The Story of Bilal ibn Rabah and the Last Adhan (Part-2)

 

The Story of Bilal ibn Rabah and the Last Adhan (Part-2)

At dawn, Monday morning on the 12th of Rabiul Awal in the eleventh year of Hijri, the bad news about the deteriorating condition of the Prophet made his companions anxious, including Bilal. After waiting for so long, there was no sign that the Prophet would come out. So, Abu Bakr came forward to lead the prayer. A moment later, the veil of the Prophet's room opened. He seemed to be standing there looking at the companions in the mosque. He then smiled.

The companions were happy to see him finally appearing and hoped that the Prophet's condition would improve, and he could lead the prayers. Abu Bakr was about to step back if the Prophet did not immediately signal to him to continue praying. He then went back into his room and lowered the veil. That was the last time the companions saw the Prophet, because on that day he breathed his last.

For Bilal, the day the Prophet died was the day that most influenced his life. From that day on he was determined not to call out the call to prayer again. It was really hard to bear the overwhelming longing that made him stop when calling the call to prayer. 

He asked Abu Bakr for permission to quit his profession as a muezzin. Abu Bakr also granted his request. After that, Bilal went to Sham. 

He did this because he could not contain the feeling of longing that surged. As long as he still lives in Medina, he will not be able to run away from memories with the Prophet. But, this time, Bilal actually felt that longing was getting deeper and bigger. 

Similarly, the longing that encompassed the feelings of the Prophet's companions who lived at the same time as him, so that they asked Sayyidana Umar bin Khattab to invite him and ask him to be ready to say the call to prayer once again.

Bilal actually wanted to reminisce about the past that was very beautiful. And he realized, it was time to spill that longing. Don't the other friends feel the same way?

Bilal was stunned for a moment while Umar bin Khattab. waiting for an answer from him. 

"Okay, I'll do it again," answered Bilal.

So Bilal went to the city of Medina, a city that has a million meanings and memories with the Prophet he loved so much. Arriving in Medina, when the time for prayer had arrived, Bilal immediately called for the call to prayer. He took a deep breath. A moment later, his very distinctive and incomparable melodious voice was heard again in the air, carried away by the fast blowing desert wind.

Allahu akbar…Allahu akbar …

The muezzin's loud voice echoed throughout the city. Immediately the people who heard the call to prayer were silent. They were shocked. They seemed to return to the time of the Prophet. Did the Messenger of Allah return? 

Allahu akbar…Allahu akbar… 

Bilal made his voice louder.

Asyhadu Allaha illallah... Asyhadu Allaha illallah... 

Bilal really animates lafadz for the sake of lafadz he said. People began to realize that none other than the voice belonged to Bilal, the muezzin of Rasulullah.

Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah…

Finally, Bilal arrived at the lafadz. His voice echoed now hoarse. His chest trembled with longing. Bilal sobbed the name of the person he loved the most. His heart thumped loudly. Without realizing it, her tears just flowed. A flash of memories flashed through Bilal's memory.    

He remembered the figure of the Prophet, how he was first told to call the call to prayer in the Prophet's Mosque, told to go up to the Kaaba and call the call to prayer in front of thousands of people during the Fathil Makkah. Also how he followed every journey of the Prophet and recited the call to prayer every time the prayer arrived or when he stood in front of the curtain of the Prophet's room to tell the prayer would be established. 

"Ashhadu anna... Muham.. madan... Rasulullah..." 

Bilal's voice grew hoarse, sobbing a little. His cheeks were wet with water droplets. He sobbed and held the tightness in his chest and could no longer continue the call to prayer.

Meanwhile, all residents of Medina who heard Bilal's call to prayer felt the same way. Indeed the times during the call to prayer took place exactly the same as when the Prophet was still alive and present among them. Especially after hearing Bilal's hoarse voice when he mentioned the great name in the call to prayer.

On that day the city of Medina seemed to cry, living the longing they had hidden for a long time. All because of one thing, the love is so great for the figure of the Prophet and the longing is so deep, that it is enough to just mention his name and all of them cry blue.

Since that day, Bilal's friend never called the call to prayer again.