Bilal (slave) was first convert to islam

Submitted by Bilal (Canada), Mar 30, 2006 at 11:39

My understanding of Islam is rather limited. But I do see a lot of islamophobia in the internet and media. Possibly this is because of geo-political reasons. My understanding is that among the first people that converted to Islam was one slave called Bilal. Also if you review the last sermon of the Prophet Muhammed(PBUH) he explicitly mentioned that no one person is superior to another because of their birth or colour - he mentions that Arabs are not superior to non-Arabs - this speech is rather revolutionary as it spoke about equality 1500 years ago. Prophet Muhammed also reformed laws that gave females rights that never existed at that time and were only attained by females in the Western world in the 1940s. Unfortunately most of the muslim world is ignorant of their rich cultural and political legacy and do not follow what they preach. But neither do the Christians or other groups. In the end it is up to the individual to find the truth and seek truth. Most of early converts to Islam during the Prophet came from the disadvantaged and fringe group. This is how they were seeking equality and there is nothing wrong with that. Islam empowered them.

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