Who made the call to that night prayer (tahajjud)? It was Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. He was he who had the honor of announcing this prayer throughout his life. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud was the first to witness the spiritual Sun – our Prophet (saw) – rise every morning before the physical sun rose.

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, the close Companion who welcomed the first glimpse of the Prophet (saw) each morning would be the one to witness the very last look, before the curtain fell – never to be raised again. After many days of sickness, the Prophet (saw) lifted the curtain between his home and the sanctuary, and addressed his Companions, ‘I give you peace.’ The Companions were in prayer at the time, and were seized by the desire to run to their Beloved. He (saw) told them to stay in prayer. But Abdullah ibn Mas’ud said: ‘The prayer could be repeated, but that look I couldn’t miss. I looked at his face and it was like a page of the Qur’an.’

It’s clear that Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud was not talking about the physical page upon which the Qur’an was transcribed. What physical resemblance would the Prophet’s (saw) countenance have with the leathers or papyrus which hosted the Word of God at that time? Rather, he was talking about the light of the Qur’an, that light that emanates from the Word of God, and is visible to those who have clear vision. That light was the light he saw on the Face of his Beloved.

The light of Qur’an is the light of eternity, not of black-inked letters. Light is light. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud was an expert of that light as well – the Qu’ranic light. It was Abdullah ibn Mas’ud who recited the Qur’an for the Prophet (saw): for, even though the letters of God were engraved in his heart, the Beloved (saw) would ask to hear the Word of God recited in the voice of someone else, in order to experience its beauty in yet another way. And that someone else was Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. The Prophet (saw) would say: “Recite to me the last thing you learned.” Abdullah ibn Mas’ud said that one time, in response, he started reading from Surah al-Nisa (The Chapter of Women) [in another narration it was al-Nahl (The Chapter Bees)], until he reached the verse: “and when we will call from each nation their witness, and we will call you as a witness for that nation.” Hearing these words, the Messenger (saw) wept. His tears flowed, flowed, flowed. Everytime he (saw) recited or heard the Qur’an, he (saw) lived a new experience of Revelation.

In this love between the Prophet (saw)  and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, we witness the way in which the Qur’an that is recited is a rope connected to the Qur’an that is revealed.

Reference: http://seekershub.org/blog/2016/08/prophet-and-abdullah-ibn-masud/

Khalid ibn Zayd ibn Kulayb from the Banu Najjar was a great and close companion of the Prophet. He was known as Abu Ayyub (the father of Ayyub) and enjoyed a privilege which many of the Ansar in Madinah hoped they would have.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be on him, reached Madinah after his hijrah from Makkah, he was greeted with great enthusiasm by the Ansar of Madinah. Their hearts went out to him and their eyes followed him with devotion and love. They wanted to give him the most generous reception anyone could be given.

The Prophet first stopped at Quba on the outskirts of Madinah and stayed there for some days. The first thing he did was to build a mosque which is described in the Quran as the "mosque built on the foundation of piety (taqwa)". (Surah At-Tawhah 9:108).

The Prophet entered Madinah on his camel. The chieftains of the city stood along his path, each one wishing to have the honor of the Prophet alighting and staying at his house. One after the other stood in the camel's way entreating, "Stay with us, O Rasulullah." "Leave the camel," the Prophet would say. "It is under command."

The camel continued walking, closely followed by the eyes and hearts of the people of Yathrib. When it went past a house, its owner would feel sad and dejected and hope would rise in the hearts of others still on the route.

The camel continued in this fashion with the people following it until it hesitated at an open space in front of the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. But the Prophet, upon whom be peace, did not get down. After only a short while, the camel set off again, the Prophet leaving its reins loose. Before long, however, it turned round, retraced its steps and stopped on the same spot as before. Abu Ayyub's heart was filled with happiness. He went out to the Prophet and greeted him with great enthusiasm. He took the Prophet's baggage in his arms and felt as if he was carrying the most precious treasure in the world.

Abu Ayyub's house had two stories. He emptied the upper floor of his and his family's possessions so that the Prophet could stay there. But the Prophet, peace be on him, preferred to stay on the lower floor.

Night came and the Prophet retired. Abu Ayyub went up to the upper floor. But when they had closed the door, Abu Ayyub turned to his wife and said:"Woe to us! What have we done? The messenger of God is below and we are higher than he! Can we walk on top of the messenger of God? Do we come between him and the Revelation (Wahy)? If so, we are doomed."

