Hadrat Bilal ra is one of the best known o the galaxy of Sahabah as muadzzin of the Prophet’s saw (peace be upon him) Masjid. He was an Abysinian slave of a disbeliever in Mecca. His conversion to Islam was, naturally, not liked by his master and he was, therefore, persecuted mercilessly. Ummayah bin Khalaf, who was the worst enemy of Islam, would make him lie down on burning sand at midday and would place a heavy stone on his breast, so that he could not even move a limb. He would then say to him:
“Renounce Islam or swelter and die.”
Even under these afflictions, Bilal ra would exclaim:-
“Ahad” – The One (Allah), “Ahad” – The One (Allah).
He was whipped at night and with the cuts thus received, made to lie on the burning ground during the day to make him either forsake Islam or to die a lingering death from wounds. He tortures would get tired and taje turns (Abu Jahl, Umayyah and others) and vie with one another in afflicting more and more painful punishment, but Hadrat Bilal ra would not yield. At last Abu Bakr ra bought his freedom, and he became a free Muslim.
As Islam taught implicitly the oneness of the Almighty Creator, while the idolators of Mecca believed in many gods and goddesses with minor godlings, therefore Bila ra repeated:
“Ahad (The One), Ahad (The One)
This shows his love and devotion to Allah. Allah swt was so dear to him that no amount of persecution could distract him from reciting His Holy name. It is said that the urchins o Mecca would drag him in the streets, with his words “Ahad!,Ahad!” ringing in their wake.
Look how Allah swt rewarded his steadfastness! He was to have the honour of becoming the Prophet’s muadzzin. He was always to remain with him at home and abroad to call out the Azaan for his Solaat. Ater the Prophet’s death it became very hard for him to continue his stay in Madinah where hw would miss him at every step and in every corner. He therefore left Madinah, and decided to pass the rest of his life striving in the path of Allah. Once he beheld the Prophet saw (peace be upon him) in his dream saying to him:
“O, Bilal! How is it that you never visit me.”No sooner did he get up than he set out of Madinah. On reaching there, Hadrat Hassan ra and Hadhrat Husain ra requested him to call out the Azaan. He could not refuse them, for they were very dear to him. But as soon as Azaan was clled, the people of Madinah cried openly out of their anguish at the memory of haapy old days of the Prophet’s saw time. Even the women came out o their houses weeping. Hadhrat Bilal ra left Madinah again after few days and died in Damascus in 20 AH.
The sun submissively rose from the desert horizon cheered us up to start the day with positive mental endurance, enhanced spiritual strength - one hope, one team, and one goal.
Our campsite in front of the panoramic view of the White Desert structures. During this second, our kids were still sleeping while the tour guides were preparing us breakfast. We really had a good breakfast – brownish ayish, honey, cheese, butter and fruit jams, under the open blue sky.
Sometime, we have to self-reflex and look back, the year that was…………. the past……………………………….for better tomorrow.
Along the way back, we stopped at the El Heiss Oasis to experience the hot spring. Unfortunately, the pump was not functioning and hence, we moved to another spot 7.5 km away for another spring – the cold spring. The water was very refreshing and tempting us. However, at the interest of time, we decided to move on.
Our lifetime experience, camping in the White Desert, maneuvering the rugged terrain of the black dessert, dunes and eerie Bahariya-Farafra highway, had one way or another, taught us among others, the real sense or perseverance, patience, and endurance. I would like to record my sincere heartfelt thanks to Yusmadi, Muhammad Rosdi and their families for the great time and most of all, the camaraderie that they had demonstrated over the past 3 days and 2 nights in the middle of Egypt.
