The first man to embrace Islam… after Abu Bakr… In the hadith: “O Messenger of Allah, who has followed you in this matter?… He said: A free man and a slave… Abu Bakr and Bilal”!!! Abu Jahl would press his face into the scorching sands of Makkah… and lay a millstone upon him until the sun seared him… saying: Disbelieve in the Lord of Muhammad!!! And he would answer: One… One… One!!! The first to call the Adhan for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ… calling it for him at home and on journeys!!! He was present at Badr… and at every battle after it!!! Umar used to say: “Abu Bakr is our master… and he freed our master,” meaning Bilal!!! Why did he refuse to call the Adhan after the Prophet ﷺ passed away?!! His fame as a muezzin has overshadowed the elements of greatness in his character… read a fresh analysis of the man!!! One morning the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Bilal and said: “O Bilal… by what did you precede me into Paradise?… I never entered Paradise without hearing the sound of your footsteps ahead of me”!!!
