27 Equality among Humankind Chapter 03
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was the most honorable of all people in terms of lineage as his
tribe was the most honorable of the region. Yet the Prophet said to his companions:
“Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in their praise of
Jesus, the son of Mary. I am only the servant of Allah and His Messenger.” (Bukhari)
The Prophet married Osama to his relative, Zainab, the daughter of Jahsh. The
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“If someone comes seeking marriage, and you are content with his manners and
religion, then get him married; if you do not, there will be great evil and corruption
upon the earth.” (Tirmidthi)
Additionally, he صلى الله عليه وسلم would always ask about his companions. Abu Hurairah said
that there was a black woman who would clean the Masjid. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
once asked about her as he hadn’t seen her that day. They told him that she
had died in the night and they didn’t want to disturb him so late to inform him.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to them, “You should have informed me!” They belittled the
affair of that person thinking she was not that important. He said: “Show me the
grave!” They showed it to him, and he prayed for her. (Bukhari)
He صلى الله عليه وسلم would also give out many gifts. Hakeem B. Hizaam said, “Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم was the most beloved of people to me before the advent of Islam. When he
became a Prophet and left to Madinah, a garment was found that belonged to
Dhi Yazen(3) valued at 50 Dirham, so I bought it to give it as a gift to the Prophet
صلى الله عليه وسلم but the Prophet refused to take it from him and he said: ‘We do not take gifts
from polytheists. If they insist on giving something, we take it only after paying
for it.’” (Haakim)
When he came to Madinah, I saw him wearing it. He then gave it to Osama, and
Hakeem, upon seeing it with Osama, said to him, “Are you wearing the garment
of Dhi Yazen?” He said, “I am better than Dhi Yazen, and my father and mother
are better than his father and mother (because of Islam)!”
It is indeed Islam that made him think with this mindset. Every Muslim realizes
that they are all equal before Allah, regardless of their color, language, or
ethnicity.
(1) This is the manner of praying the funeral prayer (janazah).
(2) This means the narration is both in Bukhari and Muslim.
(3) Dhi Yazen was a king before the advent of Islam.
Bilal the Abyssinian 28
Racist Statements are
Unacceptable
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to talk to his companions, joke with them,
and listen to their needs. He would correct any errors he saw
them doing, especially when they were racial mistakes. Abu
Hurairah said: “Two people swore at each other once, and one
of them insulted the other by ridiculing his mother. This reached
the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and he called the man and said: ‘Did you scoff
at his mother?’ and he kept repeating it. The man said, ‘O Messenger
of Allah, ask Allah to forgive me.’ He said to him: ‘Raise
your head and look about, you are not better than any individual
regardless whether he is of a red or black skin color. No one is
better than the other except through piety.’” (Ibn Rahawaih)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would not stand for another to make fun of anyone
else in his presence. Once, while his Companions got together
in a gathering and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had yet to come, Khalid
B. Al-Walid, Abdurrahmann B. Auf, Bilal B. Abi Rabah, and Abu
Dharr were among those in attendance. The only dark skinned
companion present was Bilal the Abyssinian. Abu Dharr began
speaking, and Bilal corrected him. Abu Dharr exclaimed out of
anger, “Even you, O son of a black woman, try to correct me?”
Bilal got up, visibly upset at what was said, and said: “By Allah, I
will report you to the Prophet.” He went to him and informed him
of what was said and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم became very angry.
Abu Dharr rushed to meet the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said “Peace be
upon you, O Prophet of Allah.” He continued, “I am not sure if
he responded to my greeting due to his extreme anger.” Then
he said: “O Abu Dharr! Have you ridiculed him on account of his
mother? Indeed you are a man in whom there remain traits of
the pre-Islamic era!” Abu Dharr wept and said: “O Messenger of
Allah, ask Allah to forgive me.” He left the Masjid weeping and
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
used to talk to his
companions, joke with
them, and listen to their
needs.
Bilal was a great
man. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
said to him: “O Bilal,
inform me of a deed
which you have done
and you believe it to be
the greatest in the sight
of Allah, for indeed I
heard your footsteps in
Heaven!”
