At times Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallahu Anhu) became unconscious as a result of being subjected to severe torture when he regained his consciousness he had to face the angry yelling of his master who wanted him to abandon Islam. However, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, his master, said with a dirty and unkind heart: "You must either die or disown Mohammad's Lord." But the resistant and brave Hadhrat Bilal who had been filled with passion for Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and Islam, was not negligent even for a moment and repeated the eloquent and permanently effective word "Allah is One, Allah is One."

Umayyah ibn Khalaf anger flared. "Shut your mouth, you impudent slave!

"Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..."

Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) had learned these words from Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and Ammar ibn Yasir. The shouts of Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) caused tumult among the people. Umayyah ibn Khalaf, while giving Bilal lashed, shouted, "I will not let him disobey my order! You must respect our idols!"

But Hazrat Bilal's voice continued:

"Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..."

One from among the crowd asked, "What does Absolute Oneness mean?"

A man answered, "He means unique God (Ahad)."

Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) opened his eyes. He saw Ammar ibn Yasir and smiled. He remembered Ammar ibn Yasir's father (Yasir ibn Amir) and mother (Sumayyah bint Khabbab, the first martyr in Islam). Bilal Ibn Rabah shouted with a loud voice, "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..."

Umayyah ibn Khalaf's anger increased. But no matter how much he tortured Bilal Ibn Rabah, he heard nothing except "Absolute Oneness."

That day passed. The torture continued for days. But now Bilal Ibn Rabah went without any fear to the house of honorable Messenger of God, Mohammad (peace be upon him) freely and listened to his words.

One day Umayyah ibn Khalaf, with the assistance of Oghbeh, one of the masters and aristocrats of Makkah, fell upon Bilal's unclothed body and pushed him into the hot sands again. Then Umayyah ibn Khalaf ordered a container to be prepared full of boiling water and sank Hadhrat Bilal into the boiling water. This time he suffered pain more that in the past, but again only the voice of "Absolute Oneness" was raised.

It was ordered that a big stone be brought. They tied Bilal's hands and feet and put the stone, which took four men to lift, on his chest. Then some of people told him, "If you want to be free, just show respect to the idols as we do now."

Bilal Ibn Rabah ridiculed them, "My tongue does not know your words."

Bilal's words were only "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..."

Whenever Bilal said these words, Umayyah ibn Khalaf became intensely angry. He tied Bilal's neck with a rope and made children and ignorant people drag him naked on the hot sands of the city.

In spite of all the hardships, which Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) had to put up with one after the other, he remained solid and firm like a mountain and was optimistic and sure that Allah (SWT) will soon save him. And not only that these difficulties and torments did not weaken his faith in Allah (SWT) but they increased his steadfastness and devotion. Although his body was wounded and his stomach was hungry and he cried on account of weariness, but his soul was strong and enlightened.

Having failed to break the will power of Hazrat Bilal (ra) by inflicting a severe beating. Umayyah ibn Khalaf, the tyrant, fell to even greater depths of depravity. Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallahu Anhu) resisted Umayyah ibn Khalaf so much, until he was bought and freed finally by Hazrat Abu Bakr.

The days in Makkah came to an end. Bilal Ibn Rabah and the other followers went to Medinah by order of Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), who joined them there later.

Bilal's patience, forbearance and faith in Allah (SWT) and creed to Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) caused him to be chosen by Messenger of God, Mohammad (peace be upon him) to call to prayer (Muadhin) the people in Medinah. For the first time Madinah resonated with the Adhan as Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) was reciting it.

There is also one incident that few Sahabah were so jealous about Bilal and his Adhan that they raised an objected and complained to Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) that Bilal does not sound (pronunciation) Ashahdoala ilahaillah the Arabic way.

Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said he loved Asadoallah alihaillalah the African way more than the Arabic way of pronunciation, because of his sincerity towards Islam.

When Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallahu Anhu) went to the housetop and said the prayer call (Adhan), all the Muslims of Medinah went to the mosque and prayed with Messenger of God, Mohammad (peace be upon him).

