414 — Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ayyūb narrated to us, saying: Ibrāhīm ibn Sa‘d narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ishāq, who said: Hishām ibn Urwa narrated to me, from his father, who said: Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—passed by Bilāl while he was being tortured. Abū Bakr’s home was among Banū Jumah. Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—said to Umayya ibn Khalaf, “Will you not fear Allah, Mighty and Majestic, concerning this poor man? How long will this go on?” He replied, “You are the one who corrupted him, so rescue him.” Abū Bakr said, “I will. I have a black slave who is hardier and stronger than he is and follows your religion. I will give him to you in exchange for him.” He said, “I accept.” Abū Bakr said, “He is yours.” Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—then gave Umayya that slave, took Bilāl, and freed him.

Before emigrating from Mecca, he also freed six others on account of their Islam, Bilāl being the seventh: Āmir ibn Fuhayra, who took part in Badr and Uhud and was killed as a martyr on the day of Bi’r Ma‘ūna; Umm Ubays; Zinnīra; al-Nahdiyya and her daughter; and a slave woman belonging to Banū Mu’ammal, a clan of Banū Adī ibn Ka‘b.