Bilal ibn Ribah facts for kids

Bilal ibn Ribah (born around 578 AD, died 638 AD) was a very important friend and follower of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Bilal was from Ethiopia and was born into slavery.

Life of Bilal

Bilal ibn Rabah (also known as Bilal al-Habashi) was born in Mecca, a city in modern-day Saudi Arabia, around 578 AD. He was an Ethiopian slave. His owner, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, was against Islam. When Bilal decided to become a Muslim, his master punished him severely.

When Muhammad heard about Bilal's suffering, he asked his close friend, Abu Bakr, to buy Bilal's freedom. Once Bilal was free, he became a dedicated companion of Muhammad.

Muhammad chose Bilal to be the very first muezzin. A muezzin is a special person who calls Muslims to daily prayer. Sometimes Bilal would walk through the streets to call people to prayer. Most of the time, he would say the Adhan (the call to prayer) from the top of the mosque.

Years later, when the Muslim army marched towards Mecca, many people in the city were scared. They remembered the bad things they had done to the Muslims in the past. They closed their doors and windows, fearing punishment. But the Muslims went straight to the Kaaba, a holy building believed to have been built by the prophets Abraham and his elder son, Ishmael.

From there, Bilal bravely shouted to the people of Mecca that they were safe. He announced: "All those who lay down arms are safe. All those in the house of Abu Sufyan are safe. All those behind closed doors are safe." This message brought peace and safety to the city.

After Muhammad passed away, Bilal rarely said the Adhan again. He only did it two more times. Once was in Syria, and the second time was in Medina, when Muhammad's grandson, Hasan ibn Ali, asked him to.

Bilal died in Damascus, a city in modern-day Syria, sometime between 638 AD and 642 AD.

Bilal's Legacy

Hadith books are collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad. These books tell us many things about Bilal.

Muhammad often spoke highly of Bilal. He once said:

I hear Bilal's footsteps in front of me in Paradise.

This shows how much Muhammad valued Bilal and believed he would be among the first to enter Paradise.

When Bilal was chosen as the first Muezzin, some people complained to Muhammad. They thought only an Arab person should be the Muezzin. They also pointed out that Bilal had trouble pronouncing some Arabic words correctly, sometimes saying "s" instead of "sh".

When Muhammad heard their complaints, he replied:

The "S" of Bilal is "Sh" in the hearing of God.

This meant that even with his different pronunciation, Bilal's call to prayer was perfect and accepted by God. This teaching showed that everyone, no matter their background or how they spoke, was equal in Islam.

Images for kids

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  Bilal (left) among other companions of Muhammad in an early 15th century painting

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  Bilal ibn Rabah being whipped after he declared his Islamic Faith.

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  Grave of Bilal in Bab al-Saghir cemetery, Damascus.

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  Another alleged tomb of Bilal in Amman, Jordan

See also

In Spanish: Bilal ibn Rabah para niños