Abu Dharr, the leader of the tribe of Ghifar, and one who accepted Islam in its early days, narrates:
Once I was conversing with Bilal. Our conversation gave way to a dispute. Angry with him, the following insult burst from my mouth: ‘You cannot comprehend this, O son of a black woman!’
As Islam expressly forbade all kinds of racial, tribal and colour discrimination, Bilal was both upset and greatly angered.
A while later a man came and told me that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wa), summoned me. I went to him immediately. He said to me:
‘I have been informed that you addressed Bilal as the son of a black woman.’
I was deeply ashamed and could say nothing. Allah’s Messenger continued his reprimand: ‘This means you still retain the standards and judgements of the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. Islam has eradicated all those false standards or measures judging people by blood, fame, colour or wealth. It has established that the best and most honourable of men is he who is the most pious and upright in conduct. Is it right to defame a believer just because he is black?’
Abu Dharr felt profound remorse. He went straight to Bilal’s house and, putting his head on the threshold, said: ‘This head will not rise from here until the blessed feet of Bilal tread on the face of foolish, impolite Abu Dharr.’
Bilal responded: ‘That face deserves to be kissed, not trodden upon’, and forgave Abu Dharr.
Asalamualaykum
The last line just got to me Subhanallah ..how amazing an individual Bilal (R.A) was
“The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs is afflicted, the whole body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever”.
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