer saying, “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest”, "there is no God
but Allah, there is no God but Allah". When he reached to, “I witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah", the people in the mosque burst into tears
and Bilals voice broke down, tears overcoming him. He couldnt continue the call
for prayer and descended the pulpit. When the next prayer came, Bilal ascended
to call for the prayer and the same thing happened again.
O people, how can you latch onto other things and forget the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)?
Bilal stayed in this state for three days, wanting to call for the prayer but
could not bring himself to do so.
He went to Abu Bakr and said, "Abu Bakr, discharge me from being the caller for
prayer."
He requested this after ten years of calling for prayers.
Abu Bakr wondered, “Why?”
Bilal replied, "I cant call anyone for the prayer after Allahs messenger. Every
time I tried I failed".
Abu Bakr again wondered, “Why?”
Bilal said, “I cant stay in Madinah after the Prophets death.”
Abu Bakr said, “No I want you to stay with me”.
Bilal said, "If you released me from slavery under Umaya for yourself then lock
me up, and if you released me for Allah, then leave me to whom you released me
for."
Imagine how lovely and kind this former slave was.
Abu Bakr said, "I swear I didnt buy you except for Allah’s sake, or spent my
wealth except for Allah, or released you except for Allah, go Bilal, do what
you wish."
Where do you think he went? Hes a soldier of Islam. Does it mean that as a
result of the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H.) death, Bilal will stop everything and stay
at home? No! He just cant stand to stay in Madinah, because of the memories and
the emotional ties.
* Life After the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
Bilal went to Palestine, where he joined the army which struggled to take back
Palestine and Al Quds. Omar Ibn Al-Khattab sent out the armies, and they
defeated the enemies and won. Bilal prayed with the Companions in Al-Aqsa
Mosque.
O Allah! Reward us with a prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque!
The Muslims sent for Omar Ibn Al-Khattab to receive Palestine keys. He didn’t
go in person to receive Egypt's keys, or Iraq's keys but he went to Palestine;
see the significance of the country!
Omar met the armies and told them to gather in a wide open space, so they met
on Golan Heights. Omar asked, "Where's Bilal?" It had been years since they had
last met, and the happiness of meeting each other was immense. "Bilal, call for
the prayer" Bilal said, "Ruler of the Believers, I don’t call anyone for the
prayers after the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)." Omar said, "Bilal, this is a victorious
day, this is a day of dignity, a day which would make the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
pleased." So Bilal ascended Golan Heights and called: “Allah is the Greatest,
Allah is the Greatest”, "there is no God but Allah, there is no God but Allah"
until “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" was stated and the whole army burst
into tears. They even heard Omar weeping voice!
The rest of Bilal story can be narrated in few lines. Bilal settled in Damascus
in Syria. A few months before he died, he saw a vision; he saw the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) telling him, "O Bilal! Whats this unfriendliness, didnt you miss
visiting me Bilal?” As soon as he woke up, he hurried to Madinah. He stood in
front of the Prophets grave (P.B.U.H.) and greeted him: "Peace be upon you
Allah's messenger, peace be upon you Allahs beloved."
Let me tell you a real pleasant thing, no one salutes the Prophet (P.B.U.H.),
without an Angel going to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and informing him of this
greeting, and so the Prophet would reply to your greeting! The Prophet
(P.B.U.H,) said, "Allah has angels walking on earth, if they find someone who
is praying and greeting me, they carry the greeting to me, so I reply to your
greeting."
Hassan and Hussain, the Prophets (P.B.U.H.) grand-children, came to Bilal and
he hugged them and cried. They said, “We have missed your call for the prayer,
Bilal” so he ascended to call for the prayer. Seven years had passed since he
last did this. The whole of Madinah was captivated as they remembered this
precious sound as they listened to the call for prayer.
The call to the prayer has such sweetness.
People came out of their homes when they heard the call to prayer, moving
towards the voice. Madinah cried like it hadnt since the death of the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.).
Bilal died in Damascus in Syria, where his grave lies. He died at the age of
sixty. While dying, his wife felt sad and cried out, “O disaster, O disaster”.
Bilal replied, "Dont say O! Disaster, say O! Joy, O! Joy, for tomorrow I meet
the beloved Muhammad and his Companions."
* Conclusion
Let's remember the details of Bilal life:
1. He is the first caller of the prayers for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
2. He embraced Islam at the age of 30.
3. He was among the first Muslims.
4. Abu Bakr released him from slavery.
5. He remained calling the prayers for the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) for ten
years.
6. He was the only one who prayed in the Ka‘bah with the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.).
7. He died in Damascus 17 A.H *. at the age of 60.
8. He said the well known quote on his death bed, "O! Joy, tomorrow I
meet the beloved Muhammad and his Companions."
* Endnotes
* Radeeya Allah ‘Anho’, R.A. is the abbreviation, literally means ‘May Allah be
pleased with him’.
* P.B.U.H. is the abbreviation of ‘Peace be upon him’, referring to the Prophet.
* Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage which is optional and can be performed at any
time.
* A.H. is the abbreviation of ‘After Hijrah’.
As-salaam Walekum
Adil Khan
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