Steadfastness against hardships ( Hazrat Bilal )

Hazrat Bilal facing hardships 

Hazrat Bilal:

Bilal (R.A) is one of the best known of the galaxy of Sahabah as moazan of the prophet's Mosque. He was an Abyssinian slave of a disbeliever in Mecca. His conversion to Islam was, naturally, not liked by his master and he was, therefore, persecuted mercilessly. Umayyah bin Khalef, who was the worst enemy of Islam, would make him lie down on the burning send at mid-day and would place a heavy stone on his breast so that he could not even move a limb. He would then say to could not even move a limb. He would then say to him :

"Renounce Islam, or swelter and die in this state."

Even under these afflictions Bilal would exclaim:

"Ahad"-The One (Allah) . . "Ahad" The One (Allah).

He was lashed at night and with the cuts thus received was made to lie on the burning ground during the day to make him either forsake Islam or to die a lingering death from septic wounds. The tortures would get tired and have turns(Abu jahl, Umayyah and others) and they would vie one with another in afflicting more and more painful punishment, but Bilal would not yield. At last Abu pakar bought his freedom and he became a free Muslims.

As Islam taught implicitly the oneness of the Almighty creator, while the idolaters of Mecca believed in many gods and goddesses with minor god-lings, therefor Bilal repeated :

"Ahad (THE One), Ahad (The One)."

This shows his love and devotion to Allah. Allah was so dear to him that no amount of persecution could distract him from reciting His Holy name. It is said that the urchins of Mecca would drag him in the streets with the words "Ahad !" "Ahad !" ringing in their wake.

Look how Allah rewarded his steadfastness ! He was to have the honor of becoming the prophet's Maazzin. He was always to remain with him at home and abroad, to call out the Azan for his Salat. After the prophet's death it became very hard for him to continue his stay in. Madina where he would miss him at every step and in every corner. He therefore left Madina and decided to pass the rest of his life striving in the path of Allah. Once he beheld the prophet (S.A.W) in his dream saying to him :

"O, Bilal ! How is it that you never visit me."

No sooner did he get up then he set out for Madinah. On reaching there Hasan and Hussain
(The prophet's grandsons) requested him to call out the Azan. HE could not refuse them for they were very dear to him. But as soon as the Azan was called the people of Madinah cried out openly in their anguish at the memory of the happy old days of the prophet's time. Bilal left Madina again after a few days and died in Damascus in 20 A.H.