Sayyedna Bilal — Page 26
26. SAYYEDNA BILAL blessings of God be upon him) and thus gained the rare privilege of administering the last funeral rites. . After the death of the Prophet whenever Bilal pronounced the name of the Prophet Muhammad while calling the Azan, he could not bear the absence of his Master. He would burst into uncontrollable tears. His audience too stricken with grief would break down. He felt oppressed in Medina without the Prophet, so he requested Abu Bakr, the then. Caliph, to release him of the duty of calling the Azan and grant him leave to go to Syria with the. Mujahideen (soldiers). As a true Muslim Bilal believed that the greatest good one could do was to wage life-long war for the cause of the Truth. He told Abu Bakr (may God be pleased with him), "I heard the messenger of Allah declare that the best thing a Muslim could do was to take part in Holy wars. My wish is that I devote the rest of my life to this noble cause. " "I fully agree with you," said Abu Bakr, "but pray, stay on in Medina a little more. I am an old man and badly need your help. " Bilal was moved by the Caliph's appeal and decided not to join the conquering armies of Islam during the caliphate of Abu. Bakr. . Bilal was assigned some State duties. It is recorded in History that when the second caliph. Umar bin Khattab called upon Khalid-bin-Waleed (the Sword of Allah) to explain in connection with some of his alleged irregularities and errors, it was. Bilal who took off Khalid's turban from his head and tied his hands with it in open assembly and did