Bilal bin Rabah (R) The Muadhdhin (Caller to Prayer)

Bilal bin Rabah رضي الله عنه was an Abyssinian slave in Makkah with no protection and nothing to bargain with. When his owner discovered he had accepted Islam, he had him dragged into the desert at midday and a boulder laid on his chest, and told him it would stay there until he denied Allah.

Bilal said one word, over and over: Ahad. One. Allah is One. He would not say anything else, and he did not stop.

He was eventually bought and freed by Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. And when the Muslims came to Madinah and needed someone to call the people to prayer, the Prophet ﷺ chose him — the former slave whose voice the whole city would hear five times a day. He was the only mu'adhdhin during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime, and on the day Makkah was conquered he climbed onto the roof of the Ka'bah itself and gave the adhan.

His life taught generations how a Muslim should behave when his faith is challenged.

About the Golden Series

The Golden Series of the Prophet's Companions tells the life of one Companion per book, in language written for young readers and for families reading together. Each account is drawn from authentic Islamic sources and told as a story rather than a lesson — which is why children finish them.

The series works well for Islamic schools and weekend academies, for home libraries, and as a reading reward or gift. Because each title stands alone, a family can start anywhere and collect the rest over time.

More in the Golden Series

Each title in the series covers one Companion in the same short, readable format. Eighteen are currently available:

• Salman Al-Farisi — In Quest of Truth
• Abu Dhar Al-Gifari — Struggle for Equality
• Abdullah bin 'Umar — The Jurist
• 'Amr bin Al-'Aas — The Conqueror of Egypt
• Abu Bakr As-Siddiq — The First Caliph
• 'Ali bin Abi Talib — The Fourth Caliph
• Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah — The Nation's Trustworthy
• Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam — The Disciple
• Khabbab bin Al-Aratt — The Teacher
• 'Umar bin Al-Khattab — The Second Caliph
• 'Uthman bin 'Affan — The Third Caliph
• Jabir bin Abdullah — The Example of Sacrifice
• Khalid bin Al-Waleed — The Sword of Allah
• Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas — The Lion in the Deen
• Sa'd bin Mu'adh — The True Supporter of Islam
• Suhaib Ar-Roomi — The Example of Sacrifice
• Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah — The Living Martyr

Related Reading

• Heroes of Islam — over 70 short biographies in a single volume
• Commanders of the Muslim Army — the commanders of the early Muslim armies
• Q&A on the Rightly Guided Caliphs — the four caliphs in question-and-answer form