One day, the people of Medinah heard the prayer call (Adhan), while there was much time left to pray. The people ran, confused toward the mosque. Everybody was waiting to know what had happened. When all were gathered, they realized that the enemy had set out of Makkah and were near Medinah.

By the order of Messenger of God, Mohammad (peace be upon him) each person immediately made ready to defend himself. Everyone took up his arms and when the Islam corps was ready, they set out of Medinah to the place where the enemy was. The corps of blasphemy approached them from the opposite side.

Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and his companions with the motto of "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... God is the greatest" came toward the enemy of Islam. Hazrat Bilal's black face shown in the midst of them.

The fight began at Badr, the first battle of Islam. When the corps of blasphemy heard the shouts of "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ..." a fear came upon them. The voices of Hazrat Ammar ibn Yasir (Radhiallahu Anhu) and Hazrat Bilal (Radhiallahu Anhu) rang in their ears. Color drained from the face of Umayyah ibn Khalaf.

Hadhrat Bilaal (Radhiallahu Anhu) looked at every side to find Umayyah ibn Khalaf in the battlefield. Suddenly they stood face to face. Umayyah ibn Khalaf had lost himself. Hazrat Bilal (Radhiallahu Anhu) shouted, "I will not be quiet until colored my sword with your dirty blood!"

Moments later, when the enemy was defeated, Umayyah ibn Khalaf's body was found lying among the dead. Hazrat Bilal's shout was as thunder as he moved away from the body of Umayyah ibn Khalaf to join other Muslim soldiers to kill more enemies of Islam with each stroke of his sword.

"Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..."

Upon the conquest Of Makkah, as Hazrat Ali al Murtaza (as) destroyed the Idols within the Holy Kaaba, Bilal (ra) climbed on top of the Holy Kaaba and recited the Azaan "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar". The Mushrikeen of Makkah watched in bewilderment the slave who they had once tortured mercilessly stood gloriously on top of the Holy Kaaba whilst they, the Nobles of the Quraysh watched in humiliation.

After the departure of Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) from this world Bilal (ra) went to recite the Azaan, when he came to recite the name of Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), overcome with grief he broke down in tears. The rest of the Muslims also broke down in tears and started sobbing uncontrollably. Bilal (ra) managed to complete the Azaan with great difficulty. After that day he decided to no longer recite the Azaan the grief was just too much for him to handle. He eventually after joining the Muslim army settled in Damascus.

One day as he was sleeping at his home in Damascus he saw Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) in a dream. Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) asked, "Why is it that you don't come to visit me." As soon as Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) woke he set out for the city of Medinah.

Upon his arrival in Medinah the grandsons of Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), Imam Hassan (as) and Imam Hussain (as) came to visit him. Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) had deep love and affection for them and was overjoyed when he met them. Upon the request of the grandsons of Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), he recited the Azaan for the last time.

The People of Medinah were surprised to hear his voice. They were reminded of Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), when in those days Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) used to recite the Azaan five times a day. Upon hearing his voice all the people both men and women came out of their houses in tears and the sound of their grief reverberated across the city of Medinah.

After a few days Hadhrat Bilaal (ra) returned to Damascus where he eventually passed away.

We Muslims were taught but unfortunately we have forgotten the lesson, we were taught that we are Muslim today because of the great sacrifices offered by our beloved Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), Ahlul Bayt (as) and Sahaba Karam (ra). It is through our beloved Hazrat Bilal's (ra) cries of "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..." that we are blessed today with faith (Iman). It is through their sacrifices that we recite Noble Qur'an today. So every time we hear a Qari recite, Surah Ikhlas, let us remember Hazrat Bilal's (ra) cries of "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..." his body bruised and bleeding, in the intense pain they would ask "Bilal! Who is your lord?" he would reply saying "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..." every time we hear the Azaan let us remember the first Muadhin of Islam and his cries of "Absolute Oneness ... Absolute Oneness ... Ahad ... Ahad ..."