Although this incident is brief, some orators, storytellers, and preachers have beautifully displayed their eloquence, and writers have skillfully experimented with their styles, narrating and transmitting it in their own ways. One sketching author has written it in such a manner as if it were a hundred percent true and the most authentic event. We will quote it in his words and then present the research of hadith scholars and investigators on it.
They write: The city of Amwas was engulfed in darkness. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) turned towards his bed, closed his eyelids, and soon the fairy of sleep embraced him, and he fell into a deep sleep. Silence prevailed over the entire universe, as if the whole cosmos had fallen asleep. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) began to snore, then his body moved in sleep, his face shone with joy, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. In his dream, he saw the Prophet, the Beloved (peace be upon him), coming towards him. The Noble Messenger (peace be upon him) was dressed in white clothes. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) hurriedly approached him, greeted him, and stood beside him. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) felt immense happiness. The sacred lips of the Prophet (peace be upon him) moved, and Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) leaned in to listen carefully. The Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed displeasure and complained: “Bilal! How hard-hearted this is! Has the time not yet come for you to come to meet me?” When Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) opened his eyes, he heard the echo of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) words: “Bilal, how hard-hearted this is, Bilal, how hard-hearted this is.” At that moment, Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) felt great sorrow and regret, a deep shock in his heart. Then he cried out, “Hard-hearted, stone-hearted, no, O Messenger of Allah! Many years have passed, and I have not visited your mosque. I have not forgotten you even for a moment. My lips have never ceased the remembrance of your blessed name, and my tongue has never been unable to send blessings upon you. I will set out now; I will go towards your city to visit your mosque.”
Hazrat Bilal moved towards the door, opened it, and saw that darkness had spread its veil. Looking towards the sky, he saw stars sending their faint light to the earth, but this light did not lessen the profound darkness. This night was very dark and black. It was not possible to start the journey before dawn, but when would morning come? Could Bilal wait until morning? The fire of longing was burning in his chest. Time was passing slowly. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) was pacing in his house, going towards the door and then returning. Then he remembered that he had to prepare travel provisions, but he had not arranged them yet. Now he began preparing the provisions, and they were ready, but the night had not yet ended. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) was now tired of the length of the night. He thought, “If only I had wings, I would fly and reach Madinah al-Rasool right now, to the mosque of my beloved.”
Hazrat Bilal’s wife was surprised to see her husband walking around the house looking somewhat troubled. She asked, “What has happened to you?” “I want to go to Yathrib.” “But why?” “So that I can visit the mosque of the Noble Prophet, the Beloved (peace be upon him).” “Would it not be better if you slept until dawn?” “I have lost sleep from my eyes.”
Finally, signs of dawn appeared on the horizon. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) quickly left the house, went to his mount, mounted it, and urged it on. It started moving swiftly towards Madinah al-Rasool. Every now and then, he encouraged the mount to go faster so that he could catch up with the caravan that had left for Madinah a day earlier. His mount kept increasing its pace. After a long journey, he finally joined the caravan. During this long journey, he was engaged in self-talk. The displeasure of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) dominated his heart, mind, soul, and intellect, and he kept thinking about the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) reproach. Eventually, the caravan reached near Madinah. When they arrived at the outskirts of Madinah Tayyibah, Hazrat Bilal’s heart began to beat impatiently. He urged his mount to speed up and separated from the caravan. Upon entering the city of Prophethood, his heart was pounding intensely. He was caught between fear and hope—hopeful eagerness to reach the mosque of the Beloved soon, and fear and anxiety about appearing before the exalted presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him) after a long absence. As the Prophet’s Mosque came near, Hazrat Bilal’s heartbeat quickened, restlessness increased, enthusiasm and longing grew. He urged his mount to go faster and finally reached the door of the Prophet’s Mosque. He dismounted, stepped down, and advanced with great respect and reverence. Upon standing before the blessed grave, his restlessness increased, tears began to flow, and in a voice choked with intense emotion, he recited «السلام عليك يا رسول الله».
