Calling out the Azaan in Shaam

Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once visited Jaabiyah (a place in Shaam) during the period of his Khilaafat. On his arrival, the people approached him and asked him if he would request Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was residing in Shaam, to one day call out the azaan for them. Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) put their request to Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who agreed to one day call out the azaan. The momentous day finally dawned and as the people heard the azaan of Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) they were reminded of the blessed era of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and immediately began to weep. Such was their weeping out of the sadness and grief of being separated from their beloved Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that Hazrat Aslam (rahimahullah), the freed slave of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), said, “I never saw people crying more than they did on that day.”

(Siyar A‘laam min Nubalaa 3/222, Zarqaani 5/71)

Leaving Madinah Munawwarah after the Demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):

There are two views recorded with regards to whether or not Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remained the mu’azzin of Madinah Munawwarah after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

The First View:

The first view is that Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not remain the mu’azzin of Madinah Munawwarah after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). After the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he felt it difficult to remain in Madinah Munawwarah and thus went to Shaam to engage in Jihaad.

This is the preferred view of ‘Allaamah ibn Katheer (rahimahullah) (Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 6/61), ‘Allaamah Suyooti (rahimahullah) (Is‘aaf 751) and 'Allaamah Ibn Hibbaan (rahimahullah) (Thiqaat 1/264)

Hazrat Sa‘eed bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (rahimahullah) and Hazrat ibn Jaabir (rahimahullah) both narrate that Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not call out the azaan after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and intended to leave Madinah Munawwarah to strive in Jihaad. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to know of this, he asked Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to remain in Madinah Munawwarah to which Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded by requesting, “If you had freed me for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala then please allow me to leave.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) relented and allowed Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to leave. Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then moved to Shaam.

(Siyar A‘laam min Nubalaa 3/222)

Treasurer of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)

Haafiz ibnul Hajar ‘Asqalaani (rahimahullah) has mentioned that Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was the treasurer of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

(Isaabah 1/455)

Hazrat ‘Abdullah Al-Hawzani (rahimahullah) mentions that he once met Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in Halab (a city in Shaam). On meeting Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he asked him, “O Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! Tell me of the manner in which Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would spend wealth for the cause of deen.” Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied:

From the time Allah Ta‘ala deputed him as a Nabi until he left this world, the wealth he possessed was entrusted to me. Whenever a Muslim would come to him and he would notice that he did not have sufficient clothing, he would instruct me to provide clothing for him. I would therefore take a loan through which I would purchase a shawl and whatever else was needed after which I would clothe and feed that person. This continued until, one day, a disbeliever approached me and said, “O Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! I possess plentiful wealth so don’t go to anybody else when you need a loan.” Accordingly, I commenced going to him for loans and ceased taking loans from other people.

One day, when I had performed wudhu and was now standing, about to call out the azaan for salaah, I saw the same disbeliever nearby amongst a group of traders. When he spotted me, he called out, “O Abyssinian!” and began speaking to me very rudely and harshly. He asked me, “Do you know how long it is until the end of the month?” I replied, “The end of the month is close.” He said, “There are only four nights left! When the month is over, I am going to take you as my slave in exchange of the money you owe me. I have not been loaning you wealth due to you or your companion’s honor. I only gave you loans so that you will become my slave and I will make you graze the goats once again.” When I heard these words, I was alarmed and taken by surprise. Nevertheless, I called out the azaan and we performed Esha salaah.

Appointed as Mu’azzin of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):

When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made Hijrah (migrated) to Madinah Munawwarah, he constructed the musjid. After constructing the musjid, he consulted the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) regarding the method to be adopted to call people for salaah. It was the burning desire within the heart of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) congregate and perform their salaah together in the musjid. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was neither pleased with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) performing their salaah in the musjid at different times nor in their homes or at other places.

