The Sight of the Divinely Chosen One.
The event concerning the Abyssinian Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh is highly reputed. When the Habeeb Sallalahu alaihi wasallam had left this mundane world, calamity befell upon the noble companions (Alaihum arridwaan) of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Their live becomes utterly desolate. The people also became extremely restless in bereavement due to the apparent concealment of the Divinely Chosen of all Nabis and Rasools Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Amongst these bereaved persons there was an Abyssinian Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh also, he wandered about in the streets of Madeenah like an insane person asking the people: “Oh Brothers! Have you seen the Apostle of Allah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam) anywhere? If you have seen him (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam), make me see him (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam) as well, or tell me only the address of the Beloved (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam). There are traces of foot-steps of the Beloved Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam everywhere in the streets of Madeenah!” At last, Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh being unable to endure the separation of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam any more, he migrated from Madeenah to the city of Halab in Syria. After nearly a year, he is blessed with the sight of the Rasool of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam in his dreams. The Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam tells him: “Oh Bilaal (RadiAllahu anh)! Why have you given up meeting us? Does your heart wish to meet us?” Hazrat Bilaal awakes from his sleep. His restlessness increased tremendously. He got up saying: “Labbaik Ya Sayyidi!” (I am present, my master (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam)!) That very night, he set out for the Luminous Madeenah on his camel. Traveling continuously day and night, at last he entered the illustrious and exhilarating environment of the land of Madeenah – the centre of the compassionate lovers of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. On the very entry of Madeenah, the sadness again became the condition of his heart. He went straight to the Masjidun Nabawi Sallalahu alaihi wasallam and searched for the Madani master Sallalahu alaihi wasallam but the Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam could not be seen. Then he search in the chambers of the Masjid! Ah! Even there the Madani master could not be met with. At last getting restless, he presented himself at the luminous Roza Mubaarak of the Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam and whilst weeping he proclaimed: “Oh Rasool of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam! You have had your bondman summoned from Halab but hid yourself in veil. I did not even have the privilege of seeing you.” Weeping profusely Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh fainted and fell to the ground unconscious near the Blessed Grave of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. In the meanwhile, around the city there spread the rumour about the arrival of Bilaal RadiAllahu anh. There was uproar everywhere that the Mu'azzin Bilaal RadiAllahu anh has presented himself in the court of the Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. When Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh regained consciousness he saw that people had crowded around him. Now humble requests started being made to him. People were pleading: “Oh Bilaal RadiAllahu anh! Allow us to once again hear that heart-rending “Adhaan” (Call to Prayer) that you used to make the Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam listen to.” Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh kept seeking apology from the people with folded hands to excuse him, saying: “Brothers! The calling of the Adhaan is now beyond my strength, because during my call to prayer during the physical presence of Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam when I said ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadar RasoolAllah’ I used to have the sight of the dear master Sallalahu alaihi wasallam with my physical eyes. Alas! The Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam has now hid himself from us. Now tell me how I could have the sight of my master Sallalahu alaihi wasallam during my Adhaan? Kindly excuse me from this service. I do not have the enduring strength any more.” However much the people insisted, Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh only declined. Some noble companions of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam suggested that someone fetch the two gracious grandsons of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam, Hazrat Imaam Hassan and Hazrat Imaam Hussain RadiAllahu Ta’aala anhum, saying that if the two princes would make a request to Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh, then he would definitely submit to their request, because Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh has unconditional love for the Beloved’s family members. Accordingly, someone fetched the honourable princes RadiAllahu anhum and on his arrival, Hazrat Imaam Hussain RadiAllahu anh held the hand of Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh and said: "Oh Bilaal RadiAllahu anh! Make us listen today the very Adhaan that you used to make for our grandfather Sallalahu alaihi wasallam to listen to.” On this Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh raised Hazrat Imaam Hussain RadiAllahu anh in his lap and said: "You are the dear grandson of my dear Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam, the most sublime species of the Divinely Chosen of all the Nabi's and Rasool's dynasty. Whatever you say would be carried out. Oh the prince of the Prophet's dynasty, if I refuse and you get displeased, then the master in the sacred Roza Mubaarak would get displeased too." Now Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh started to deliver the Adhaan. When his soothing voice resounded in the air of Madeenah, the hearts of the inhabitants of Madeenah were moved. Having heard this beautiful Adhaan after many months, it revived that pleasant atmosphere that was apparent during the physical life of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Weeping, the people ran impatiently towards Masjidun Nabawi Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Every individual came out of their houses. All the women and children came out into the streets. People became weak and emotional, they truly missed the Beloved Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. When Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh uttered 'Ashhadu anna Muhammadar RasoolAllah', thousands of shrieks could be heard. Men and Women, all of them weeping bitterly. Small children clinging to their mothers asking: "Oh beloved Mother! Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh has come, but when would the Rasool of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam be coming over to Madeenah?" When Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh called 'Ashhadu anna Muhammadar RasoolAllah', his eyes turned towards the mimbar of the Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Ah! the mimbar was empty. The Sight of the Divinely Chosen of all the Nabis and Rasools Sallalahu alaihi wasallam could not be had. He too became uneasy because of the separation of the Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. He could not endure the bereavement of the Divinely Chosen Messenger and fell unconscious again. After a long while when he regained consciousness, he got up and weeping profusely, he once again set out towards Syria.