29 Racist Statements are Unacceptable Chapter 04
when he saw Bilal, he put his head on the ground and said to Bilal, “O Bilal, I will
not move from my position till you put your foot on my head. You are the honorable
and I am the disgraced.” Bilal wept, and kissed the cheek of Abu Dharr and
said: “A face that has prostrated to Allah is not to be stepped on—rather, it is to
be kissed.” (Bukhari)
Bilal was a great man. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him: “Tell me of the best deed
you did after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.”
Bilal replied, “I did not do anything exceptional except that whenever I
performed ablution during the day or night, I prayed after that ablution as much
as was written for me.” (Bukhari)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم revered these individuals so much that he would frequently
sit with them. One day, while Bilal, Suhaib, and Ammar were sitting with the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, an emissary from Quraish came, and upon seeing these Companions
with him, they said: “We want you to give us a time whereby we can sit
with you. We want the Arabs to know our status and honor and the delegations
come to you, but we are embarrassed that people see us with you while these
poor individuals sit with you.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “All right,” and he called Ali
to write down something to this effect. But before anything happened, the command
of Allah came down:
“And do not send away those who call upon their Lord morning and afternoon,
seeking His countenance. Not upon you is anything of their account and not upon
them is anything of your account.(1) So were you to send them away, you would
[then] be of the wrongdoers. And thus We have tried some of them through others
that they [i.e., the disbelievers] might say, ‘Is it these whom Allah has favored
among us?’ Is not Allah most knowing of those who are grateful? And when
those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, ‘Peace be upon you.’ Your
Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy - that any of you who does wrong out of
ignorance, repents after that, and then corrects himself - indeed, He is Forgiving
and Merciful.” (6:52)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم tossed aside the letter he was about to have written for them and
said: “Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy.” (Ibn Majah)
(1) No one is held accountable for the deeds or intentions of another. That is left to Allah’s judgment.
BMielasls tahgee Aobf Iysslasminian 30
Story of Bilal the Abyssinian
Let us now hear the story of Bilal who was a mere slave before
his conversion to Islam. After his conversion, he became
a “master” in Islam, and was honored in Islam to be chosen to
regularly make the Adthan (call to prayer).
Whenever Umar mentioned Abu Bakr he would say, “Abu Bakr
is our master and the emancipator of our master.” (Bukhari) Umar
gave the title “Our Master” to Bilal who was very dark in complexion,
had a slender build, was very tall, thick-haired, and
had a sparse beard, as described by the narrators. Whenever
he was praised, he would lower his head and weep, saying,
“Indeed, I am an Abyssinian. Yesterday, I was only a slave!”
So who is this Abyssinian who was yesterday only a slave? He
was Bilal, son of Rabah, the one who gave the call to prayer.
Out of every ten Muslims, from the beginning of Islam until today
and until Allah wills, we will meet seven, at least, who know
Bilal. That is, there are hundreds of millions of people throughout
the centuries and generations who knew Bilal, remember
his name and know his role just as they know the two greatest
Caliphs in Islam, Abu Bakr and Umar!
If one was to ask a child in his first years of primary school
about Bilal, he would answer, “He was the one who called the
Adthan.” He was the slave whose master would torture him
with hot burning stones, and he, Bilal, would chant, “God is
One”, “God is One.”
Before Islam, Bilal would tend to his master’s sheep and livestock
for a handful of dates. Had it not been for Islam, it would have
been his fate to remain a slave, wandering among the crowd
until death swept him off the earth. However, his faith proved to
be true, and the magnificence of the religion which he believed
in gave him, during his lifetime and in history, an elevated place
Bilal the Abyssinian Before Islam, Bilal
would tend to his
master’s sheep and
livestock for a handful
of dates.
Bilal honored not
only Islam, but all of
humanity, when he
resisted the harshest
forms of torture.
31 The Economic Aspect of Islam PART 08 Story of Bilal the Abyssinian Chapter 05
among the great and noble men of Islam. Indeed, many human beings of distinction,
prestige, or wealth have not obtained even one-tenth of the immortality
which Bilal, the Abyssinian, gained. Indeed, the black color of his complexion, his
modest lineage, and his contemptible position among people as a slave did not
deprive him when he chose to embrace Islam, of occupying the high place which
his truthfulness, certainty, purity, and self-sacrifice qualified him for.
