Islamiyat · May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Question 5

Write about the lives of the Companions Bilal ibn Rabah and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb.

Use the AO1 Levels of Response.

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be credited.

Bilal ibn Rabah was born in Makka into slavery. His mother was Hamama (Jumana), who was once a princess of Abyssinia but was subsequently captured and enslaved, and Rabah (Riyah), his father was an Arab slave from the Banu Humah Clan in Makka.

His master was Umayya ibn Khalf. After conversion he suffered harsh persecution at the hands of his master, being laid on the hot sand for days and tortured in various ways. Despite this he did not give up his faith. He was one of the slaves freed by Abu Bakr and eventually he migrated to Madina. Abdullah ibn Zayd had a dream that he narrated to the Prophet (pbuh), and the Prophet (pbuh) asked him to narrate it to Bilal and asked Bilal to give the call to prayer because he had a beautiful voice. Bilal was appointed as the first muezzin (the person who calls Muslims to prayer).

He was also placed in charge of the treasury (bayt al-mal) providing sustenance to widows, orphans, wayfarers, and aided the Prophet (pbuh) in securing his daily sustenance and clothes.

He fought in all the battles, and at the Battle of Badr he killed his former master. He gave the call to prayer (adhan) after the Conquest of Makka. After the death of the Prophet (pbuh) he was so grief stricken he refused to call the adhan again and left Madina. He went to Damascus and died there. Abu Sufyan was a prominent and powerful figure among the Quraysh, and a staunch opponent of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Muslims. He belonged to Banu Ummaya (Banu Abd Shams). His daughter Ramla (Umm Habiba) was married to the Prophet (pbuh).

It was his caravan, returning from Syria that was the basis for the Battle of Badr, where despite reaching Makka safely the Quraysh still decided to fight. After the loss at Badr, revenge was sought, and Abu Sufyan led the Quraysh army to Uhud. His wife Hind also went seeking revenge for the death of her father at Badr. At the end of the battle, he went to the top of the mountain and shouted loudly, saying, ‘today is in exchange for the day of Badr’.

After Uhud, Abu Sufyan vowed to fight again and the next time they met was at the Battle of the Trench. He led the coalition forces.

After the Quraysh broke the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, Abu Sufyan went to Madina to attempt to restore the treaty, but without success. His daughter refused to let him sit on the prophet’s mat.

He subsequently converted to Islam when the Prophet (pbuh) marched towards Makka, and the Prophet (pbuh) honoured him despite his fierce opposition for many years by declaring his house place of safety.

In future battles, Abu Sufyan fought bravely as a Muslim and at Ta’if he lost an eye, and it is said at Yarmouk he lost the other. He was made governor of Najran.

He also testified to Prophet’s truthfulness and honesty in the Court of Heraclius during one of his trade missions.

He died aged 90 in Madina.

What lessons can be learned about equality from either Bilal’s or Abu Sufyan’s conversion to Islam?

Use the AO2 Levels of Response.

Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be credited.

Candidates could say, that whether a person is from a rich and prominent background, or a poor background, they are both welcomed into the fold of Islam as equals.

It does not matter what race a person is. Once they have become Muslim their status is determined by their faith, and their loyalty to God and the Prophet (pbuh).

Even if someone has been fighting against Islam or Muslims, as Abu Sufyan was, upon conversion and repentance, past sins can be erased hence people should not discriminate against anyone for their past lives, particularly when they make an effort to mend their ways.

Similarly, people should not consider themselves superior due to their virtuous acts and judge others, or be cruel to them, because it is just as possible for them to come to the right path, as anyone else.