Bilal the son of an Abyssinian ( Ethiopian ) man or Bilal the son of an Arab man?

[techsamatar]

Ibn Qayyim may Allah have mercy upon him said in his book Al Jawabul Wafi on page 235:

“The one who advises people with falsehood is a speaking devil. The one who remains silent about the truth is a speechless devil.”

قول الناصح المتكفم بالباطل شيطان ناطق، والساكت عن الحق شيطان أخرس

It has been widely promoted by many that Bilal Ibn Rabaah ,which translates to Bilal the son of Rabaah was Ethiopian in origin. Although he has been regarded as an Abyssinian (Ethiopian), his father had an Arab name. At first glance, the idea that Bilal had an Abyssinian (Ethiopian) father who had an Arab seems logical. However, an Abyssinian (Ethiopian ) having an Arab name would have been almost unheard of in the times when the Abyssinians (Ethiopians) and Arabs were at war. This Arab – Ethiopian war was way before the Arabs became Muslims and of course before the Prophet Muhammad was given prophethood, which makes it even clearer as to why this would most likely not have been possible.

What does ‘Ibn’ mean ?

The term ‘ibn’ means “son” of someone or descendant of someone . Therefore, there is no confusion in regards to whether he was the actual son of Rabaah or not and no excuse to believe in the possibility of him being given a name by way of adoption. If he had actually been adopted he would have most likely been called Bilal Ibn Umayyah- Bilal son of Umayyah as Umayyah son of Khalaf was his owner.

Why could he not be called by other than his father’s name ?

Allah says in the Quran , Call them after their fathers. That is most just in the sight of Allah. If you know not their fathers, then call them your brothers in faith and your patrons. There is no blame on you if you make a mistake but you are accountable for what is done intentionally. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 33:5)

ادْعُوهُمْ لآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ‏



For this reason, we know if Rabah was not his father’s name , it would have been changed to his real father’s name after Allah had revealed this verse.

Why do I say that he would have reverted back to his original name if Rabah was not his name ?

Bukhari Book 65 Hadith 4782

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:
We didn’t use to call the freed slave of the messenger of Allah may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, Zaid bin Haarithah, anything but Zaid bin Muhammad until the Qur’anic Verse was revealed: “Call them (adopted sons) by their fathers names. That is more than just in the Sight of Allah.” (33.5)
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَلَّى بْنُ أَسَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ الْمُخْتَارِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَةَ، مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا كُنَّا نَدْعُوهُ إِلاَّ زَيْدَ ابْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ حَتَّى نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ ‏{‏ادْعُوهُمْ لآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ‏}‏‏.‏

​

The concept of Bilal Ibn Rabah not being from Ethiopia) is not a new concept​

In book 8 of Seera Alaam Al Nubalaa, Imaam Al Dhahabi may Allah have mercy upon him mentioned a famous narration,​

” On the authority of Ziyaad , on the authority of Umaamah, that the Prophet may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him said, ”There are four forerunners. I am the forerunner of the Arabs, Bilal is the forerunner of the Abysinians and Shuaib is the forerunner of the Romans and Salmaan is the forerunner of the Persians.”

Then he made it very clear that this narration is rejected!

”And this narration is rejected From what is apparent , Bilal is not Habeshi and as for Suhaib , he was an Arab from Al Nemir son of Qaasit.”
ا

قال الذهبي في سير الأعلام النبلاء ج ص ٥٣٠

عن محمد بن زياد، عن أبي أمامة، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” السباق أربعة: أنا سابق العرب، وبلال سابق الحبشة، وصهيب سابق الروم، وسلمان سابق الفرس ” . وهذا حديث منكر فرد والأظهر أن بلالا ليس بحبشي، وأما صهيب، فعربي من النمر بن قاسط..


It is very interesting how this narration and others have been widely spread by many and even when they are told about it and referred to the scholars, they prefer to not correct their errors.