The couple became very worried not knowing what to do. They only got some peace of mind when they moved to the side of the building which did not fall directly above the Prophet. They were careful also only to walk on the outer parts of the floor and avoid the middle.

In the morning, Abu Ayyub said to the Prophet: "By God, we did not sleep a wink last night, neither myself nor Umm Ayyub." "Why not, Abu Ayyub?" asked the Prophet. Abu Ayyub explained how terrible they felt being above while the Prophet was below them and how they might have interrupted the Revelation. "Don't worry, Abu Ayyub," said the Prophet. "We prefer the lower floor because of the many people coming to visit us." "We submitted to the Prophet's wishes," Abu Ayyub related, "until one cold night a jar of ours broke and the water spilled on the upper floor. Umm Ayyub and I stared at the water We only had one piece of velvet which we used as a blanket. We used it to mop up the water out of fear that it would seep through to the Prophet. In the morning I went to him and said, 'I do not like to be above you,' and told him what had happened. He accepted my wish and we changed floors."

The Prophet stayed in Abu Ayyub's house for almost seven months until his mosque was completed on the open space where his camel had stopped. He moved to the roots which were built around the mosque for himself and his family. He thus became a neighbor of Abu Ayyub. What noble neighbor to have had!

Abu Ayyub continued to love the Prophet with all his heart end the Prophet also loved him dearly. There was no formality between them. The Prophet continued to regard Abu Ayyub's house as his own. The following anecdote tells a great deal about the relationship between them.

Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him, once left his house in the burning heat of the midday sun and went to the mosque. Umar saw him and asked, "Abu Bakr, what has brought you out at this hour? Abu Bakr said he had left his house because he was terribly hungry and Umar said that he had left his house for the same reason. The Prophet came up to them and asked, "What has brought the two of you out at this hour?" They told him and he said, "By Him in Whose hands is my soul, only hunger has caused me to come out also. But come with me."

They went to the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. His wife opened the door and said, "Welcome to the Prophet and whoever is with him."

"Where is Abu Ayyub?" asked the Prophet. Abu Ayyub, who was working in a nearby palm grove, heard the Prophet's voice and came hurriedly.

"Welcome to the Prophet and whoever is with him," he said and went on "O Prophet of God, this is not the time that you usually come." (Abu Ayyub used to keep some food for the Prophet every day. When the Prophet did not come for it by a certain time, Abu Ayyub would give it to his family.) "You are right," the Prophet agreed.

Abu Ayyub went out and cut a cluster of dates in which there were ripe and halfripe dates. "I did not want you to eat this," said the Prophet. "Could you not have brought only the ripe dates?" "O Rasulullah, please eat from both the ripe dates (rutb) and the half ripe (busr). I shall slaughter an animal for you also. " "If you are going to, then do not kill one that gives milk," cautioned the Prophet. Abu Ayyub killed a young goat, cooked half and grilled the other half. He also asked his wife to bake, because she baked better he said.

When the food was ready, it was placed before the Prophet and his two companions. The Prophet took a piece of meat and placed it in a loaf and said, "Abu Ayyub, take this to Fatima. She has not tasted the like of this for days.

When they had eaten and were satisfied, the Prophet said reflectively: "Bread and meat and busr and rutb!" Tears began to flow from his eyes as he continued: "This is a bountiful blessing about which you will be asked on the Day of judgment. If such comes your way, put your hands to it and say, Bismillah (In the name of God) and when you have finished say, Al hamdu lillah alladhee huwa ashbana wa anama alayna (Praise be to God Who has given us enough and Who has bestowed his bounty on us). This is best."

These are glimpses of Abu Ayyub's live during peace time. He also had a distinguished military career. Much of his time was spent as a warrior until it was said of him, "He did not stay away from any battle the Muslims fought from the time of the Prophet to the time of Muawiyah unless he was engaged at the same time in another."

The last campaign he took part in was the one prepared by Muawiyah and led by his son Yazid against Constantinople. Abu Ayyub at that time was a very old man, almost eighty years old. But that did not prevent him from joining the army and crossing the seas as a ghazi in the path of God. After only a short time engaged in the battle, Abu Ayyub fell ill and had to withdraw from fighting. Yazid came to him and asked:

"Do you need anything, Abu Ayyub?" "Convey my salaams to the Muslim armies and say to them: "Abu Ayyub urges you to penetrate deeply into the territory of the enemy as far as you can go, that you should carry him with you and that you should bury him under your feet at the walls of Constantinople." Then he breathed his last.