The people of Makkah thought that a slave like Bilal would neither have power
over anything, nor become anything. But he went beyond all expectations and
possessed great faith that no one like him could possess! He was an Abyssinian
of African ethnicity. His mother was, as well, from Abyssinia. Her name was
Hamaama, and she was a slave to Umayyah B. Khalaf Al-Jumahi in Makkah.
Yet eventually, the news of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم message reached the
ears of Bilal. In fact, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was the buzz of Makkah; people from every
walk of life were talking about him. It so happened that Bilal was doing some
work, and his master, along with other noblemen of Quraish, were sitting nearby.
They were talking about the Prophet and his Message. His own master,
Umayyah Bin Khalaf spoke quite harshly about the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his words
were usually filled with hatred, rage, and malice! As Bilal listened to them, he
found out about the characteristics of Islam. He also heard from them that Muhammad
was a noble man, trustworthy and very loyal. They said to one another,
“Muhammad was never a liar, magician, or insane, but we have to describe him
this way so that people will abandon his religion.” Bilal heard them whispering
about the reasons which caused them to challenge and antagonize him. The
reasons were as follows:
First was their allegiance to the religion of their ancestors.
Second was their fear over the loss of the glory of the Quraish. This religious
status was bestowed upon them because they were a center of idol worship
and the caretakers of the pilgrimage in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula;
Third was their envy of the tribe of Bani Hashim; that anyone from among
them would claim to be a prophet or messenger.
BMielasls tahgee Aobf Iysslasminian 32
After hearing so much about the religion of Islam, Bilal accepted
it and converted to Islam. It did not take long before the
news of his embracing Islam was spread. It was a shock to
the chiefs of Bani Jumah (the tribe who owned Bilal). Umayyah
Ibn Khalaf, the owner of Bilal, considered it a great shame and
disgrace, but he said mockingly: “It does not matter. The only
one who will accept Islam is this slave!” However, the direct
opposite occurred. Islam spread, and the practice of idolatry
in the Arabian Peninsula was brought to an end in less than
twenty-five years.
Bilal honored not only Islam, but all of humanity. He resisted
the harshest forms of torture. Allah made him an example of
the fact that blackness of skin and slavery would not decry the
greatness of the soul if it found its faith and adhered to its Creator.
Bilal gave a profound lesson to those during his time and
afterwards as well - freedom and supremacy of conscience
could not be bartered either for gold or punishment, even if its
quantity was enough to fill the earth.
He was stripped naked and laid on hot coals in order to make
him reconsider and denounce his faith, but he refused. He
would be taken out in the heat of the day and his body would
be dragged on top of the burning stones. A huge stone that
took several men to lift would also be placed on his body and
chest. This savage torture was repeated every day until the
hearts of some of his torturers took pity on him. They told him,
“If you speak well of our idols, we will let you free.” The Quraish
did not want it to be said that they were unable to convince or
forcefully bring a slave out of Islam. Even with this, Bilal refused
and he began to repeat his lasting chant: “God is One, God is
One!” His torturers shouted at him, imploring him, “Mention
the name of Al-Laat and Al-'Uzza(1).” But he answered, “God is
One, God is One!”
So Bilal remained in his state and was tortured ever more severely.
By sunset they tied a rope around his neck and ordered
Had it not been for
Islam, it would have
been his fate to remain
a slave, wandering
among the crowd until
death brought an end to
his life.
33 The Economic Aspect of Islam PART 08 Story of Bilal the Abyssinian Chapter 05
their boys to take him around the mountains and streets of Makkah. Bilal continuously
chanted “God is One, God is One!”
When the night fell, they told him, “Tomorrow, you will speak well of our idols
and we will leave you alone. We are tired of torturing you, and now the task is so
cumbersome that it seems to us that we are the tortured ones.” Bilal remained
resolute; he shook his head and said, “God is One, God is One!” Umayyah Ibn
Khalaf exploded with fury and kicked him. He shouted, “How unlucky I am!
What a wretched slave you are! By Al-Laat and Al-'Uzza, I'll make you an example
for slaves and masters.” But Bilal answered with the greatness and certainty
of a believer, “God is One, God is One!”