 

[mohamedismail]

Seems like Arabs of the past in the jahilliyah had the same culture of trans Atlantic slave trade. During the trans Atlantic slave trade of the Americas, the child born to a white father and a black slave mother was considered to still be a slave. They would not gain freedom even though their father was a white freeman.

Seems like this was the same in jahilliyah Arab culture. Where after Islam came that changed. If a child is born from a freeman and a slave woman that child is now free and will not be a slave.

 

[techsamatar]

Seems like Arabs of the past in the jahilliyah had the same culture of trans Atlantic slave trade. During the trans Atlantic slave trade of the Americas, the child born to a white father and a black slave mother was considered to still be a slave. They would not gain freedom even though their father was a white freeman.

Seems like this was the same in jahilliyah Arab culture. Where after Islam came that changed. If a child is born from a freeman and a slave woman that child is now free and will not be a slave.

His status as a slave was not determined by his skin color, as both Ali ibn Talib and Bilal shared the same complexion. Additionally, his master, Abu Dhar, had kinky hair and dark skin. Slavery in that context was a result of tribal warfare, where Arabs enslaved fellow Arabs as prisoners of war, irrespective of their skin color.

The Transatlantic slave trade was distinct from conventional forms of slavery; it can be aptly described as cattle slavery. It marked the first instance in human history where descendants and generations were enslaved without any opportunity for freedom, work, or compensation. Moreover, the trade involved the brutal practices of breeding slaves and subjecting them to exceptionally harsh treatment.

 

[cooli3o]

His status as a slave was not determined by his skin color, as both Ali ibn Talib and Bilal shared the same complexion. Additionally, his master, Abu Dhar, had kinky hair and dark skin. Slavery in that context was a result of tribal warfare, where Arabs enslaved fellow Arabs as prisoners of war, irrespective of their skin color.

The Transatlantic slave trade was distinct from conventional forms of slavery; it can be aptly described as cattle slavery. It marked the first instance in human history where descendants and generations were enslaved without any opportunity for freedom, work, or compensation. Moreover, the trade involved the brutal practices of breeding slaves and subjecting them to exceptionally harsh treatment.

could it not be due to his ethnicity ?
they were racist to Abyssinian

 

[techsamatar]

could it not be due to his ethnicity ?
they were racist to Abyssinian

it was evident that the Abyssinians surpassed the Arabs in both power and civilization. Bilal's mother, an Abyssinian Princess, was captured during the Year of the Elephant and became a prisoner of war. It's important to note that the Arabs themselves had diverse levels of blackness and varied textures of kinky hair. The concept of racism and colour distinctions only emerged after the decline of Islamic Spain. Even the Romans and Greeks never identified themselves as white or adhered to racial categorizations.

Abu Abdellah Al-Husain ibn Ali Al-Namari, the well-known Arab scholar who died in 385 A.H., said:

Verily Allah created five colors - white, black, red, yellow, and green. He made four of these colours in the Children of Adam - white, black, red, and yellow.

He gave the Arabs, the Abyssinians, the Zanj, and those who look like them in general - Blackness.

The poet of the Arabs Al-Fadl ibn Al-Abbas ibn Utba ibn Abi Lahab said:
I am the green (black) one - who knows me My skin is green (black) - I am from the house of the Arabs'

And He gave the Persians, the Romans, the Nabateans, and those who look like them in general - whiteness, redness, and yellowness."

The Arabs and Abyssinians engaged in frequent raids and wars due to the geographical proximity of the Horn and Arabian Peninsula. These regions are closely connected, being enclosed by land and sea, and the Arabian Peninsula was historically regarded as an extension of Northeast Africa by both Romans and Greeks.

How can it be related to colour or race, considering that the desert natives themselves exhibited varying degrees of blackness and bore a resemblance to the Abyssinians in appearance?

 

[The alchemist]

I heard someone say that the Arabs of the time had the practice of highlighting the particular parent who had higher status when it came to taking note of someone's background. The mother of Bilal (RA) was a Habashi princess, so that link was more prestigious to mention, while his father was a man who belonged to the Banu Jumah tribe but was a slave himself. Irrespective of that social custom, one defines lineage through paternal recognition regarding descent matters.

