An Ethiopian Muslim Boy

Islam is the second most widely practiced religion in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopians date back to the early days when Muhammad (PBUH) was still in Makkah (Mecca), with the first Muslim to give the Adhan (call of prayer) was an Ethiopian, named Bilal, who was a freed slave.

During the time of persecution to those who where reverts to Islam, the ones that received the cruelest treatment by those who where non-Muslim were those who where slaves. It is said they, “They were seized and imprisoned or they were exposed upon the scorching gravel of the valley to the intense glare of the midday sun. The torment was enhanced by intolerable thirst, until the wretched suffers hardly knew what they said.” Yet even under trying circumstances, which would have maddened even the most resolute man, there were those among these slave-reverts who were as firm as a mountain; as in the case of Bilal, of whom is recorded that “in depth of his anguish the persecutors could force from him one expression, Abad! Abad! (One! One! God).”

It is thought by many because of instances such as this, that slavery is virtually abolished in the Middle East.

The descendants of Bilal, are still from Ethiopia and the ones I have met, are very nice.

Furthermore, what is interesting to me, is my ancestors and those of Bilal, knew each other when Islam was in its infancy.