The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) presented various suggestions in regard to how people could be called for salaah. Some of the suggestions of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were that a fire be lit or a flag be hoisted. On seeing the fluttering flag or the flames and smoke of the fire, people would understand that it is the time of salaah and thereby inform others to come to the musjid for salaah. Other suggestions were that a horn be sounded or that the Naqoos (two sticks) be struck upon each other to alert people that it is the time for salaah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was not pleased with these opinions. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not want his Ummah to emulate the Christians, Jews and Kuffaar in aspects of their deen or their worldly life. If the Muslims were to adopt these methods, it would result in them resembling the disbelievers in their deen and furthermore, it would lead to confusion coming about in the salaah times as the disbelievers were calling people at other times through these same methods. No conclusion was reached in that gathering and the matter was thus left undecided.

Du‘aa for the Guidance of Quraish:

Hazrat ‘Urwah bin Zubair (rahimahullah) narrates that a woman of the Banu Najjaar clan (radhiyallahu ‘anha) said, “My house was one of the highest houses around the Musjid (i.e. Musjidun Nabawi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hadhrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would call out the azaan of Fajr from the top of my house. He would arrive at the time of Sehri and sit on the roof, looking at the horizon and waiting for the time of Fajr to set in. When he would see the time set in, he would stretch (due to sitting for a long time, waiting to see the time of Fajr set in) and make the following du‘aa: ‘O Allah, I praise You (for allowing me to call out the azaan) and I seek Your assistance and beseech You to guide the Quraish (i.e. the family of Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) who had not yet embraced Islam) to Islam so that they may uphold and establish Your Deen (in the world).’” The woman further said, “He would then call out the azaan. I take a qasm by the name of Allah Ta‘ala, I cannot remember him leaving out this du‘aa for even a single day (i.e. his du‘aa for the Quraish before calling out the azaan).”

(Abu Dawood #519)

Footsteps in Jannah:

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once asked Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) at the time of fajr salaah, “O Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! After embracing Islam, which action do you hope will greatly benefit you from the actions you carry out? Verily I heard your footsteps before me in Jannah (in a dream) last night.” Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “The action I carry out, which I hope will greatly benefit me, is that whenever I make wudhu, at any time of the day or night, I perform salaah after making wudhu (I perform the salaah of Tahiyyatul Wudhu).”

(Muslim #2458)

The honor awarded to Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) on account of this action (tahiyyatul wudhu) was the honor of walking before Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in Jannah, as a khaadim (servant) walks in front of his master in order to serve him.

Name: Bilaal bin Rabaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)

Mother’s Name: Hamaamah (Isaabah 1/455)

Steadfastness on Islam:

Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had been born from the slaves of the Banu Jumah tribe. When the heat would peak at midday, Umayyah bin Khalaf would take him out of Makkah Mukarramah to the scorching sands of the desert and make him lie on his back on the burning sand. He would then have a huge boulder placed on the chest of Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and would declare, “He will remain (in punishment) like this until he either dies or renounces his belief in Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” Even in that tortured state, Hazrat Bilal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would continue to say “Ahad! Ahad!” (“One! One!” – referring to his belief in the oneness of Allah Ta‘ala).
(Isaabah 1/456)

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)’s desire for Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to be freed:

Hazrat Sa‘eed bin Musayyib (rahimahullah), while mentioning Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), once said, “The desire to practice Islam was extremely great in the heart of Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). He would be subjected to continuous torture and persecution at the hands of the disbelievers. Whenever the disbelievers would try to force him to renounce Islam, he would staunchly refuse and declare “Allah! Allah!” Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then met Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and expressed his desire saying, “If only we had some wealth by which we would be able to purchase (and free) Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)!” Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) therefore went to Hazrat ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and asked him to purchase Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) for him. Accordingly, Hazrat ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) approached the owner of Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was a woman, and said, “Would you like to sell me this slave of yours before you lose all the good that you can currently derive from him?” The woman was surprised and exclaimed, “What will you do with him?” after which she went on to complain about him saying, “There is no good in him! He is like this and like that!” Hazrat ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) eventually purchased Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) from her and sent him to Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Usdul Ghaabah 1/237)