Sayyedna Bilal — Page 7
SAYYEDNA BILAL. This is the story of Bilal. His father was an. Arab and his mother was an Abyssinian. His father's name was Ribah and his mother's name was. Hamama. He is generally known as "Bilal Habshi" i. e. Bilal the Abyssinian. He was thin and tall with dark brown complexion and thick hair. He had a. Muslim brother named Khalid and a sister called. Aqra. . Bilal was brought up at Mecca in a well-known. Quraish tribe called Jamah. During the Days of Ignorance, the members of this tribe were considered to be experts in palmistry. Bilal's parents were slaves. In those days slaves had the lowest status in society. Slaves had to obey all orders given to them by their masters, they could never think of disobeying them. If a slave died of hard work or maltreatment, the master did not care. His only concern was the loss of money invested in the slave. . Bilal had a natural hatred for the customs and practices prevailing in the Days of Ignorance. The people in those days were devoid of good morals, kindness and of other human values. Deceit had become their second nature. . Bilal was one of the nine blessed souls who were the first to respond to the call of truth. Uncom-