Yet, as they were torturing Bilal, one of the pagans who was present decided to
play the role of a sympathizer, and he said: “Take it easy, Umayyah. By Al-Laat,
he will not be tortured again. Indeed Bilal is one of us; his mother is our slave
girl. He will not be pleased to talk ill about us or to ridicule us because of his
conversion to Islam.” But Bilal gazed at their lying, cunning faces and with a serene
calmness that shook them violently, he again chanted “God is One, God is
One!” The next day, Bilal was taken out to the open sun and extreme heat. Bilal
knew what was to come and he was patient, brave and knew that if he remained
in this state, a great reward awaited him in the Hereafter.
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq went to them while they were torturing him and shouted
at them, “Are you killing a man because he says, ‘Allah is my God!’” Then he
shouted at Umayyah ibn Khalaf, “Take more than his price and set him free.” It
was as if Umayyah was drowning and had caught a lifeboat. It was to his liking
and he was very much pleased when he heard Abu Bakr offering the price of
his freedom, since they had lost all hope that he would ever leave Islam. And as
they were merchants, they realized that selling him was more profitable to them
than his death.
They sold him to Abu-Bakr and he then emancipated him immediately. Finally,
Bilal took his place among free men. When Abu Baker put his arm around Bilal,
Umayyah said to him, “Take him, for by Al-Laat and Al-'Uzza, if you had refused
to buy him except for one ounce of gold, I would have sold him to you.” Abu
(1) The names of two idols that were worshipped before Isalm.
BMielasls tahgee Aobf Iysslasminian 34
Bakr realized the bitterness of despair and disappointment hidden
in those words. It was best not to answer, but because
these words had violated the dignity of this man who had become
his brother and his equal, he did reply to Umayyah. He
said, “By Allah, if you had refused to sell him except for a hundred
ounces, I would have paid it.”
After the Hijrah of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Muslims to Al-Madinah,
the Messenger enjoined that a call to prayer be made.
Who was to be given this honor to call the people to the prayers?
It was none other than Bilal, who had called out thirteen years
before while he was being tortured, “God is One, God is One!”
He was chosen by the Messenger that day to be the first caller
to prayer in Islam. With his melodious voice, he filled the hearts
with faith and the ears with awe when he called:
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
I bear witness that there is no true god but Allah
I bear witness that there is no true god but Allah
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
Come to Prayer
Come to Prayer
Come to Success
Come to Success
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
There is no true god but Allah
Subsequent to this, the Muslims and the polytheists engaged
in battle. The Battle of Badr was the first battle that took place
between them. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم made the slogan of
the Muslims during this momentous confrontation: “God is One,
God is One!” In this battle, 70 were killed and 70 were taken as
prisoners of war. The noblemen of Quraish were finished off.
Bilal lived with the
Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم
and witnessed all the
Battles with him
• God
35 The Economic Aspect of Islam PART 08 Story of Bilal the Abyssinian Chapter 05
Umayyah Ibn Khalaf, who had been Bilal's master, had initially not wanted to go
out of Makkah to face the Muslims. So he did not prepare himself. His friend,
Uqbah Ibn Abi Muait, was upset, so he made a point of going to humiliate him
while he was sitting amongst his people. He gave him an incense burner and
said to him, “O Abu Ali, use this. As it seems that you are one of the women.”
Umayyah shouted at him, saying, “May Allah make you and what you came with
ugly!” After this he found no way out; he had to go into the battle. Uqbah Ibn
Abi Muait had been the greatest supporter of Umayyah throughout the torture
of Bilal and other weak Muslims. And on that day, he himself was the one who
urged Umayyah to go to the Battle of Badr where he and Uqbah would both die!
It is truly amazing how Allah executes His command.
Umayyah reached his demise at the hands of none other than Bilal. When the
fighting began between the two sides, and the Muslims began shouting, “God
is One, God is One!” The heart of Umayyah sunk! These were the same words
his slave used to repeat years before under torture and today it rocked the
battlefield from all sides and was the cry of an entire nation of people! Umayyah
thought to himself, had Islam spread so quickly amongst the people?
The swords clashed in the battle and the fighting became severe. As the battle
neared its end, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf noticed Abdurrahmann Bin Auf, the Companion
of the Messenger of Allah. He sought refuge with him and asked to be
his captive, hoping that this would save his life. Abdurrahmann accepted and
granted him refuge. He took him and walked with him amidst the battle to the
place where the captives were held.
