Acceptance of Islam & Persecution
Urwah bin Zubair narrates that Hazrat Bilal bin Rabah (ra) was amongst those individuals, who were considered amongst the weak members of society. When he accepted Islam, he was persecuted so that he may turn back from his faith. However, not once did he utter such words which they desired to hear from him – that is to deny belief in Allah the Almighty. Umayyah bin Khalf would punish him.
(Ibn Sa‘d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Bilal bin Rabah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2017] 175)
When Hazrat Bilal (ra) accepted the Holy Prophet (sa), he was persecuted through different means. When people would intensify their punishment against Hazrat Bilal (ra), he would say, “Ahad, Ahad” [i.e., God is one, God is one]. His tormentors would tell him to repeat as they did but in reply, Hazrat Bilal(ra) would say, “My tongue cannot utter such a thing.” According to another narration, when the mushrikeen [idolaters] would punish him so that they could deter him away from his belief, Hazrat Bilal (ra) would respond by saying, “Allah, Allah.”
(Ibn Sa‘d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Bilal bin Rabah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, 2017] 175) (Ali Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah, Vol. 1, Bilal bin Rabah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Fikr, 2003] 283)
In one narration, it is mentioned that when Hazrat Bilal (ra) became a Muslim, his masters took hold of him and laid him on the ground and placed stones and cow skin on him and said, “Your gods are Lat and Uzza [names of idols].” However, Hazrat Bilal (ra) would only repeat, “Ahad, Ahad [God is One, God is One].” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) approached his masters and said, “For how long will you continue to torment this man?” Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) paid seven auqiyah for Hazrat Bilal (ra) and freed him. One auqiyah is equivalent to 40 dirham; that is, he paid 280 dirhams for him. Thereafter, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) narrated this incident to the Holy Prophet (sa), upon which the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “O Abu Bakr! Include me in this deed as well.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied, “O Prophet (sa) of Allah! I have already freed him.”
(Ibn Sa‘d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Bilal bin Rabah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2017] 175) (Waheed al-Zaman, Lughat al-Hadith, Vol. 4 [Lahore, Pakistan: Ali Asif Printers, 2002] 527)