Today is the birthday of the late Bilal ibn Rabah al-habashi, born on this date on March 5, 580 AD, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Best known as Bilal Al-habeshi, he was born to an Ethiopian slave, and is regarded as one of the most trusted and loyal companions to the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh .
Bilal Al-habeshi is best remembered as being the first muezzin, the caller to prayer. Bilal Al-habeshi was however also appointed the first treasurer of Islam, when he was appointed as the the secretary of treasure of the Islamic State of Madina.
Bilal Al-habeshi is praised for his unyielding faith. When his slave master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, had found that he had converted to Islam, he was severely tortured . But Bilal Al-Habeshi refused to renounce his faith.
Bilal Al-habeshi is also regarded as one of the most important figures in African history.
(Source: “Baran-e-Rahmat – The Rain of Mercy”; “Medieval Islamic Civilization: A-K”)