On the way, Bilal noticed him and shouted, “The very head of disbelief, Umayyah
Ibn Khalaf! May I not be saved if he is saved!” He lifted his sword to strike
Umayyah, but Abdurrahmann Bin Auf shouted to him, “O Bilal, he is my captive!”
Bilal thought, a captive while the war is still raging? A captive while his
sword is still dripping from the blood of Muslims? This cannot be! Bilal realized
that he would not be able to attack Umayyah himself so he called on his fellow
Muslims, “O Ansaar! The head of disbelief, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf! May I not be
saved if he is saved!”
A band of Muslims approached and surrounded Umayyah and his son, who was
also fighting with the Quraish. Abdurrahmann Bin Auf could not do anything. He
BMielasls tahgee Aobf Iysslasminian 36
could not even protect his armor, which the crowd removed.
Bilal gazed long at the body of Umayyah, who fell beneath the
smashing swords. Then he hastened away from him shouting,
“God is One, God is One!”
I do not think it is our right to examine the virtue of leniency in
the case of Bilal during this occasion. If the meeting between
Bilal and Umayyah had taken place under any other circumstances,
we would have been allowed to ask Bilal to show mercy
and leniency, and a man like him in faith and piety would not
have withheld it. But, they met each other on the battlefield, the
swords were gleaming and the killed were falling. He saw him
in the arena of battle and fighting. If Umayyah were able to, he
would have killed Bilal. It is unfair for one to say to Bilal under
these circumstances, “Why did you not forgive him?”
The days went by and Makkah was soon conquered. The Messenger
صلى الله عليه وسلم entered it, at the head of 10,000 Muslims, gratefully
and humbly saying, “Allah is the Greatest.” He headed
for the sacred masjid (Ka’bah) immediately. It was filled with
many idols, each for one day of the year. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
destroyed them, he called out “The truth has come and falsehood
has vanished.”
Ever since that day almost 1500 years ago, there has been no
Uzza, no Laat and no Hubal(1). Man bows down only to worship
Allah, the most High. The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم entered the Ka’bah,
accompanied by Bilal. He had hardly entered it when he faced
a carved idol representing the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)
drawing lots. In anger he said, “May Allah destroy them. Our
ancestors never drew lots. Ibrahim was not a Jew or Christian,
but he was a true Muslim and was never a polytheist.” Then
he ordered Bilal to ascend to the top of the Ka’bah to call the
Prayer. He called the Adthan. How magnificent was the time,
place, and occasion!
Life in Makkah came to a standstill, and thousands of Muslims
Bilal was chosen
by the Messenger to
be the first caller to
prayer in Islam. With
his melodious voice,
he filled the hearts
with faith and the ears
with awe.
37 The Economic Aspect of Islam PART 08 Story of Bilal the Abyssinian Chapter 05
stood motionless, repeating in submissiveness the words of the Adthan after
Bilal while the Polytheists were in their homes hardly believing what was happening.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed them saying “Go, you are free!” (Ibn Hisham)
Bilal lived with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and witnessed all the Battles with
him, calling to Prayer and observing the rites of this great religion that took him
out of darkness to light, and from servitude to freedom. With each passing day,
Bilal became more beloved to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who described him as “one of the
inhabitants of Paradise.”
But Bilal remained just as he was, noble and humble to a fault, always considering
himself “the Abyssinian who only yesterday was a slave.” One day, Bilal
was proposing to two girls for himself and his brother, so he said to their father,
“I am Bilal, and this is my brother. We were two slaves from Abyssinia. We were
astray, and Allah guided us. We were two slaves, and Allah emancipated us. If
you agree to us marrying your daughters, all praise is to Allah. If you refuse, then
Allah is the Greatest.”
The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم passed away and Abu Bakr As-Siddiq took the command of
the Muslims after him. Bilal went to the Caliph (Successor) of the Messenger of
Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and said to him, “O Caliph of the Messenger of Allah, I heard the Messenger
of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, ‘The best deed of a believer is Jihad in the cause of
Allah.’” Abu Bakr said to him, “So what do you want, Bilal?” He said: “I want to
go in the path of Allah and die in that cause.”