The Muslim army fulfilled the desire of the companion of the Messenger of God. They pushed back the enemy's forces in attack after attack until they reached the walls of Constantinople. There they buried him.

(The Muslims beseiged the city for four years but eventually had to withdraw after suffering heavy losses.)

Reference: http://islamicweb.com/history/sahaba/bio.ABU_AYYUB_AL_ANSARI.htm

Rasulullah (saw) used to speak about one particular person in his family. He said, “Let he who has someone that he looks up to look at who my uncle is. My uncle is Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (ra).”  Having embraced Islam at the age of 17, Sa’d (ra) was always regarded as a serious and intelligent man. Rasulullah (saw) loved Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (ra), he adored him and he counted him amongst the ten who were guaranteed Paradise. In fact Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (ra) was given the guarantee of Paradise on more than one occasion. He was given the guarantee of Paradise in the Battle of Badr. Rasulullah (saw) once guaranteed him Paradise individually.

Rasulullah (saw) gave Sa’d (ra) a very special gift and made dua to Allah SWT to accept Sa’d’s (ra) dua. Everything Sa’d (ra) would make dua for was answered by Allah SWT. Sa’d (ra) was a governor in Iraq under the Caliphate of Umar ibn Khattab (ra) and at other times he led delegations in Iraq. On once occasion someone cursed Ali (ra) in his presence and Sa’d (ra) said, “Don’t curse Ali or I will curse you.” The person continued to curse Ali (ra) and Sa’d made dua against that man. There are various narrations that say a beast of the kind never seen before came into Iraq and it stomped this man to death.

There is a special quality – amongst many – we can learn from Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (ra). He lived for a long time. He lived to see the fitnah that took place when Uthmaan (ra) was murdered and the fitnah that would follow after that. Although he was someone who was in line to become Khalifah, he decided to avoid the negativity.

Reference: https://jamiat.org.za/sahaba-series-sad-bin-abi-waqqas-ra/

The great warrior and companion Hamza Ibn Abu Muttalib (ra) was an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). His conversion to Islam was a sudden incident. After being bestowed with Prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) started preaching Islam publicly. For this reason the infidels started opposition and oppression. 

In the meantime one day the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was in meditation at the foot of Safa mountain. The wicked Abu Jahl rebuked him in an extremely, objectionable language and struck him. Uttering not a word the Prophet Muhammad (saw) returned home. Hamza (ra) had just returned from hunting. He came to know about this incident. He rushed angrily in that condition to the compound of Kaba. Seeing Abu Jahl sitting among other leaders of Quraish he roared like a lion. Striking Abu Jahl’s head with his bow again and again, he said, what you dare rebuke my nephew and strike him. Hamza declared so listen I recite la illaha illallahu Muhammad Rasulallah and I accept islam, the religion of Muhammad (saw). Hamza went to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and narrated the whole incident. He also informed him about his conversion to Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) was very pleased by acceptance of Islam by a warrior like Hamza. 

Hazrat hamza (ra) was a mighty brave warrior. He was honored by the title of the lion of Allah his Prophet’s for his incomparable bravery. After accepting Islam Hamza (ra) dedicated himself to the cause of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Islam. He remained like a shadow with the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) during different crises. When the Prophet Muhammad (saw) was engaged in preaching Islam security of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the Muslims rested with Hamza (ra). Hazrat Hamza (ra) earned name and fame for his excellent bravery in the battle of Badr. In that battle the Muslims killed many Quraish leaders including Abu Jahl. 

In the battle of Uhud, Hamza (ra) was one of the targets of the infidels for killing, because many Quraish heroes were killed by Hamza (ra) in the battle of Badr. As a result at one stage of the battle, Abyssinian slave wahshi Ibn Harb with a spear attacked him. He fell down on the ground and was martyred. May Allah (swt) be pleased with him.

Reference: http://bestislamstories.blogspot.com/2012/12/hamza-ibn-abdul-muttalib-ra.html

Thalaba Ibn Abdul Rahman was a young man at the age of 16. He always ran errands for the Prophet Muhammad (saw). One day while walking though the city of Medina, he passed by a house with an open door. Out of curiosity he took a glance inside. In this glance, he saw a light curtain being blown away from a bathroom entrance were a woman was bathing. He immediately lowered his gaze. With an extreme feeling of guilt and hypocrisy his mind ran. Thinking to himself,h ow could he be of the companions of Muhammad who runs his errands and be so horrible as to disrespect peoples privacy?

