- For other uses, see Bilal (disambiguation).
In Muslim tradition, Bilal ibn Rabah was an Abyssinian who Muhammad chose as his muezzin, and was the first black convert to Islam. He was a slave owned by Umayya. When he heard Muhammad preaching he decided to convert to Islam. When Umayya learned of his slave's conversion, he decided to torture Bilal. Umayya would have Bilal laid in the scorching sand in the desert, during the hottest hours of the day, with heavy rocks placed on his chest to prevent him from moving. Abu Bakr, upon witnessing this torture, bought Bilal from Umayya so that Bilal could practice Islam freely. Muhammad later freed him completely and appointed him as muezzin.
He was known for his beautiful voice for he was the first man to call people to their prayers.
Bilal is also the name of a neo soul musician who took his stage name from the original Bilal.
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