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Bilal ibn Rabah
First muezzin of Islam; companion of Prophet Muhammad
The enslaved Ethiopian whose voice called the first faithful to prayer — and whose freedom became a founding act of Islam.
The rise
Born in Mecca to an Ethiopian mother, Bilal was enslaved and tortured for embracing Islam. Abu Bakr purchased and freed him, and Prophet Muhammad appointed him the first muezzin — the one who calls Muslims to prayer. He fought at the Battle of Badr and became one of Islam's most revered companions, a symbol of equality at the faith's foundation.
What they did
The full picture
Why it matters
What citizens said
Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021–2023) — Ethiopia
Trust in president49%
Trust in parliament44%
Trust in courts60%
% who say 'trust somewhat' or 'trust a lot' · Afrobarometer Dispatch No. 891