بلال بن رباح(may Allah be pleased with him)Died c. 20 AH / 641 CE
- Tribe
- Of Abyssinian origin; freed slave of Banu Jumah
- Accepted Islam
- Among the very first in Makkah
Biography
Bilal was enslaved in Makkah and tortured on the burning sand for his faith, answering only “Ahad, Ahad” — One, One. Abu Bakr bought and freed him.
In Madinah the Prophet ﷺ chose him to call the adhan for his beautiful voice. After the Prophet ﷺ died he went to Syria to fight in the path of Allah, and died in Damascus around 20 AH.
Virtues
The Prophet ﷺ said he heard Bilal’s footsteps ahead of him in Paradise, and asked what deed he hoped for most — Bilal said he prayed after every purification.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1149Among the first seven to declare their Islam openly in Makkah.
Sunan Ibn Majah 150
Prepared from standard seerah and biographical sources; pending scholar review.