He feared that Allah would reveal to the Prophet evidence of his hypocrisy. His guilt denied him to ever show his face to the Prophet, so he ran away. Days went by and the Prophet kept asking the other companions if they had seen Thalaba. No one had seen him. With the Prophet's worrying about Thalaba, He sent a few of the companions to look for him everywhere and among them were Omar Ibn Al Khattab, and Salman Al Farisiy. They looked everywhere in Medina and also the out skirts of Medina, until they came about a set of mountains between Mecca and Medina where some nomads where herding sheep. The companions asked the nomads if they had seen a young man that describe as Thalaba's characteristics. They told the companions about a weeping boy. He had been here for 40 days. He came down from the mountains once a day weeping and drank the milk that they would offer him. Then he went back up the mountains weeping, crying, always asking for Allah for forgiveness, and saying words of repentance. So the companions waited until he came down and watched him. Down came Thalaba, he look like he had lost weight. His countenance reflected sorrow as he drank the milk that was mixed with his tears.

The companions insisted that they take him back to the Prophet but he refused and asked them if Allah had revealed any verses saying he was a hypocrite. They told him that they had no knowledge of such verses. He was taken back to Medina where the Prophet went to see him. He asked again if Allah had put him among the hypocrites or revealed that he was. The Prophet assured him that there were no such verses. Prophet laid out Thalaba's head onto his lap and Thalaba asked, "Oh Prophet of Allah, remove the head of a sinner away from you." The Prophet comforted him even though he told the Prophet that he felt as though ants are walking between his flesh and bones. The Prophet told him that his death is near and it's time had come. Prophet witnessed Thalaba proclaim, "There is no God worthy of worship other than Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The Prophet then washed Thalaba and carried him to the grave. It is narrated that on their way to bury Thalaba, the Prophet walked on his tip toes as though he was in a crowd. When Omar asked about this, the Prophet (saw) explained that he was being crowded with the angels.

Reference:

http://bestislamstories.blogspot.com/2012/12/inspiring-and-touching-story-of-sahaba.html

This is the love story between Zainab bint Muhammad and Abu El'Ass ibn Rabee'; Zainab was the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH) and her cousin Abu El'Ass, was Khadeeja's (RA) nephew. He was one of the nobles of the Quraish, and the Prophet (SAW) loved him very much.

One day Abu El'Ass went to the Prophet (SAW) before he had received his mission of Prophethood and said: "I want to marry your eldest daughter". So the Prophet replied: "I must ask her first". He (SAW) went to Zainab and asked her: "Your cousin came to me and he wishes to marry you, do you accept him as your husband?" Her face turned red with bashfulness and she smiled.

So Zainab married Abu El'Ass, the beginning of a great love story. They had two children; Ali and Omama.

Then Muhammad became a Prophet while Abu El'Ass was away from Makkah. Abu El'Ass returned to find his wife a Muslim. When he first came back, his wife said "I have great news for you". He stood up and left her. Zainab was surprised and followed him as she said, "My father became a Prophet and I have become a Muslim". He replied, "Why didn't you tell me first?" Hence a big problem began between the two; a problem of religion and belief.

She told him, "I wasn't going to disbelieve in my father and his message, he is not a liar, and he is "The Honest and Trustworthy". I'm not the only believer; my mother and my sisters became Muslims, my cousin Ali ibn Abi Taleb became a Muslim, your cousin Othman ibn Affan became a Muslim, and your friend, Abu Bakr, became a Muslim".

He replied, "Well, as for me, I don't want people to say, 'he let down his people and his forefathers to please his wife'. And I am not accusing your father of anything". Then he said, "So will you excuse me and understand?" She replied, "Who will excuse and understand you if I don't? I will stay beside you and help you until you reach the truth." And she kept her word for 20 years.

Abu El'Ass remained an unbeliever, and then came the migration. Zainab went to her father and asked him for the permission to stay with her husband. The Prophet (SAW) replied, "Stay with your husband and children".

So Zainab stayed in Makkah, until the battle of Badr occurred. Abu El'Ass was to fight in the army of Quraish against the Muslims. For Zainab, it meant that her husband will be fighting her father, a time Zainab had always feared. She kept crying out: "O Allah, I fear one day the sun may rise and my children become orphans or I lose my father".

