‘Bilal: A New Breed of Hero’ – The Reviews are In and Muslims are Pretty Divided

Reinforcing the Slave Narrative – Gareth Bryant

This film (subliminally) simply is a Muslim version of “12 Years A Slave” — it reinforces subservience, restitution, acceptance of slave-culture, etc. Why is it that Bilal is the only Black companion highlighted/depicted in film, as “the slave/ex-slave”? Why is it that none of Bilal’s military/statesmanhood accomplishments are ever highlighted/detailed in film? For example, did you know that Bilal participated in all the known major battles during the lifetime of Muhammad (peace be upon him); did you know that Bilal was the first minister of Bayt-il-Māl/secretary of the Islamic-Treasury, the chief administrator responsible for the collection of az-Zakāh/taxation and distribution of as-Sadaqah/philanthropy?

The pseudo-narrative of Bilal is directly paralleled with the pseudo-narrative of Sally Hemmings: The only reasons why either of them are ethno-historically falsely-portrayed as being “Black” is because they were both born slaves and both their mothers were Black (Hammāmah, Betty Hemmings, but: even Betty Hemmings had a European father but because she was a slave she was considered “Black”). …

Bilal ibn-Rabāh (May Allah be pleased with him) was Arab via his father Rabāh, from Banī-Jumah, one of the Families of Quraysh, making Bilal tribally related to Muhammad (peace be upon him). (The Sealed-Nectar) The mere fact that Rabāh is neither casted, mentioned, nor even referenced in the film, truly says a lot as per the agenda of the producers of this film: To do exactly what the pagan Arabs did to Bilal, which was to deny him his Arabness & replace it with Blackness.

Read more of Gareth’s review here.