The event concerning the Abyssinian Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh is highly reputed. When the Habeeb Sallalahu alaihi wasallam had left this mundane world, calamity befell upon the noble companions (Alaihum arridwaan) of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Their live becomes utterly desolate. The people also became extremely restless in bereavement due to the apparent concealment of the Divinely Chosen of all Nabis and Rasools Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Amongst these bereaved persons there was an Abyssinian Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh also, he wandered about in the streets of Madeenah like an insane person asking the people: “Oh Brothers! Have you seen the Apostle of Allah (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam) anywhere? If you have seen him (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam), make me see him (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam) as well, or tell me only the address of the Beloved (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam). There are traces of foot-steps of the Beloved Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam everywhere in the streets of Madeenah!” At last, Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh being unable to endure the separation of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam any more, he migrated from Madeenah to the city of Halab in Syria. After nearly a year, he is blessed with the sight of the Rasool of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam in his dreams. The Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam tells him: “Oh Bilaal (RadiAllahu anh)! Why have you given up meeting us? Does your heart wish to meet us?” Hazrat Bilaal awakes from his sleep. His restlessness increased tremendously. He got up saying: “Labbaik Ya Sayyidi!” (I am present, my master (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam)!) That very night, he set out for the Luminous Madeenah on his camel. Traveling continuously day and night, at last he entered the illustrious and exhilarating environment of the land of Madeenah – the centre of the compassionate lovers of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. On the very entry of Madeenah, the sadness again became the condition of his heart. He went straight to the Masjidun Nabawi Sallalahu alaihi wasallam and searched for the Madani master Sallalahu alaihi wasallam but the Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam could not be seen. Then he search in the chambers of the Masjid! Ah! Even there the Madani master could not be met with. At last getting restless, he presented himself at the luminous Roza Mubaarak of the Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam and whilst weeping he proclaimed: “Oh Rasool of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam! You have had your bondman summoned from Halab but hid yourself in veil. I did not even have the privilege of seeing you.” Weeping profusely Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh fainted and fell to the ground unconscious near the Blessed Grave of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. In the meanwhile, around the city there spread the rumour about the arrival of Bilaal RadiAllahu anh. There was uproar everywhere that the Mu'azzin Bilaal RadiAllahu anh has presented himself in the court of the Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. When Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh regained consciousness he saw that people had crowded around him. Now humble requests started being made to him. People were pleading: “Oh Bilaal RadiAllahu anh! Allow us to once again hear that heart-rending “Adhaan” (Call to Prayer) that you used to make the Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam listen to.” Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh kept seeking apology from the people with folded hands to excuse him, saying: “Brothers! The calling of the Adhaan is now beyond my strength, because during my call to prayer during the physical presence of Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam when I said ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadar RasoolAllah’ I used to have the sight of the dear master Sallalahu alaihi wasallam with my physical eyes. Alas! The Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam has now hid himself from us. Now tell me how I could have the sight of my master Sallalahu alaihi wasallam during my Adhaan? Kindly excuse me from this service. I do not have the enduring strength any more.” However much the people insisted, Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh only declined. Some noble companions of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam suggested that someone fetch the two gracious grandsons of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam, Hazrat Imaam Hassan and Hazrat Imaam Hussain RadiAllahu Ta’aala anhum, saying that if the two princes would make a request to Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh, then he would definitely submit to their request, because Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh has unconditional love for the Beloved’s family members. Accordingly, someone fetched the honourable princes RadiAllahu anhum and on his arrival, Hazrat Imaam Hussain RadiAllahu anh held the hand of Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh and said: "Oh Bilaal RadiAllahu anh! Make us listen today the very Adhaan that you used to make for our grandfather Sallalahu alaihi wasallam to listen to.” On this Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh raised Hazrat Imaam Hussain RadiAllahu anh in his lap and said: "You are the dear grandson of my dear Beloved Sallalahu alaihi wasallam, the most sublime species of the Divinely Chosen of all the Nabi's and Rasool's dynasty. Whatever you say would be carried out. Oh the prince of the Prophet's dynasty, if I refuse and you get displeased, then the master in the sacred Roza Mubaarak would get displeased too." Now Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh started to deliver the Adhaan. When his soothing voice resounded in the air of Madeenah, the hearts of the inhabitants of Madeenah were moved. Having heard this beautiful Adhaan after many months, it revived that pleasant atmosphere that was apparent during the physical life of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Weeping, the people ran impatiently towards Masjidun Nabawi Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Every individual came out of their houses. All the women and children came out into the streets. People became weak and emotional, they truly missed the Beloved Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. When Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh uttered 'Ashhadu anna Muhammadar RasoolAllah', thousands of shrieks could be heard. Men and Women, all of them weeping bitterly. Small children clinging to their mothers asking: "Oh beloved Mother! Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh has come, but when would the Rasool of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam be coming over to Madeenah?" When Hazrat Bilaal RadiAllahu anh called 'Ashhadu anna Muhammadar RasoolAllah', his eyes turned towards the mimbar of the Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Ah! the mimbar was empty. The Sight of the Divinely Chosen of all the Nabis and Rasools Sallalahu alaihi wasallam could not be had. He too became uneasy because of the separation of the Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. He could not endure the bereavement of the Divinely Chosen Messenger and fell unconscious again. After a long while when he regained consciousness, he got up and weeping profusely, he once again set out towards Syria.