He felt his throat tighten; the tears would not stop, flowing down his cheeks. He bowed his head silently. His soul began to soar in the sky of memories. The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to mind—the battles of Dhi Amr, ease and hardship, war and peace, and the joys and sorrows in which he participated. Thinking of all this somewhat calmed his immense restlessness, anxiety, and impatience. He felt comfort and tranquility. He stood there as time passed. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) was unaware of the passage of time; his soul was connected with the blessed soul of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The journey of memories continued. Night had begun. It had covered the universe with its veil. Bilal stood in his place, completely indifferent to his surroundings. Then a voice came: “Bilal! Bilal!” He came out of his oblivion and ecstasy, raised his head, and turned towards the source of the voice. He saw Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him). His grief and sorrow increased, tears flowed from his eyes. He quickly approached the two, embraced them, kissed them, and said, “Whenever I see you both, I remember the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him).”
They remained silent for a while, then Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “When did you arrive?” “When the sun was setting towards the horizon, the caravan entered Madinah. I immediately came here to see the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him).”
“Where will you stay tonight?” “In the Prophet’s Mosque.”
“Tonight you will stay with us. Please come with us.” After leaving the sacred shrine, they headed towards Hazrat Hasan’s house. Various conversations took place on the way. Hazrat Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), “Bilal! Since the passing of the Prophet (peace be upon him), you have deprived us of your voice. We wish that you give the Fajr call to prayer tomorrow.” Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Yes, Bilal. You have deprived us of your sweet voice. Will you not give the Fajr call tomorrow?”
“Why not!”
Everyone entered their homes; no one saw him. Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) stayed awake that night. When the sword of dawn appeared in the darkness, Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) set out towards the Prophet’s Mosque. Climbing onto the roof of the mosque, he felt pride and envy. The morning breeze was playing with him; the gusts of the east wind refreshed him. He raised his voice, and this voice echoed in the skies of Madinah Munawwarah:
«الله اكبر الله اكبر . الله اكبر الله اكبر .»
The city of Madinah trembled at this voice. People thought they were seeing a beautiful dream. They said to each other, “Is this the voice of Bilal?” Hazrat Bilal called out:
«اشهد ان لا اله الا الله، اشهد ان لا اله الا الله»
People woke from their sleep and said to each other, “This is Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), surely. But he was in Sham. When did he return from Sham and why?” People opened their house doors and went towards the Prophet’s Mosque as if enchanted. They were captivated by Bilal’s voice. Hazrat Bilal called out:
«اشهد ان محمد رسول الله، اشهد ان محمد رسول الله»
People bowed their heads. The voice was the truth, touching the strings of their hearts. Tears flowed from their eyes. Women came out from behind their veils and moved towards the mosque. People remembered the covenant of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The grief of separation from the Prophet (peace be upon him) was renewed. Tears flowed, heads bowed, and there was silence everywhere, the silence of a graveyard. Then Hazrat Bilal’s voice rose, calling for prayer:
«حي على الصلاة، حي على الصلاة»
Madinah al-Nabi responded unanimously to this call. The words «لاحول ولا قوة الابالله» were on the tongues of the people, raised by the voice of Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him):
«حي على الفلاح، حي على الفلاح»
When Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) completed the call to prayer, people stood silently in their places. Hazrat Bilal descended from the roof and joined them, but people were still strangers to their surroundings, immersed in the magic of his voice. Then people slowly gathered around him, greeted him, and inquired about his well-being. The Commander of the Faithful, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), came and embraced him. Then the prayer began. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) led the prayer. He said Allahu Akbar, and all the people said Allahu Akbar. Then they all became engrossed in worship before Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
Hadith Research:
اسناده موضوع۔
Its chain of narration is fabricated.
This is the story attributed to Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), from which innovators derive various arguments that the condition of their Ummah is not hidden from the Prophet (peace be upon him), that he calls his lovers to Medina, and also about rubbing his blessed face on the grave, etc. References are:
Hafiz Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) says: «اسناده —— وهو منكر .» Its chain is weak and this narration is rejected.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) says in Lisan al-Mizan: «وهى قصه نسه الوضع .» This story is clearly fabricated.
Allama Shawkani says: «لا أصل له .» It has no basis.
Mulla Ali Qari has declared this incident fabricated.
Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Hadi says: This narration is strange and rejected. «واسناده مجهول و فيه انقطاع .» Its chain is unknown and there is a discontinuity.
In it, Ibrahim bin Muhammad is an unknown narrator, and only Muhammad bin Faiz has transmitted this rejected narration from him.
