The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
‘Allaamah Zurqaani (rahimahullah) has quoted the following incident from Haafiz ibn ‘Asaakir (rahimahullah) with a strong chain of narrators:
After the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasaalm), it was difficult for Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to continue living in Madinah Munawwarah due to his excessive love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the unforgettable memories of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the blessed city.
Therefore, Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) left Madinah Munawwarah and settled in Daariyyaa (a place located in Syria). After some time, while living in Syria, Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) one night saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in a dream. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed him saying, “O Bilaal! Why have you distanced yourself from me? Is it not time for you to come and visit me?”
When Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) awoke from his sleep, he was filled with such grief and concern that he immediately mounted his conveyance and set out in the direction of Madinah Munawwarah.
When he arrived before the blessed grave of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he was overcome by such deep love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and such extreme grief over his separation that he immediately began to weep profusely.
Hazrat Hasan and Hazrat Husain (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) thereafter came to meet him. On seeing them, Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) began to embrace and kiss them out of the love he had for the family of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). They thereafter said to Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “We desire to hear you call out the azaan as you would call it for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus ascended to a raised place in order to call out the azaan. As he commenced calling out the azaan saying “Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar!” the streets of Madinah Munawwarah began to echo with his mubaarak voice.
As he continued and called out the next words of the azaan, the echoes in Madinah Munawwarah increased, reaching the people, until the women and children emerged from their homes. They were all seen crying out of the deep remembrance of the mubaarak era of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Such was the unparalleled love they had for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that never before had there been a day after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in which the people of Madinah Munawwarah cried more profusely than that day. (Zurqaani 5/71)
