Was Bilal (RA) black? Afrocentricity and Islam

[Rooble]

Sometimes in certain discussions you tend to read that Bilal (RA) was a Black man or the modern Negroid, but that wasn't actually the case. Also Sheikhs tend to use this argument to lure more Blacks into the religion, but that is wrong since they are basically lying to these people.

1. His father was Arab, this already completely debunks that he was a Negroid, but let's move on.

2. Bilal had a "fine nose": Muhammad Abdul-Rauf in his book, Bilal ibn Rabah, states,

"He Bilal was of a handsome and impressive stature, dark brown complexion with sparkling eyes, a fine nose and bright skin. He was also gifted with a deep, melodious, resonant voice. He wore a beard which was thin on both cheeks. He was endowed with great wisdom and a sense of dignity and self esteem"

3. Bilal had hazel eyes according to the Syrian scholar Al-Dhabai (1274–1348).

4. His mom was a princess from Abyssinia (Habesha).

As Somalis we know Habesha are far from Negroid.

6. The Egyptian writer Abbas Mahmud al-Aqqad (d. 1964) mentions the following about Bilal:

His features were not identical to that of a Zanj or the sons of Shem.

How the portrayed Bilal Ibn Rabah in the movie "The Message"

Bilal was described as having the same complexion as Zayd and Ali who were pure dark Arabs. Yet in movies they show Bilal as a Negroid and the others as regular Arab men.

So if we go by the fact that Bilal (RA) was a "Black Muslim" then they Zayd
should've been identified "Black Muslims" too. Which is just nonsense.

Yet they all had the same complexion and probably looked like your typical Southern Arabians.

 

[DuctTape]

This is interesting, but if you want to apply Western ideas of race here then Bilal would still be the first "Black" muslim, regardless of the way he looked. Black people are generally defined as being from Sub-saharan Africa and people with even one drop of "African" ancestry (despite the fact that Somalis and Habeshas have little to no Bantu or "African" ancestry) are considered black. Zayd and Ali are dark skinned, but still fully ethnically Arab. It's stupid and flimsy but a lot of people would disregard your argument and say Bilal was black.

 

[Rorschach]

Post proof from the hadith, well regarded Muslim scholars, or prominent Arab historians, that Ali (ra) was black. I agree with most of everything else.

Prophet Musa (as) is described as having dark skin as well.

 

[--Ajakis Lax Max--]

somalis would have claimed him as their own if he wasnt a slave.

 

[anonymous34]

Wait his mum was Arab?

 

[Coulombs law]

Wait his mum was Arab?

No his mom was black.

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

No his mom was black.

His mum was Habesha, not black. Bilal(RA) was a typical Arab born in Yemen.

 

[Coulombs law]

His mum was Habesha, not black.

Ok Habesha not black my bad....

 

[John Michael]

His mum was Habesha, not black. Bilal(RA) was a typical Arab born in Yemen.

Habasha means though or at least negro.

That's why somalis refuse to go by that term.

 

[merka]

I thought it was well known that Bilal was Habashi. I didn't know his father was Arab though.

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

Habasha means though or at least negro.

That's why somalis refuse to go by that term.

You do know that Habeshas used to rule Yemen? There were mixed cities back then of Habeshas and Arabs where they intermixed. Bilal(RA) came from one of those cities in Yemen and he's born from an Arab father, Habesha mother. He was dark skinned like many Arabs, but he's facial features was like an Arab.

 

[John Michael]

You do know that Habeshas used to rule Yemen? There were mixed cities back then of Habeshas and Arabs where they intermixed. Bilal(RA) came from one of those cities in Yemen and he's born from an Arab father, Habesha mother. He was dark skinned like many Arabs, but he's facial features was like an Arab.

habash just means Negroid though. The former bantu slaves in India of arabs are called habashi.

So it's funny how you say they're not black but instead use another word that means the same thing.

 

[Merca]

How many race classifications are there? What race is Somalis, Afars, Beja, Oromo etc?

I always get irritated when in discussions about racism among Muslims, there is always that one that has to bring up Bilal (ra). Many don't know that Bilal (ra) was in fact half Arab (btw why isn't he considered Arab because of his dad being one?) and the only thing they know is that he was the first one that recited the call to prayer.

 

[DeathWish]

He was a dark Habesha. He probably looked like this.

 

[Rooble]

This is interesting, but if you want to apply Western ideas of race here then Bilal would still be the first "Black" muslim, regardless of the way he looked. Black people are generally defined as being from Sub-saharan Africa and people with even one drop of "African" ancestry (despite the fact that Somalis and Habeshas have little to no Bantu or "African" ancestry) are considered black. Zayd and Ali are dark skinned, but still fully ethnically Arab. It's stupid and flimsy but a lot of people would disregard your argument and say Bilal was black.

Bilal ra might've had dark skin or habesha blood, but he was not Negroid. They tend to portray him as a Negroid. When he probably looked your typical Southern Arabian.

 

[Rooble]

Habasha means though or at least negro.

That's why somalis refuse to go by that term.

How did you come to that conclusion?

 

[Netero]

Interesting. I thought that he was full Habesha. I didn't know that he was half Arab. I agree that it is weird that they made him Dinka in that movie.

 

[DeathWish]

This is interesting, but if you want to apply Western ideas of race here then Bilal would still be the first "Black" muslim, regardless of the way he looked. Black people are generally defined as being from Sub-saharan Africa and people with even one drop of "African" ancestry (despite the fact that Somalis and Habeshas have little to no Bantu or "African" ancestry) are considered black. Zayd and Ali are dark skinned, but still fully ethnically Arab. It's stupid and flimsy but a lot of people would disregard your argument and say Bilal was black.

You're learning!

Ok Habesha not black my bad....

Don't apologize. You were correct.

Bilal ra might've had dark skin or habesha blood, but he was not Negroid. They tend to portray him as a Negroid. When he probably looked your typical Southern Arabian.

Does that even matter? As long as he is portrayed by a black man that is good enough!

habash just means Negroid though. The former bantu slaves in India of arabs are called habashi.

So it's funny how you say they're not black but instead use another word that means the same thing.

So the current Habesha got their name from slaves? That's interesting!

 

[John Michael]

How did you come to that conclusion?

Somalis still use the term habsh to refer to any kinky haired people. Madow is the politically correct term whereas habash or adoon is the pejorative. Even In the hindi language habashi is literally .

What do you think habash means? It's actually a word that was used to describe all black skin people not just the people who love in the highlands of HOA.

Even ISIS called all of east Africa bilad al habash.

 

[Dire Dewa's son]

Somalis still use the term habsh to refer to any kinky haired people. Madow is the politically correct term whereas habash or adoon is the pejorative. Even In the hindi language habashi is literally .

What do you think habash means? It's actually a word that was used to describe all black skin people not just the people who love in the highlands of HOA.

Even ISIS called all of east Africa bilad al habash.

You learn something new everyday. I had no idea about that word.