The appearance of Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him)

It is narrated from Makhul that the one who saw Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that he was of a deep dark complexion, slim, tall and slightly stooped forward; his hair was thick, the hair on his cheeks was light, much of his hair had turned white with age, and he did not dye it. Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) took part in the battles of Badr, Uhud, al-Khandaq and all the battles alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) established brotherhood between him and Ubaydah bin al-Harith bin Abd al-Muttalib.

Husayn al-Ju'fi said: The kunyah of Bilal bin Rabah was Abu Amr, and his mother's name was Hamamah. He reached the age of sixty-seven years, and he was buried near Bab al-Saghir in the cemetery of Damascus.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ishaq that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) bought Bilal from Umayyah bin Khalaf. He took part in the Battle of Badr alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He was black-skinned. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) gave Umayyah bin Khalaf a slave and took Bilal in exchange for him. His mother's name was Hamamah, and both of them accepted Islam. His kunyah was Abu Abdullah. He died in Damascus in the year 20 AH, and according to another report in the year 18 AH.

Mudrik bin Awf al-Ahmasi said: I passed by Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was in the mosque, and I asked: "O Abu Abdullah! Why are you sitting here?" He said: "I am waiting for the sun to rise."

Muhammad bin Isma'il al-Bukhari said: The kunyah of Bilal bin Rabah was Abu Abd al-Karim; according to one view it was Abu Abdullah, and according to another Abu Amr. He was the freed slave of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).

Ibn Ishaq said: The name of the mother of Bilal bin Rabah was Hamamah, and the name of his sister was Ghufrah, in relation to whom Umar bin Abdullah al-Madani is called "Mawla Ghufrah" (the freed slave of Ghufrah).