So the battle started, and ended in victory for the Muslims. Abu El'Ass was captured by the Muslims, and news of this reached Makkah. Zainab asked, "What did my father do?" They told her, "The Muslims won". So she prayed to Allah, thanking Him. Then she asked: "What did my husband do?" They said: "He was captured". She said, "I'll send a payment to release him". She didn't own anything of much value, so she took off her mother's necklace, and sent it with Abu El'Ass's brother to the Prophet.

While the Prophet (SAW) was sitting, taking payments and releasing captives, he saw Khadeeja's necklace. He held it up and asked: "Whose payment is this?" They said: "Abu El'Ass ibn Rabee". He cried and said "This is Khadeeja's necklace". As soon as the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saw that necklace, he had a feeling of extreme compassion and his heart palpitated for the great memory. The Companions who were present there gazed in amazement having being captivated by the magnificence of the situation.

After a long silence, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) stood up and said "People, this man is my in-law, should I release him? And do you accept the return of this necklace to my daughter?" They answered in unison "Yes, Messenger of Allah".

The Prophet (SAW) gave the necklace to Abu El'Ass and said to him: "Tell Zainab not to give away Khadeeja's necklace". Then he (SAW) said, "Abu El'Ass, Can we speak privately?" He took him aside and said, "Allah has ordered me to separate between a Muslim and a disbeliever, so could you return my daughter to me?" Abu El'Ass reluctantly agreed.

Zainab stood on the gates of Makkah waiting for the arrival of Abu El'Ass. When he finally came he said, "I am going away". She asked, "Where to?" He replied, "It is not me who is going, it is you. You are going to your father. We must separate because you are a Muslim". She implored him, "Will you become a Muslim and come with me?" But he refused.

So Zainab took her son and daughter and traveled to Madinah, and for 6 years she refused to remarry, hoping that one day Abu El'Ass would come.

After 6 years, Abu El'Ass was traveling in a caravan from Makkah to Syria. During the journey, he was intercepted by some of the Prophet's companions. He escaped and asked for Zainab's home. He knocked on her door shortly before the dawn prayer. She opened the door and asked him "Did you become a Muslim?" He whispered "No, I come as a fugitive". She implored him once more "Can you become a Muslim?" Again his answer was a negative. "Do not worry." She said, "Welcome my cousin, welcome, the father of Ali and Omama".

After the Prophet (SAW) prayed the dawn prayer in congregation with the people, they heard a voice from the back of the mosque, "I have freed Abu El'Ass ibn Rabee". Zainab had granted Abu El'Ass' freedom. The Prophet (SAW)asked, "Have you heard what I heard?" They all said, "Yes, Messenger of Allah". Zainab said, "He is my cousin and the father of my children and I have freed him". The Prophet (SAW) stood up and said, "O people, I declare that this man was a very good son-in-law, he never broke his promise, and neither did he tell lies. So if you accept, I will return his money back and let him go. If you refuse it's your decision and I will not blame you for it." The companions agreed, "We will give him his money". So the Prophet (SAW) said to Zainab, "We have freed the one you have freed, O Zainab." Then he (SAW) went to her and told her "be generous to him, he is your cousin and the father of your children, but don't let him get near you, he is prohibited for you." She replied, "Sure, father, I'll do as you say".

She went in and told her husband, "O Abu El'Ass, didn't you miss us at all? Won't you become a Muslim and stay with us?" But he refused. Abu El'Ass then took the money and returned to Makkah. Once he returned he stood up and announced, "O people, here is your money. Is there anything left?" They replied, "No, Abu El'Ass, there is nothing left, thanks a lot." So Abu El'Ass said, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is His Messenger." Then he went back to Madinah and ran to the Prophet (SAW) as he said, "Dear Prophet, you freed me yesterday, and today I say that I testify there is no god but Allah and you are His Messenger." He asked the Prophet, "Will you give me the permission to go back to Zainab?" The Prophet (SAW) smiled and said, "Come with me"; he took him to Zainab's house and knocked on her door. The Prophet (SAW) said, "O Zainab, your cousin came to me and asked if he can return to you". Just like 20 years before, her face turned red with bashfulness and she smiled.

