Sayyedna Bilal — Page 29
SAYYEDNA BILAL 29 to the house-tops to imbibe fully the magical effect of. Bilal's Azan. The event was remembered in the city long afterwards. . Bilal's closeness to the Prophet won him universal respect. There is another episode that reveals the high esteem in which Bilal was held by. Umar. It is stated that one day Abu Sufyan Bin. Harb, Suhail-bin-Amr and some other prominent. Arab chiefs came to the Caliph for interview. Bilal and Sohaib (an ex- slave) also arrived to meet the. Caliph. When Umar learnt of their arrival he called in Bilal and Sohaib at once and the Arab Chiefs, who had come earlier, stood waiting outside. Abu. Sufyan could not restrain himself and turning to his companions remarked, "It was our fate to endure this disgrace. The slaves are admitted to audience while we the nobles of Arabia stay at the door". At this,. Ikrama, the son of Abu Jahl, burst out, "The Messenger of Allah called us all to the path of Truth. We responded to his call very late. Those who responded earlier certainly got a lead on us. We have no cause to grumble now. " 11. Suhail-bin-Amr retorted, "But who is to be blamed for this? The Messenger of Allah invited us all with one voice but we refused his call and offered severe resistance to him. On the other hand these slaves came forward and made a positive response. . It is their right now to get preference over us in this world and the next, we have no cause for complaint. ". Such is the rock foundation on which Islamic equality rests. Despite all its misfortunes the Muslim world to this day boasts of a human equality which