 

[Cush]

I heard someone say that the Arabs of the time had the practice of highlighting the particular parent who had higher status when it came to taking note of someone's background. The mother of Bilal (RA) was a Habashi princess, so that link was more prestigious to mention, while his father was a man who belonged to the Banu Jumah tribe but was a slave himself. Irrespective of that social custom, one defines lineage through paternal recognition regarding descent matters.

WHAT? THE BANI JUMAH? They are among the most elite tribes of Quraysh, my abtirsi also has Al Jumahia, as one of my awoowes was half Jumahia, that's crazy wtf

Banu Mahzuum treated him so bad yet his tribe never supported him! He was being humuliated and was close to death yet no one supported, shocking!

 

[Cush]

Some say thy never even called him ibn Hamamah and the hadith o Abu Dardaa is fabricated

 

[attash]

Wasn’t his father an Arab slave?

 

[Cush]

Wasn’t his father an Arab slave?

Yes he was Bani Jumahia and Darood has an ancestor who was bah Jumahia

My uncle

 

[techsamatar]

I heard someone say that the Arabs of the time had the practice of highlighting the particular parent who had higher status when it came to taking note of someone's background. The mother of Bilal (RA) was a Habashi princess, so that link was more prestigious to mention, while his father was a man who belonged to the Banu Jumah tribe but was a slave himself. Irrespective of that social custom, one defines lineage through paternal recognition regarding descent matters.

Rabah, Bilal's father, endured captivity as a prisoner of war and was forced into slavery amidst the chaos of Arabian tribal conflicts and raids. This unfortunate situation led to his status as a slave, and he later had children with the Abyssinian princess, Bilal's mother. Her own loss of status occurred during the year of the elephant when the Abyssinians Failed to destroy the Kaaba.

He inherited his deep black complexion from his father, Rabah. Abyssinians, even today, are generally recognized for having dark brown or wheatish complexion, Bilal also possessed a hooked aquiline nose, suggesting that he likely had the characteristic horn-shaped African facial structure.

 

[The alchemist]

Yes he was Bani Jumahia and Darood has an ancestor who was bah Jumahia

My uncle

"Bah" is uterine ties. This means, that the common mother was of Jumahia, not on the paternal side.

Basically, if there is a man who marries several women, and the women get children, later when those clan ancestors get descendants, the descendant might form supplementary ties based on a common shared ancestral mother to grow political, territorial, economic, populational strength against more powerful tribal cousins who are descendant of different mothers but the same father.

For example, on the right, B, C, and D can form "Bah," since they come from the same mother, while A is from another mother. So bah, has nothing to do with the father's side, only on an ancestral mother whom the tribal clan ancestor married who formed the clans they belong to.

So in your case, if what you are saying is true, then Jumahia, irrespective if it has anything to do with the tribe of Bilal (RA), was the tribe of that ancestral mother, is not your paternal abtirsi. It's just that somewhere along the line, some guys wanted to form extra tries based on closer relationships, probably within an internal tribal competition/power friction to not get dominated. So it is an example of matrilineal involvement when it is necessary, although the maternal naming only reflects that female's lineage alone.

 

[The alchemist]

Rabah, Bilal's father, endured captivity as a prisoner of war and was forced into slavery amidst the chaos of Arabian tribal conflicts and raids. This unfortunate situation led to his status as a slave, and he later had children with the Abyssinian princess, Bilal's mother. Her own loss of status occurred during the year of the elephant when the Abyssinians Failed to destroy the Kaaba.

He inherited his deep black complexion from his father, Rabah. Abyssinians, even today, are generally recognized for having dark brown or wheatish complexion, Bilal also possessed a hooked aquiline nose, suggesting that he likely had the characteristic horn-shaped African facial structure.