Abu Bakr replied, “And who will call the Adthan for us?” Bilal said, with his eyes
overflowing with tears, “I will not call the Adthan for anyone after the Messenger
of Allah.” Abu Bakr said, “Stay and make the Adthan for us, Bilal.” Bilal said, “If
you emancipated me to be for you, I will do what you want, but if you emancipated
me for Allah, leave me to the One for whom I was emancipated.” Abu
Bakr said, “I emancipated you for Allah, Bilal!” He then let him go on his way.
The last time he called the Adthan was when the Commander of the Faithful,
Umar visited Greater Syria and the Muslims begged him to ask Bilal to call the
Adthan for them. They wept as they never did before, and Umar most strongly.
Bilal died in Syria, fighting in the cause of Allah just as he had wanted.
(1) The names of three idols that were worshipped before Islam.
Bilal the Abyssinian 38
Conclusion
Look at the greatness of Islam, and the happiness one finds
in their heart when they embrace it. This happiness remains in
the heart and makes one forget about all the pains and troubles
that they may have been through in their lives. The joy the Muslims
feel upon applying their faith is far greater than any materialistic
joy one can possibly experience in this life. If you really
want to experience this happiness in your life, then you’ve got
to take that bold step.
Witness the following words of Abu Sufyan Bin Harb when he
said: “Heraclius, upon receiving a letter from Prophet Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم called for us while we were in Shaam.”(1) He said: “Heraclius’s
messenger found us somewhere in the Greater Syria area, so he
took me and my companions to Jerusalem, and we were admitted
into the presence of Heraclius. We found him sitting in his royal
court wearing a crown, surrounded by the senior Byzantine dignitaries.
He said to his translator. ‘Ask them who amongst them is a
close relation to the man who claims to be a prophet.’”
Abu Sufyan added,
“I replied: ‘I am the nearest relative to him.’ He asked, ‘What
degree of relationship do you have with him?’ I replied, ‘He is
my cousin,’ and there was none from the tribe of Abd Manaf
in the caravan except myself. Heraclius said, ‘Let him come
nearer.’ He then ordered that my companions stand behind me
near my shoulder and said to his translator, ‘Tell his companions
that I am going to ask this man about the one who claims
to be a prophet. If he tells a lie, they should contradict him immediately.’”
Abu Sufyan added,
“By Allah, had it not been for shame that my companions brand
me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about him when he
asked me. But I considered it shameful to be called a liar by my
companions, so I told the truth.”
“He then said to his translator, ‘Ask him what kind of family he
* Makkah in the era
of Prophet.
* Heraclius at Greater
Syria.
39 Conclusion
belongs to.’ I replied, ‘He belongs to a noble family amongst us.’ He said, ‘Has
anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same before him?’ I replied, ‘No.’
He said, ‘Have you ever blamed him for telling lies before he claimed what he
claimed?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?’
I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do the noble or the poor follow him?’ I replied, ‘It is
the poor who follow him.’ He said, ‘Are they increasing or decreasing (daily)?’ I
replied, ‘They are increasing.’ He said, ‘Does anybody amongst those who embrace
his religion become displeased and then discard his religion?’ I replied,
‘No.’ He said, ‘Does he break his promises?’ I replied, ‘No, but we are now at
truce with him and we are afraid that he may betray us.’”
Abu Sufyan added,
“Other than the last sentence, I could find no opportunity to say anything against
him.”
Heraclius then asked, “Have you ever had a war with him?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’ He said,
‘What was the outcome of your battles with him?’ I replied, ‘Sometimes he was
victorious and sometimes we.’ He said, ‘What does he order you to do?’ I said, ‘He
tells us to worship God alone, and not to worship others along with Him, and to
leave all that our forefathers used to worship. He orders us to pray, give in charity,
be chaste, keep promises and return what is entrusted to us.’”
“When I had said that, Heraclius said to his translator, ‘Say to him: I asked you
about his lineage and your reply was that he belonged to a noble family. In fact,
all the Messengers before came from the noblest lineage of their nations.
Then I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you had claimed such a
thing, and your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative,
I would have thought that this man was following a claim that had been
said before him.
