Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, was originally from Ethiopia

14-6-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it true that Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, was part Arab, because his father was an Arab? And was Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, born in Makkah?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

Bilaal was originally from Ethiopia. Ibn Katheer said, “Bilaal ibn Rabaah, from Ethiopia, was a slave whom Abu Bakr bought and freed. His father was a prisoner of war from Ethiopia, as was his mother Hamaamah.” Therefore, his father and mother were both from Ethiopia. However, he was born in Makkah at a place called Bani Jumah, but this does not mean that he was an Arab.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 85162.

Allaah Knows best.