An early Muslim remembered for steadfastness and the call to prayer.
Faith and freedom
Bilal ibn Rabah, commonly called Bilal al-Habashi, was an early Muslim who endured persecution in Makkah. Traditional accounts describe Abu Bakr securing his freedom from slavery. He migrated to Madinah and became closely associated with the Prophet’s community.
The call to prayer
Bilal is remembered as the Prophet’s first muezzin, calling people to prayer. He also served the community in other practical ways and transmitted reports. Accounts of his later life and the precise location of his death vary. The TDV biography identifies these differences and cites the early sources. His memory connects the history of Islam’s beginnings with the dignity of people who faced enslavement and exclusion.
Sources and further reading
Mustafa Fayda — Bilâl-i Habeşî, TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (Turkish)