I think the father was dark, with probably increased African DNA as I have heard he belonged to an Arab tribe, not Habashi, patrilineally. Paternally Bilal was Arab, but he was dark because both his parents likely were as well. To this day you have individuals from prominent Arab tribes who have considerable African DNA shown among one of the companions of King Saud:

And there would be no difference back then as well, individuals with some African ancestry belonging to Arab tribes.

 

[techsamatar]

I think the father was dark, with probably increased African DNA as I have heard he belonged to an Arab tribe, not Habash in patrilineally. Paternally Bilal was Arab, but he was dark because both his parents likely were as well. To this day you have individuals from prominent Arab tribes who have considerable African DNA shown among one of the companions of King Saud:
View attachment 299203

And there would be no difference back then as well, individuals with some African ancestry belonging to Arab tribes.

We must dispel the myth associating blackness solely with Africa. Blackness is not confined to Africa; it is a trait bestowed by Allah upon the descendants of Shem and Ham. Across regions, from those with kinky hair to various levels of blackness, including islands near India, the descendants of Shem and Ham display these traits.

Both Semites and Hamites inherited their blackness from our common ancestor, Nuh, reaching back to Adam. The traits of whiteness and redness only emerged from Japheth, one of Nuh's sons, and his descendants.


Tabaqaat Ibn Saa’d Chapter 1 page 27 Seera Al Nabaweyah

And Allah, glory be to him, made in them ( SHEM ) Prophets and books and BEAUTY, and UDMAH ( dark brown to jet black) and bayaadh( light brown skinned) complexions and the Children of HAAM descended in the southern surroundings and Dabour and it is said for that is the end of Daroom, and ALLAH made them UDMAH ( dark brown to jet black) and a few of them bayaadh( light brown skinned) in complexion…..

وجعل الله سبحانه فيهم النبوة والكتاب والجمال والأدمة والبياض، ونزل بنو حام مجرى الجنوب والدّبور، وجعل الله فيهم أدمة وبياضاً قليلاً



”And Japeth Al Safwaan descended in the central areas and in the North and they were very white skinned and very white skinned with some redness (rosy cheeked)”

ونزل بنو يافث الصفوان مجرى الصبا والشمال”، فكان فيهم الحمرة والشقرة

 

[Cush]

"Bah" is uterine ties. This means, that the common mother was of Jumahia, not on the paternal side.

Basically, if there is a man who marries several women, and the women get children, later when those clan ancestors get descendants, the descendant might form supplementary ties based on a common shared ancestral mother to grow political, territorial, economic, populational strength against more powerful tribal cousins who are descendant of different mothers but the same father.

For example, on the right, B, C, and D can form "Bah," since they come from the same mother, while A is from another mother. So bah, has nothing to do with the father's side, only on an ancestral mother whom the tribal clan ancestor married who formed the clans they belong to.

So in your case, if what you are saying is true, then Jumahia, irrespective if it has anything to do with the tribe of Bilal (RA), was the tribe of that ancestral mother, is not your paternal abtirsi. It's just that somewhere along the line, some guys wanted to form extra tries based on closer relationships, probably within an internal tribal competition/power friction to not get dominated. So it is an example of matrilineal involvement when it is necessary, although the maternal naming only reflects that female's lineage alone.

Yes I know Al Jumahia are the most laandheere among Banu Aqeel we ruled Madinah parts of Yemen all the way to Makkah and the horn

Darood Al Jabarti brought Islam to the horn
Omar Al Zaylici (Hemedti's tribe) brought the Maliki school of Fiqh to Sudan and were Sheikhs

 

[cooli3o]

it was evident that the Abyssinians surpassed the Arabs in both power and civilization. Bilal's mother, an Abyssinian Princess, was captured during the Year of the Elephant and became a prisoner of war. It's important to note that the Arabs themselves had diverse levels of blackness and varied textures of kinky hair. The concept of racism and colour distinctions only emerged after the decline of Islamic Spain. Even the Romans and Greeks never identified themselves as white or adhered to racial categorizations.

Abu Abdellah Al-Husain ibn Ali Al-Namari, the well-known Arab scholar who died in 385 A.H., said:

Verily Allah created five colors - white, black, red, yellow, and green. He made four of these colours in the Children of Adam - white, black, red, and yellow.

