Sayyedna Bilal — Page 24
24. SAYYEDNA BILAL. Saying this he called Abu Rouwaiha and handed over to him the Standard of Islam. Abu. Rouwaiha had entered into a pact of brotherhood with Bilal, the Negro slave. . Handing over the Standard the Prophet said, "Whoever stands under this Standard will have peace. " At the same time he ordered Bilal to march in front of Abu Rouwaiha and announce to all concerned that there was peace under that Standard. . The arrangement was full of wisdom. When. Muslims were persecuted in Mecca, Bilal, one of their targets was dragged about the streets by ropes tied to his legs. Mecca gave no peace to Bilal, but only physical pain, humiliation and disgrace. How revengeful Bilal must have felt on this day of his deliverance. To let him avenge the savage cruelties suffered by him in Mecca was necessary, but it had to be within the limits laid by Islam. Accordingly the Prophet did not let Bilal draw the sword and smite the necks of his former persecutors. That would have been against the spirit of Islam. Instead the Prophet handed to Bilal's brother the Standard of Islam, and charged Bilal with the duty of offering peace to all his former persecutors under the Standard borne by his brother. There was beauty and appeal in this revenge. We have to picture Bilal marching in front of his brother and inviting his enemies to peace. His passion for revenge could not have lasted. It must have dissolved as he advanced inviting Meccans to peace under a Standard held aloft by his brother. Never before were the slaves treated with so much dignity, honour and respect as