When I asked you whether he was ever blamed for telling lies, your reply was in
the negative, so I took it for granted that a person who did not tell a lie to people
could never tell a lie about God.
Then I asked you whether any of his ancestors was a king, your reply was in the
negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man
wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom.
(1) This is a historic region in the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean. It is generally considered
to include the modern states of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.
Bilal the Abyssinian 40
When I asked you whether the rich or the poor people followed
him, you replied that it was the poor who followed him. In fact,
such are the followers of the Messengers. Then I asked you
whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied
that they were increasing. In fact, this is the result of true
faith till it is complete [in all respects].
Then I asked you whether there was anybody who, after embracing
his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion,
and your reply was in the negative. In fact, this is the
sign of true faith, for when its pleasure enters and mixes in the
hearts completely, nobody will be displeased with it.
And I asked you whether he had ever broken his promise. You
replied in the negative. And such are the Messengers; they
never break their promises.
When I asked you whether you fought with him and he fought
with you, you replied that he did and that sometimes he was
victorious and sometimes you. Indeed, such are the Messengers;
they are put to trials, yet the final victory is always theirs.
Then I asked you what he ordered you. You replied that he
ordered you to worship God alone and not to worship others
along with Him, to leave all that your forefathers used to worship,
to offer prayers, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep
promises, and to return what is entrusted to you. These are
really the qualities of a prophet who, I knew [from the previous
Scriptures] would appear, but I did not know that he would be
from amongst you. If what you say is true, he will very soon occupy
the earth under my feet, and if I knew that I would reach
him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him; and were I
with him, then I would certainly wash his feet.’”
Abu Sufyan added,
“Heraclius then asked for the letter of the Messenger of God
and it was read. Its contents were the following:
‘I begin with the name of God, the most Beneficent, the most
Merciful. [This letter is] from Muhammad, the slave of God, and
His Messenger, to Heraclius, the Ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
Peace be upon the followers of guidance. I invite you to sur-
* Poster showing
the Roman Forum
at dawn; George
Dorival, artist. 1920.
* Roman soldier.
41 Conclusion
render to God [Islam]. Accept Islam and you will be safe; accept Islam and God
will bestow on you a double reward. But if you reject this invitation of Islam, you
shall be responsible for misguiding your nation.’
‘Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us
and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with
Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.’ But if they turn away,
then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].’” (3:64)
Abu Sufyan added,
“When Heraclius had finished his speech, there was a great hue and cry caused
by the Byzantine dignitaries surrounding him, and there was so much noise that
I did not understand what they said. So, we were ordered out of the court.”
“When I went out with my companions and we were alone, I said to them, ‘Verily,
Ibn Abi Kabsha’s(1) affair has gained power. This is the King of the Romans
fearing him.’”
Abu Sufyan added:
“By God, I became surer and surer that his religion would be
victorious till I ended up accepting Islam.” (Bukhari #2782)
(1) Ibn Abi Kabsha: a nickname of the Prophet Muhammad.
An account of the life of Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him). The book introduces us to
the Prophet’s noble character, his humble life and
his conduct with his family at home, his companions
and all people in society. It tells us how he strove to
fulfil the task God assigned to him and contemplates
how he dealt with his enemies, the exceptional
magnanimity he showed to all and his simple, but
highly effective, method of advocating his message.
Islam is the Religion of Peace, shows with perfect
clarity that Islam is the religion of peace and that
the spread of Islam means the spread of peace
throughout the world. Muslims must always be true
to their promises and covenants and treat others
with justice and compassion.
This book tells the history of Bilal ibn Rabah, a
former slave who became a companion of the
Prophet. The book expounds Islam’s attitude to
racial discrimination, highlighting significant events
that show the Prophet took care of many of those
who were persecuted, protected them and gave
them their rightful status in the Muslim community.
This book explains how Islam is a code of living
that covers all aspects of life. It comprises a set of
acts of worship which play important roles in placing
morality on a solid foundation and strengthening
good qualities in people so that they are keen
to follow the right path. The book cites many examples
and speaks about the importance Islam
attaches to knowledge. It mentions a number of
recent scientific discoveries that the Qur’an has
referred to 14 centuries ago.
