The Story of Bilal ibn Rabah and the Last Adhan (Part 1)

 

The Story of Bilal ibn Rabah and the Last Adhan (Part 1)

Far from the city of Medina, to be precise in Sham, three people were seen gathering. Two people are in serious conversation. One of them was jet black and stocky. The other is pure white and also sturdy. Another white man just silently followed the conversation.

"The people of Medina want you to do it, Bilal," said a white man with a burly body and looking dignified, who was none other than Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab.

Bilal, the black burly man was stunned after listening to the statement of the second Caliph of the Prophet's successor. "I can't, Omar. I won't be able to do it again," he said with tears in his eyes.

Sayyidana Umar was silent for a moment. He really understood why Bilal said that and refused his invitation. A white man with him, Aslam al-Qursy also knew why Bilal behaved like that.

"But, the Muslim community in Medina needs you, Bilal. They want to hear you say the call to prayer. They miss your voice. They miss your call to prayer, O muezzin of the Messenger of Allah!" His name is not Sayyiduna Umar when he is discouraged. He continued to persuade the former slave who was freed by Sayyidina Abu Bakar

Bilal looked at Sayyidana Umar's face, he caught how the second caliph really said seriously. How far is the distance traveled by the leader of the people from Medina to where he lives now, just for the sake of conveying the request of the residents of the city that he echoes the call to prayer again in the holy city.

Bilal's eyes are getting teary. It crossed his mind a few years ago when he asked permission from the first caliph, Sayyidana Abu Bakr, not to call to prayer again and leave the city of Medina. It crossed his mind how the reason that made him do this was simply because of feelings of longing. Miss the Messenger of Allah who will never return to live with him.

Bilal's thoughts and feelings were dragged back far, far back to the good times, when the Prophet Muhammad was present in his daily life, becoming an imam after he gave the call to prayer. Ah, yes, wasn't it the Prophet who ordered him to do this for the first time when the Prophet's mosque was completed? Wasn't it the Messenger of Allah who asked him to go up to the Ka'bah and call the call to prayer at the fathil of Mecca?

Furthermore, wasn't he the one who made the call to prayer every time the prayer time arrived, so that he was dubbed the "muezzin of the Apostles"? As long as the Prophet Muhammad lived, his position was completely irreplaceable by anyone and no one objected to his position.

Bilal's heart fluttered with longing. He remembers well when Prophet Muhammad SAW said to him, "Bilal, give us rest with prayer!" He also remembered when the Prophet SAW said to him, "Bilal, what charity are you doing? I heard the sound of your clogs in heaven".

He also remembers that every time prayer arrives, he will call the call to prayer, then he will stand in front of the veil of the Prophet's room and exclaim, "O Messenger of Allah, let us pray, let us pray!" After that, he returned to the mosque and waited for the Prophet SAW to come out of his room. When the Prophet SAW came out, then Bilal immediately echoed iqomah.

Then Bilal remembered the last day he came to the Prophet SAW That morning, the Fajr prayer would be performed immediately. He also went to the room of the Prophet SAW.

"O Messenger of Allah, let us pray, let us pray!", he said.

Not long after, the Prophet SAW replied, "Tell Abu Bakr to be the imam and establish the prayer!"

Bilal immediately carried out the Prophet's last command to him. He quickly returned to the mosque and met Abu Bakr, then conveyed the Prophet's order to him. So, Abu Bakar came forward to lead the prayer.

Some time later, the Prophet came out of his room surrounded by two people. He walked towards Sayyidana Abu Bakar who was leading the prayer. Seeing the arrival of the Prophet, Abu Bakr then walked back little by little.

He allowed the Prophet to lead the prayer. Finally, the Prophet SAW sat next to him and led the prayer. Sayyiduna Abu Bakar strengthened the takbir.