He gave the Arabs, the Abyssinians, the Zanj, and those who look like them in general - Blackness.

The poet of the Arabs Al-Fadl ibn Al-Abbas ibn Utba ibn Abi Lahab said:
I am the green (black) one - who knows me My skin is green (black) - I am from the house of the Arabs'

And He gave the Persians, the Romans, the Nabateans, and those who look like them in general - whiteness, redness, and yellowness."

The Arabs and Abyssinians engaged in frequent raids and wars due to the geographical proximity of the Horn and Arabian Peninsula. These regions are closely connected, being enclosed by land and sea, and the Arabian Peninsula was historically regarded as an extension of Northeast Africa by both Romans and Greeks.

How can it be related to colour or race, considering that the desert natives themselves exhibited varying degrees of blackness and bore a resemblance to the Abyssinians in appearance?

what about antarah ibn shaddad
he even made a poem describing his mothers(abysinian) black skin colour, so clearly there was a distinction between them and the arabs

 

[cooli3o]

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَسْوَدَ ـ أَوِ امْرَأَةً سَوْدَاءَ ـ كَانَ يَقُمُّ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَمَاتَ، فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْهُ فَقَالُوا مَاتَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَفَلاَ كُنْتُمْ آذَنْتُمُونِي بِهِ دُلُّونِي عَلَى قَبْرِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ ـ أَوْ قَالَ قَبْرِهَا ـ فَأَتَى قَبْرَهُ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ‏.‏

: Sahih al-Bukhari 458

why was it so important to mention her skin colour? clearly she was seen as lower than the arabs due to her skin colour, and noone even cared to pray janazah over her.
what about this hadeeth?

 

[techsamatar]

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَسْوَدَ ـ أَوِ امْرَأَةً سَوْدَاءَ ـ كَانَ يَقُمُّ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَمَاتَ، فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْهُ فَقَالُوا مَاتَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَفَلاَ كُنْتُمْ آذَنْتُمُونِي بِهِ دُلُّونِي عَلَى قَبْرِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ ـ أَوْ قَالَ قَبْرِهَا ـ فَأَتَى قَبْرَهُ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ‏.‏

: Sahih al-Bukhari 458

why was it so important to mention her skin colour? clearly she was seen as lower than the arabs due to her skin colour, and noone even cared to pray janazah over her.
what about this hadeeth?

Brother, go to ChatGPT, paste only the classical Arabic text above you sent, and inquire whether the term 'black' is mentioned in this text. Afterward, share the response with me. The mainstream websites often provide translations that are weak and inaccurate, especially concerning complexion and racial terms used by Arabs. These terms don't align with the racial and color categories we recognize today.

The text does not specify that she was Habesha; in fact, they were likely Arabs. Additionally, there is no mention of them refraining from the funeral prayer because they were black or slaves, so I fail to see the correlation.

 

[techsamatar]

what about antarah ibn shaddad
he even made a poem describing his mothers(abysinian) black skin colour, so clearly there was a distinction between them and the arabs

The only distinction that existed was between the Arabs and the Red (referring to Persians/Romans). The Romans were positioned to the left, and the Persians to the right, surrounding the Arabian Peninsula and overshadowing the Arabs who were considered backward. Both groups, the Romans and Persians, were termed "Red" due to their whiteness and lank hair. This was in complete contrast to the Arabs inhabiting the desert and hot regions, who had shades of blackness and kinky hair.

 

[cooli3o]

Brother, go to ChatGPT, paste only the classical Arabic text above you sent, and inquire whether the term 'black' is mentioned in this text

The term "black" is mentioned in the Hadith you provided. It mentions a man who was black in color (أسود) or a black woman (امرأة سوداء) who used to stand in the mosque, and after their death, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not informed about their death until later.

Yes, in the context of this Hadith, the term "black" (أسود) refers to the individual's skin color. It describes the person as having a dark or black skin color.