Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) Calling out the Azaan on the Ka’bah Shareef

On the occasion of Fath-e-Makkah (the Conquest of Makkah), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered the Ka’bah Shareef with Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Usaamah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). At that time, the musjid was filled with the Quraish who were in rows, watching Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to see what he was going to do and how he will deal with the Quraish who had driven them out of Makkah Mukarramah a few years ago.

Some of the Quraish observed the scene from the mountain tops around Makkah Mukarramah, while others from the Quraish fled and went into hiding.

It was on this historic occasion that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to ascend the Ka’bah Shareef and call out the azaan for the Zuhr salaah.

When Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) ascended the Ka’bah Shareef to call out the azaan, Attaab bin Aseed, Haarith bin Hishaam, Suhail bin Amr and Abu Sufyaan were among the Quraish who were seated in the area around the Ka’bah Shareef.

On seeing Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) call out the azaan, Attaab bin Aseed commented, “Allah has honored my father, Aseed, by taking him away from this world before this day, thereby saving him from hearing the call of the azaan today! Had he been alive and heard this call, he would have been greatly angered!”

Haarith bin Hishaam had taken an oath and remarked, “If I regarded this religion to be true and regarded him to be calling to the truth, then I would have followed him.” Haarith, however, also made the following derogatory remark, insulting Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) “Could Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) not find anyone to call out the azaan besides this black crow?”

Suhail bin Amr said, “If Allah dislikes something, He will change it.”

Abu Sufyaan remarked, “I will not say anything as I fear that these stones will inform Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of what I said.”

As soon as they had spoken, Hazrat Jibraa’eel (‘alaihis salaam) came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and informed him of the statements these people had uttered.

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) summoned them and said to them, “I have been informed of the remarks you people have made.” He then informed each of them regarding the exact statement which he made.

Haarith and Attaab were amazed and immediately accepted Islam exclaiming, “We testify that you are the Rasul of Allah as you have informed us of our secret remarks! There was nobody else present with us in that gathering who could have possibly come to you and informed you of what we had said!”

It was at that time that Allah Ta’ala had revealed the following verse of the Qur’aan Majeed:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا  إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female (i.e. Nabi Aadam [alaihis salaam] and his respected wife Hazrat Hawwa [alaihas salaam]), and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may recognise each other. Undoubtedly the most honoured among you in the sight of Allah is the one who possesses the most taqwa (the fear of Allah Ta’ala), and Allah has full knowledge and is fully aware (of all that takes place). (Surah Hujuraat)

(Tafseer Baghawi 4/195, Ibn Hishaam 4/43, Subulul Hudaa war Rashaad 5/248, Zaadul Ma‘aad 3/358-361)