Bilal ibn Rabah

Bilal was a slave owned by Umayyah ibn Khalaf. When he accepted Islam, Umayyah subjected him to horrific torture — he would drag him out in the midday heat of Makkah, lay him on the burning sand, and place a massive boulder on his chest, demanding he renounce Islam. Bilal would only repeat: 'Ahad, Ahad' (One, One) — affirming the oneness of Allah. Abu Bakr purchased Bilal and freed him. The Prophet chose him as the first mu'adhdhin due to his powerful and beautiful voice. He called the adhan five times daily and held a special place of honour. On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet commanded Bilal to climb atop the Ka'bah and give the adhan — the call to prayer rang out from the very house that had once been filled with idols. Some of the Quraysh muttered in disgust that 'this black slave' was on the Ka'bah, but the moment marked the total triumph of Islam's message of equality. After the Prophet's death, Bilal could no longer bear to give the adhan in Madinah. He wept whenever he tried and could not complete it. He left Madinah for Syria. Years later, he returned to visit the Prophet's grave, and Hasan and Husayn asked him to give the adhan once more. When he began, the people of Madinah came out weeping — it was as if the Prophet's era had returned. He could not finish the adhan through his tears.