The sad thing was, a year after this incident, Zainab died. Abu El'Ass shed hot tears because of her death and drove those who were around him to tears. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) came with eyes full of tears and a heart full of sorrow. Zainab's death reminded him of the death of his wife, Khadeejah. He told the women, who gathered around Zainab's corpse, "Wash her three times and use camphor in the third wash." He performed funeral prayers on her and followed her final resting place. Abu El'Ass returned to his children, Ali and Omama. Kissing them and wetting them with his tears, he remembered the face of his departed darling.

May Allah be pleased with Zainab, the Prophet's daughter! May He reward her with Paradise for her patience, endurance and struggle!

Abu El'Ass would cry so profusely that the people saw the Prophet himself weeping and calming him down. Abu El'Ass would say, "By Allah, I can't stand life anymore without Zainab". He died one year after Zainab's death.

Reference:
http://www.islamicbulletin.org/newsletters/issue_24/love.aspx

Bilal ibn Rab'ah was a black slave belonging to 'Umayyah ibn Khalaf. He was tall, thin and slightly hump-backed. Thick grayish hair crowned his head. He moved about silently - speaking only in reply. He was born to two slave parents, making him a slave. He used to travel to ash-Sham for 'Umayyah's trading caravan, braving the bitter cold of winter and the extreme heat of summer. His only recompense was a handful of dates each day that he ate to strengthen his body. At his master's house he would serve the guests while going hungry. He was overworked and mistreated as were 'Umayyah's other slaves.

Bilal would often hear about Muhammad (saw), and Islam, through the alarming discussions between his master and guests. Soon he felt drawn to this religion. He would listen to Abu Bakr calling to Islam, and slowly his heart was filled with Imaan. He went with Abu Bakr to the Prophet (saw) and declared his submission to Islam. This was a daring move from a slave who belonged to a staunch enemy of Muhammad. He was the seventh person to accept Islam. Abu Bakr and others of the same tribal status, were spared from harm by the Quraysh. However, the wrath of the disbelievers fell upon the Muslims who had no tribe to defend them. 'Umayyah ibn Khalaf used to force Bilal to go outside during the hottest part of the day wearing a suit of armour where he would then be thrown face down in the sand and leave him to bake in the sun. He would not return except to turn him on his back. He would have a gigantic rock placed on his chest and then say, "You will stay here until you die or deny Muhammad and worship al-Lat and al-'Uzzah." 

Bilal used to endure this only by saying, "One, One." Abu Bakr passed by one day while they were torturing him. He said to 'Umayyah, "Have you no fear of Allah that you treat this poor man like this?" 'Umayyah replied, "You are the one who corrupted him, so you save him from his plight!" Abu Bakr replied, "Then sell him to me, you can state your price." 'Umayyah who was not to let a good deal pass by, he then sell Bilal and said, "I would have sold him to you even if you had offered me but an ounce of gold." Abu Bakr answered, "I would have bought him even if you asked a hundred ounces." Abu Bakr and Bilal went to the Prophet (saw) with the good news. There he announced, "I am setting Bilal free, O Messenger of Allah." This greatly pleased the Prophet (saw) not to mention Bilal himself.

When the Muslims were settled in Madinah, Islam became firmly established - salah, zak'at and fasting were instituted. In the beginning, Muslims gathered for salah at the appointed times without being summoned. Later the Prophet (saw) thought about using a trumpet like that the Jews used to summon to salah. He disliked the idea and ordered a clapper to be made to be beaten at salah times.

Then 'Abdullah ibn Zayd came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I had a dream last night. A man wearing two green garments came to me holding a bell, so I offered to buy it. When he asked me what I wanted it for, I told him that it was to summon people to salah, whereupon he offered to show me a better way. It was to say four times, 'Allahu Akbar', then to say twice, 'ash-shadu alla ilaha illa Allah', then twice, 'ash-hadu anna Muhammad ur-rasulullah', then twice, 'hayyah 'alas-salah', then twice, 'hayyah 'alal-falah', then 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaha illa Allah.' "

"It is a true vision insha'Allah," said the Prophet (saw) adding, "Go and teach it to Bilal for he has a more beautiful and far reaching voice." For the first time Madinah resonated with the adhan as Bilal was saying it. It was only fitting that the one who uttered the word of Tawhid under the harshest of torture should utter it during the adhan. When 'Umar heard the adhan he rushed to the Prophet and said, "By the One Who has sent you with the Truth I had the same dream about it!". Revelation has already preceded you," replied the Prophet (saw).

