Advanced search
Visit
14379
Last Updated: 2008/07/02
Summary of question
What is the Sunni opinion on Bilal al-Habashi?
question
What is the Sunni opinion on Bilal al-Habashi?
Concise answer

What Sunni references say about the great sahabi, Bilal, is that he was freed by Abu Bakr, a resistant believer against the tortures of the Kuffar, the Prophet's Mu'adhin, and one of the Mujahidin (soldiers) of Islam in different battles alongside the Prophet (pbuh). After the Prophet's demise, he left Madinah for Damascus and passed away there.

Detailed Answer

Bilal was the son of Ribah and Hamamah[1] who was transferred from Habashah to the Arabian Peninsula as a prisoner. He became the slave of Umayyah ibn Khalaf who was one of the heads of Quraysh.

After the dawn of Islam, he was one of the first to openly and contently embrace it,[2] although his owner, Umayyah was one of those striving to abolish it. Bilal was one of Mustath'af (poor and weak) Muslims[3], whom when became Muslim, was tortured by the disbelievers to turn away from it. It is said that in the beginning, seven people openly announced their conversion to Islam in which one of those seven was Bilal. Each of these seven were either strong individuals in the Makkan society back then whose words had go, or were supported by their tribes. In both cases, they were free of any pressure and torture or would be helped out after being bothered and tortured. The only exception was Bilal; he had no one to be on his side.[4] In order for Bilal to take back his Islam, Umayyah would harshly and violently torture him, yet Bilal would refuse to give up. It is said that Abu Bakr bought Bilal from Umayyah and subsequently freed him. The Shia also believe in this issue, although the author of Qamusul-Rijal has doubted in it and has quoted from the book Naqz Uthmaniyyah, work of Iskafi, that Bilal was freed by the Prophet himself, but this might be because he was freed by the order of Rasulullah, even though he was paid for by Abu Bakr.[5]

After Madinah became Islam's headquarters, he had the honor of being the Prophet's personal mu'adhin and was with him in all battles.[6]

History shows that Bilal was a resistant individual who would stand up and tolerate all the hardships for his strong faith. After the Prophet's demise, he left Madinah for Damascus.

The only potential difference between the Shia and Sunnis is the reason behind why he left Madinah.

Shia scholars believe that he didn’t want to say the adhan for anyone other than Rasulullah (pbuh),[7] because:

 

1- There are traditions from the imams that say: "Bilal was a righteous servant (of Allah), he said that after Rasulullah, I will not say the adhan for anyone, from then on, the phrase " "حی علی خیر العملwas removed from the adhan."[8]

2- Sunni historical traditions also clearly state that Bilal refused to say the adhan for the khalifahs after the Prophet (pbuh); Waqedi reports: "After the Prophet's demise till his burial, Bilal continued to say the adhan and whenever he would recite the phrase اشهد ان محمد رسول الله, the people in the mosque would cry in high voices. After his burial, Abu Bakr asked Bilal to once again say the adhan, Bilal replied: If you have freed me (from slavery) for yourself and for me to be with you, then I will do as told, but if you have freed me for the sake of Allah (swt), then let me be free in His way. Abu Bakr answered: I freed you solely for the sake of Allah (swt). Bilal said: (Then) I refuse to say the adhan for anyone after Rasulullah (pbuh). Abu Bakr said: You are free not to do so. Bilal stayed in Madinah for a short while and when the army left for Damascus, he went along with them and remained there.[9] In Al-Isabah, Asqalani narrates that after the Prophet's death, Bilal went to Damascus for jihad.[10]

In contrast to this viewpoint, there is another viewpoint that says that after the Prophet's death, Bilal went to Abu Bakr saying: Oh successor of Rasulullah! I have heard the Prophet (pbuh) say that the best of all deeds is jihad in the way of Allah (swt). Abu Bakr said: What do you mean by that? Bilal answered: I want to go for jihad and fight in Allah's way and be blessed martyrdom. Abu Bakr implored him not to go and said: I am old and feeble, and my death is edging ever close. Bilal remained with Abu Bakr and after his death, went to Umar and repeated what he had said to Abu Bakr and heard the same reply, but this time, he rejected Umar's request.[11] In another weak narration, it has been said that when Umar went to Damascus, Bilal said the adhan for him.[12]

Of course, the first tradition doesn’t contradict the traditions that the Shia refer to. In addition to being a weak and unauthentic one, the second one in no way says that he was the khalifas' official mu'adhin and recited the adhan for them in their presence.

Conclusion: According to their sources, neither the Shia nor the Sunnis accept that Bilal was the khalifas’ official mu'adhin.

His passing has been recorded between the year seventeen and the twenty (a.h.), during the reign of Umar.[13]



[1]Al-Isti’ab, v.1, pg. 179.

[2]In historical records, Bilal has been counted as the fourth or fifth person to embrace Islam. Biharul-Anwar, v.18, pg. 229.

