Bilaal ibn Rabaah The First Mu’adhdhin in Islam

The Muslims build the first masjid in Islam.
Bilaal becomes the first Mu’adhdhin in Islam

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• Once Aboo Bakr had bought Bilaal and freed him, he was now able to call others to Islam. He made a great effort to introduce Islam to all the Arabs from the tribes living around I Makkah who were coming to visit the Ka’bah. Bilaal knew that one day the religion of Islam would spread all over the world. The Prophet ﷺ treated Bilaal equal to the rich and powerful men of his time.
• The pagans of Makkah were trying all means possible to stop the Muslims from spreading Islam. After thirteen years of struggle and hardship, the Prophet ﷺ decided that the only way to propagate Islam in the Arabian Peninsula was to move out of Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ asked his Companions to migrate to Yathrib (now named Al-Madinah) so that they could be safe there. After a short period, the Prophet ﷺ joined the Muslims in Yathrib, and from here Islam spread to all other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
• One of the first things the Muslims (migrants and supporters) did after the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Yathrib, was to build a masjid. This would enable the Muslims to gather for Salah and they would learn the teachings of the Qur’aan. Bilaal ibn Rabaah helped other Muslims to build the masjid. The Prophet ﷺ , who was 53 at the time, joined in the construction of the first masjid in Madinah. After building the mosque, the Muslims began discussing ways of calling everyone to the mosque for prayer. Some of them suggested lighting a fire, using a horn or even ringing a bell. However, the Prophet ﷺ did not agree to any of these suggestions because they were imitating the ways of other religions. The Prophet ﷺ was keen to have something different, signifying the great call of Islam.
• After two days of discussions, Abdullah ibn Zayd came to the Prophet ﷺ and told him that he had had a dream. He told the Prophet ﷺ : “I dreamt that a man dressed a green uniform carrying a bell passed by me. I asked him to give me the bell so that I could use it to call people to prayer. The man suggested a better way. He told me that it was better to call people to prayer in the following manner:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. الله أكبر الله أكبر

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. الله أكبر الله أكبر

I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله

I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله

I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger. أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله

I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger. أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله

Come to prayer. Come to prayer. حي على الصلاة حي على الصلاة

Come to eternal success. Come to eternal success. حي على الفلاح حي على الفلاح

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. الله أكبر الله أكبر

None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. لا إله إلا الله

• The Prophet ﷺ happily listened to Abdullah’s dream, and then commanded Bilaal to climb on top of the masjid and call the Muslims to prayer. Bilaal went to the top of the mosque and announced the call to prayer in a beautiful and melodious voice, for the first time in history. This was a call to Islam and everlasting happiness in the Hereafter. The Muslims heard Bilaal calling them to prayer. The whole city fell silent as everyone listened carefully to the beautiful words that Bilaal declared loudly and clearly. The people flocked to the mosque once the Adhaan was announced. Throughout his life in Madinah and the life of the Prophet ﷺ , Bilaal announced the call to prayer five times every day.
• This great mission was entrusted to Bilaal by the Prophet ﷺ . This act showed the high rank that Bilaal held among the Muslims and the great honor he had gained as a Muslim. Bilaal ibn Rabaah was the first mu’adhdhin of Islam, and he carried out this task with devotion and sincerity.

Learning from the lesson

1. Once he was freed from slavery, Bilaal made efforts to tell others about Islam.
2. The Muslims moved to Yathrib (Al-Madinah).
3. They needed a way in which to call Muslims to prayer.
4. Abdullah ibn Zayd related his dream to the Prophet ﷺ . Regarding the method of calling to prayer.
5. Bilaal ibn Rabaah was the first mu’adhdhin in Islam.
6. He carried out his task with devotion and sincerity.