Badr was a day etched in Bilal's memory. Quraysh was inflicted a heavy defeat and many were taken prisoner. Among them was 'Umayyah. When Bilal saw him, the memories of what he, and other Muslims, has endured in Makkah came rushing back to him. He exclaimed, "The arch-enemy of Allah - 'Umayyah ibn Khalaf! May I not live if he lives!" Now 'Umayyah was 'Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf's prisoner, and this fact dissuaded Bilal from attacking 'Umayyah himself. But, because Bilal kept crying these words, one of the Sahabah killed Umayyah with his sword.

The Prophet (saw) entered the conquest of Makkah not as a proud conquerer, but as a humble servant of Allah. He bowed his so low that it almost touched his mount. After he ordered that all idols be destroyed, he stood at the door of the Kaa'bah and said, "There is no god but Allah alone. He has no associate ... O Quraysh, Allah has taken you from the haughtiness of jahiliyyah and its veneration of ancestors. Man springs from Adam and Adam sprang from dust," then he recited verses from the Qur'an until he said, "Verily the most noble of you in Allah's sight is the most pious." [Al-Qur'an 49:13] He ordered Bilal to make the adhan on the rooftop of the Kaab'ah. Hearing his voice, a disbeliever exclaimed, "Look at this black man!" His friend replied, "When Allah hates someone he turns him to the worst." History however attests that Bilal occupied a distinguished position among the Prophet's Companions. 'Umar would often say, "Abu Bakr is our master and he freed our master." Meaning Bilal. But Bilal would say, "I am only a man who used to be a slave."

Bilal was mu'adhin (the caller to salah) during the time of the Prophet (saw). After he would make adhan, he would stand at the Prophet's door and say, "Hayyah 'alas-salah, hayyah 'alal-falah, the salah O Messenger of Allah." The sweet days with the Prophet (saw) soon came to an end. Everyone in Madinah wept over the death of the dearest man ever on the earth. Bilal was asked to make adhan before the burial of the Prophet. He started the call, "Allahu Akbar ... ", but when he came to the name of the Prophet (saw) he was sobbing so heavily, he could not continue. He said, "By Allah I will not say the adhan anymore."

Bilal asked the Khalifah, Abu Bakr, to allow him to go to ash-Sham for jihad, he spent the rest of his life there. He made adhan only twice since then. The first was when 'Umar came to ash-Sham. The second was when he visited the tomb of the Prophet (saw) in Madinah. Upon hearing his voice, people started to cry for it reminded them of the days of the Prophet (saw) .

On his death bed, Bilal's last words were, "Tomorrow you will meet you loved ones, Muhammad and his Companions." He died in Aleppo at the age of sixty four. His memory is still alive with us today whenever we hear the adhan.

Resources: http://sunnahonline.com/library/history-of-islam/307-bilal-ibn-rabah

This was located near Jabal Uhud, simply my favourite part of Rasulullah (saw) battle history. The mosques is still under construction and was said to be dedicated to one of his Sahabah, Umar bin al-Khattab. I am really looking forward to visit the in the future, Inshallah. 

Umar was born in Mecca 13 years after the incident of the Elephant, In 583 A.D. Of his early years there are not many recorded details save that he grazed camels for his father who was very harsh with him. In his reign he would recall his father’s harshness to him when he passed the field which caused him pains early in his life. We later see him as wrestler who used to attend the famed Ukaz (the annual fair.) Also due to his family’s position in the Meccan Hierarchy he would receive an above average education and would travel throughout Arabia and Greater Syria. Umar’s personality was dynamic, self-assertive, frank and straight forward. He always spoke whatever was on his mind even if it displeased others.

Umar had the respect and sometimes fear of many of his contemporaries. He personally involved himself in many of the states affairs. He was the hands on type and if he saw anything that did not please him he made no secret of it. He would constantly write letters of advice and guidance to his generals. Umar had the welfare of the Muslims in his mind at all times. Umar’s food was simple which consisted of bread and olive oil. Rarely would he eat anything else, at times it is recorded that he eat meat, vegetables milk and vinegar. His dress was also simple such as a shirt only which was known to have a number of patches in it. He also wore a cap and sandals. 

Umar continued to live simply to his final day. One of his companions reminiscing about Umar’s days he said of him: "When he walked, he did so quickly as to get someplace, when He spoke he was loud enough to be heard and when his hit it would hurt." He was a man of purpose and a Mission. He left a legacy that is not easy to follow.

Resources: http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/mih/isl/umar.htm