[3]Biharul-Anwar, v.17, pg. 41, al-Tabaqatul-Kubra, v.3, pg. 175, Ansabul-Ashraf, v.1, pg. 156.

[4]Refer to: Al-Tabaqatul-Kubra, v.3, pg. 175, Ansabul-Ashraf, v.1, pg. 156.

[5]Ayatullah Ja’far Subhani, Shakhsiyyat-haye-Eslamiye Shi’eh, v.1 and 2, al-Isti’ab, v.1, pg. 182, Asadul-Ghabah, v.1, pg. 243.

[6]Al-A’lam, v.2, pg. 73.

[7]Al-Ikhtisas, pg. 71.

[8]Man La Yahdhuruhul-Faqih, v.1, pg. 283.

[9]Translation of Tabaqatul-Kubra, v.3, pg. 202, al-Tabaqatul-Kubra, v.2, pg. 178, Asadul-Ghabah, v.1, pg. 243, al-Isti’ab, v.1, pg. 82.

[10]Ansabul-Ashraf, v.1, pg. 526, al-Isabah, v.1, pg. 456.

[11]Translation of Tabaqatul-Kubra, v.3, pg. 202, al-Tabaqatul-Kubra, v.2, pg. 178, Asadul-Ghabah, v.1, pg. 244.

[12]Asadul-Ghabah, v.1, pg. 244.

[13]Asadul-Ghabah, v.1, pg. 245, Ansabul-Ashraf, v.1, pg. 526, Dala’elul-Nubuwwah, v.1, pg. 348, Amta’ul-Asma’, v.6, pg. 350.

Question translations in other languages
Comments
Number of comments 0
Please enter the value
Example : Yourname@YourDomane.ext
Please enter the value
Please enter the value

Thematic Category

Random questions

  • What is the Sunni opinion on Bilal al-Habashi?
    14384 تاريخ بزرگان 2008/07/02
    What Sunni references say about the great sahabi, Bilal, is that he was freed by Abu Bakr, a resistant believer against the tortures of the Kuffar, the Prophet's Mu'adhin, and one of the Mujahidin (soldiers) of Islam in different battles alongside the Prophet (pbuh). After the Prophet's demise, he ...
  • How can we be assured of the issuance of hadiths from the infallible imams?
    9889 Science of narrators 2011/11/21
    One’s trust in history can to an extent be attained through the clues, evidence, proof and fame that have been passed down generation after generation and from era to era. The clues and evidence for certain incidents in history are so many that hardly anyone can doubt in ...
  • Did the Ansar believe in the caliphate of Abu Bakr and is that why they did bey’ah with him?
    13234 Exalted scholars 2011/05/08
    In our view, doing bey’ah and pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr without the presence of Imam Ali (as) and without his consultation, who, compared to the prophet, according to the famous hadith of manzilah, was like Prophet Harun for Prophet Musa, doesn’t bear much ...
  • Is it permissible for me to wear rings made of white gold and silver?
    8126 Laws and Jurisprudence 2011/12/07
    According to the verdicts of grand religious authorities, it is not permissible for men to adorn themselves with whatever is called gold irrespective of whether the gold is yellow or red or white. However, it is necessary to note that platinum is not gold; it is a ...
  • Is it permissible for men to wear white gold?
    41129 Laws and Jurisprudence 2011/12/04
    Office of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah grant him long life):If a metal is called white gold, it is in fact the yellow gold which becomes white when a white metal is blended with it; therefore it is haram. In case, ...
  • Can one turn back from repentance?
    6787 Practical 2010/11/21
    This question doesn’t have a brief answer. Please click on the detailed answer. ...
  • Is it okay to say "Ali is the inheritor"?
    8348 Traditional 2011/02/15
    An heir is someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property or position of another without an external cause like purchase and sale, dedication etc. rather by descent and right of relationship.
  • If the local imam of a mosque in the United States have close ties with the American government, can one have any forms of cooperation with that mosque?
    6209 System 2008/07/22
    People have no other choice but to have ties and relationships with others in society no matter what their religion, beliefs and methods are. Islam has also allowed these types of normal relationships.[1] Muslims can have friendly and just relationship with followers of other ...
  • How is Imam Mahdi’s food and clothing?
    8335 Traditional 2010/11/22
    The imam (aj) lives a normal life just like everyone else. What can be concluded from hadiths about his food and clothing, is that they are at a minimum.Nu’mani, in his book of Gheybah, narrates a hadith from Imam Sadiq (as) and Imam Ridha (as) about Imam Mahdi ...
  • What conditions make it obligatory for one to financially support one’s wife?
    8117 Laws and Jurisprudence 2012/04/14
    Financially supporting the wife becomes obligatory upon the husband when all the following conditions are met: The marriage contract is a permanent one The female meets the requirements for entering into wedlock (financially supporting a female child who does not meet the requirements for ...

Popular