This book explains that Islam admits no rigidity
and making things easy is a general feature of all
aspects of the Islamic faith. It is a religion God
revealed that can be implemented by people with
different failings, feelings and abilities. Islamic
law takes all this into account and addresses human
nature and appeals to it. God says: “He has
laid no hardship on you in anything that pertains
to religion.” (22: 78)
The Path to Happiness explains that the way
of life Islam provides for its followers is divine
and intended to ensure that people enjoy real
happiness in this present life and in the life to
come. Islam establishes the concept of true and
everlasting happiness, which makes Muslims
aspire to the sublime through obedience of God
and earning His pleasure.
The Message of Islam begins by reminding the
reader that Islam, its worship, the rules governing
people’s transactions and all its teachings have
always remained the same as they were taught
by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). No
change or alteration has been introduced into the
religion, though some Muslims have changed.
The book discusses and sheds light on a number
of rights to which Islam attaches great importance.
Human rights in Islam are outlined in the Qur’an
and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him). They aim to make man lead a life
of compassion and dignity, so that he acquires all
good qualities and deals with others in the best
manner. The book clarifies the misconceptions that
are often expressed regarding the different aspects
of freedom and responds to criticism in a calm and
objective way.
This book discusses the status of women prior
to Islam and how women were ill-treated and
humiliated in many cultures. It explains how Islam
put an end to all this injustice, established women’s
rights and gave women their rightful status.
This book highlights the great importance Islam
attaches to love. It shows that the love of God is
the best and the most noble love. When it is rooted
in a person’s heart, it sets that person’s behaviour
on the right footing, elevates his emotions and
feelings and removes selfishness. A person who
truly loves God extends feelings of love and
compassion to all creatures.
Glad Tidings explains the nature of Islam
and clarifies the error of people who rely for
information on suspect sources. The book
highlights the main features of Islam and tells
everyone who embraces Islam that God erases
all their past sins and errors. As the Prophet
makes clear: “Islam wipes away all past sins.”
Hisn Al-Mu’min speaks of the causes of reversals
and misfortunes that people encounter. It
highlights how one can ensure the protection and
preservation of God’s favours and blessings, as
well as preventing harm and reducing the effects
of personal tragedies and calamities. The book
teaches the ways and means to fortify oneself
against the effect of such tragedies, the most
important being remembrance of God and glorifying
Him at all times. This book explains the best forms
of such remembrance and glorification.
This book discusses the Islamic approach to sex
and how to satisfy the sexual desire in the proper
and beneficial way. The proper way to satisfy sexual
desire is within marriage and according to Islam,
marriage is a necessity for the individual to achieve
personal fulfilment. For society, marriage is the way
to progress, development and stability.
This book explains for non-Muslim readers how to
embrace Islam and shows that this does not require
much effort. To new Muslims, the book explains
the essential elements of Islam and outlines the
character of Prophet Muhammad, his qualities and
the message he delivered to mankind. It goes on
to discuss the various acts of worship Muslims
are required to offer, as well as their purposes and
significance.
Questions of the creation, existence and progress
of the universe have been raised by communities
throughout the ages. Yet from its earliest days,
Islam addressed these questions in a most
direct and clear way. This book explains that the
ultimate objective of creation is for all creatures
to submit themselves to God and worship Him
alone. All aspects of life in the universe inevitably
end in death then will be brought back to life on
the Day of Resurrection when they receive due
recompense for their actions.
After first discussing people’s need to receive the
divine message through prophets, this book relates
the story of Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon
him). It starts well before his birth, then goes on
to discuss his message and the opposition he had
to endure. The book also discusses the Qur’anic
account of Jesus, which makes clear that he enjoys
a very high position with God Almighty.
Under Islam, the concept of purification is not
limited to personal and physical purity; it includes
purifying oneself of sin and all disobedience of God.
This book discusses the detailed rules of physical
purification, including ablution, grand ablution, the
removal of impurity, dry ablution, etc.
This book defines and explains the various types
of deviation from the essence of Islam and its true
teachings. It reveals the negative consequences
of deviation on Muslims and their life and how
deviation is bound to give non-Muslims a distorted
view of Islam. Finally, the book describes the role
of Muslims in discarding all deviation, according
to their abilities.
