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body and chest. This savage torture was repeated every day until the hearts of some of his executioners
took pity on him. Finally, they agreed to set him free on condition that he would speak well of their gods,
even with only one word that would allow them to keep their pride so that the Quraish would not say
they had been defeated and humiliated by the resistence of their persevering slave.
But even this one word, which he could eject from outside his heart and with it buy his life and soul
without losing his faith or abandoning his conviction, Bilaal refused to say. Yes, he refused to say it and
began to repeat his lasting chant Instead: "One... One!" His torturers shouted at him, imploring him,
"Mention the name of Al-Laat and Al-'Uzzaa." But he answered, "One . . . One" They said to him, "Say
as we say." But he answered them with remarkable mockery and caustic irony, "Indeed my tongue is not
good at that."
So Bilaal remained in the melting heat and under the weight of the heavy rock, and by sunset they
raised him up and put a rope around his neck. Then they ordered their boys to take him around the
mountains and streets of Makkah. And Bilaal's tongue did not mention anything other than his holy
chant, "One... One."
When the night overtook them, they began bargaining with him, "Tomorrow, speak well of our
gods, say, `My lord is Al-Laat and Al `Uzzaa,' and we'll leave you alone. We are tired of torturing you as
if we are the tortured ones." But he shook his head and said, "One... One." So, Umayah Ibn khalaf kicked
him and exploded with exasperating fury, and shouted, "What bad luck has thrown you upon us, O slave
of evil? By Al-Laat and Al-'Uzzaa, I'll make you an example for slaves and masters." But Bilaal
answered with the holy greatness and certainty of a believer, "One... One."
And he who was assigned to play the role of a sympathizer returned to talking and bargaining. He
said "Take it easy, Umayah. By Al-Laat, he will not be tortured again. Indeed Bilaal is one of us, his
mother is our slave girl He will not be pleased to talk about and ridicule us because of his Islam." But
Bilaal gazed at their lying cunning faces, and his mouth slackened like the light of dawn. He said with
calmness that shook them violently, "One... One."
It was the next day and midday approached. Bilaal was taken to the sun-baked ground. He was
patient, brave, firm, and expecting the reward in the Hereafter.
Abu Bakr As-siddiiq went to them while they were torturing him and shouted at them, "Are you
killing a man because he says, `Allah is my Lord?"' Then he shouted at Umayah lbn khalaf, "Take more
than his price and set him free." It was as if Umayah were drowning and had caught a lifeboat. It was to
his liking and he was very much pleased when he heard Abu Bakr offering the price of his freedom,
since they had despaired of subjugating Bilaal. And as they were merchants, they realized that selling
him was more profitable to them than his death.
They sold him to Abu-Bakr, and then he emancipated him immediately, and Bilaal took his place
among free men. When As- siddilq put his arm round Bilaal, rushing with him to freedom, Umayah said
to him, "Take him, for by Al-Laat and Al-' Uzzaa if you had refused to buy him except for one ounce of
gold, I would have sold him to you." Abu Bakr realized the bitterness of despair and disappointment
hidden in these words. It was appropriate not to answer, but because they violated the dignity of this man
who had become his brother and his equal, he answered Umayah saying, "By Allah, if you had refused to
sell him except for a hundred ounces, I would have paid it." He departed with his companion to the
Messenger of Allah, giving him news of his liberation, and there was a great celebration.
After the Hijrah of the Messenger (PBUH) and the Muslims to Al-Madiinah and their settling there,
the Messenger instituted the Adhaan. So who would become the muezzin five times a day? Who would
call across distant lands, "Allah is the Greatest" and "There is no god but Allah"?
It was Bilaal, who had shouted thirteen years before while the torture was destroying him, "Allah is
One... One." He was chosen by the Messenger that day to be the first muezzin in Islam. With his
melodious soul-stirring voice, he filled the hearts with faith and the ears with awe when he called: