As a result of reforms in religious sphere, a number of mosques are being reopened and reconstructed.
One of such works has been done in Chust city of Namangan region. Prominent chef in Uzbekistan Bahriddin Chustiy notes the following:
Баҳриддин Чустий ижтимоий тармоқлардаги шахсий саҳифаси қуйидаги сўзларни ёзиб қолдирган:
“When I was young, there was the mosque on the way to my school. I used to listen to the beautiful azan (prayer for call) and elder people would bring the joy by their attendance. But, for some unknown reasons the mosques had been closed in 1998.”
Several attempts have been done to reopen this mosque for the past years, but all unsuccessful. Thanks to the initiatives of our President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, this mosque has also been permitted to reconstruct. There is hope that this mosque start functioning until the beginning of the Ramadan.
Press Service,
Muslim Board of Uzbekistan
1. Bilal Ibn Rabah (RA) was kept as slave
An Abyssinian, Bilal (RA) was kept as slave in Makkah. He (RA) was a slave of Ummayah bin Khalaf.
2 His master was a virulent enemy of Islam
Ummayah couldn’t tolerate the fact that Islam was being spread. Yet, Bilal (RA) his Ethiopian slave, converted into a Muslim.
Ummayah bin Khalaf was planning either to kill Him or to make him change his religion. But believe of Bilal (RA) on Allah didn’t let him fear from His master. He got succeeded in his plannings and sent Him for a punishment.
3. The inhuman punishment
In the Arabian Desert, Bilal (RA) was laid under the sparkling sun on the hot sand. Then, heavyweight hot rocks were placed on his body to make the situation worse.
He was burning due to the hot sand from the back of His body whereas, the upper body was burnt by the hot pieces of rocks. Also, He wasn’t able to move due to the weight of rocks.
4. The nights of lashes:
His believe made His master angrier. Bin Khalaf started lashing Him every night. He was tortured alternatively by Ummayah bin Khalaf and Abu Jahl.
5. Abu Bakr (RA)
Bilal (RA)’s punishment ended and He started living a free life as Abu Bakr (RA) bought him from Ummayah.
6. Bilal RA was the first Muezzin of Islam
Allah Almighty rewarded Him for His patience and He was made the Muazzin for the Mosque of Prophet (PBUH).
7. The death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
After the death of Prophet (PBUH), Bilal (RA) wasn’t able to continue living in Madinah. He left Madina but returned after few days when He saw Prophet (PBUH) in a Dream demanding Him to pay a visit.
8. The request of Hasan and Hussain (RA):
When Bilal (RA) moved back in Madina, Hussain and Hasan (RA) requested Him to give Azan. After few years, Bilal (RA) finally left Madinah forever.
He died in Damascus in 20 AH. His tomb is located in Bab al Saghir, a graveyard in Damascus.