Hazrat Bilal ibn Rabah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ
The Islamic history
is full of many stars and all of them are so complete in their characters that
if we chose anyone of them as role model and follow him, in true sense of
the word, it will be sufficient enough for our salvation in hereafter. They
have set such beautiful examples for us in every walk of life that we do not
need to look to others for guidance. One of such personalities is Hazrat Bilal
ibn Rabah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ.
Because He was from Abyssinia he is known as Bilal
al Habashi as well. Being a true and complete believer in every regard, he
was embodiment of goodness, piety and steadfastness on the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. But his love for the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی
عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is the most
mentioned aspect of his character.
Hazrat Bilal was one the first fortunate ones who entered into the fold of Islam against all the odds. Although he had to face a lot of prosecution but it never weakened his faith.
Before accepting Islam
he was a slave of a powerful Qurashi chief- Umayyah bin Khalaf. Umayyah would
make him lie down on sand under the scorching sun of Arabian Desert and place a
boulder on his chest. This all was just because he believed in oneness of Allah
عَزَّوَجَلَّ and rejected every sort of polytheism. He was
whipped, humiliated and in this way forced to shun Islam but he never showed any
weakness. In spite of all this torture he would only utter the words Allah is
one and he alone is worthy of worship.
After a while when Hazrat Abu Bakar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی
عَنْہ bought him from his pagan master and
released him, he joined the group of those companions who would stay at the
doorstep of our Beloved Master and learn directly from the prophetic fountain. Hazrat
Umar would say ابو بکر سیدنا اعتق سیدنا i.e. Abu Bakar رَضِیَ اللہُ
تَعَالٰی عَنْہ is a chief and he has
released our chief i.e. Hazrat Bilal رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ.
Later on when Islam was established and Muslims were able to
build a mosque. It was Hazrat Bilal who was appointed as a muezzin (a man who
calls for prayers) so in this way he is the first Muazzin of Islam. Once, at
the time of Fajar Salah, The beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ
وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ asked Hazrat Bilal رَضِیَ اللہُ
تَعَالٰی عَنْہ, “O Bilal! Is there any
action of yours which you are performing ever since you accepted Islam and hope
that it would be accepted more than any other action of yours? Because I have heard
the sound of your footsteps in Jannah. Hazrat Bilal رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی
عَنْہ replied, “I did not do any particular
action about which I am more hopeful than other actions of mine. However there
is one thing, whenever, in day or night, I make wudu, I must offer as many
Rak’ts of Nafal Salah as I can.” On this the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ
said, “This Salah after Wudu is the reason that you have been granted entry
into Paradise.”
Dear Islamic brothers! This Hadith is enough to prove many
controversial issues and one of them is the knowledge of unseen. The beloved Prophet
by the mere grace of Allah, possess the knowledge of unseen.
That is why we see in the hadith that He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ
وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ knows that Hazrat Bilal will
enter Paradise and it will be because of one action of him.
This Hadith has another pearl of wisdom.
Whenever we make wudu we should perform at least two Rak’ts with the intention
of Tahayya-tul-wudu was this action of Hazrat Bilal because of which he would
enter into Paradise.
