ATH: Imam W. D. Mohammed(ra) "Our Life Is In Our Religion"

Another thing about Bilal: Prophet Muham­mad told him to go on top of the Kaabah, when he came victoriously into Mecca with 10,000 fearless soldiers, and the Prophet announced the end of feuding and called for no further bloodshed. Prophet Muhammad called amnesty and ended all bloodshed. Bilal wasn't in any black country the Arabs are white-looking. They are generally white like the lightest ones here tonight, and even lighter and more Caucasian-looking. But Bilal was of black skin, and woolly hair. The Prophet told him to climb to the top of the Kaabah. He could have told him to just make the call from the position of Abraham or something there in the Holy Precincts of the Kaabah. He didn't have to tell him to climb on top of the sacred house. That's a message; it acts as a sign, it acts as a prophecy.

Now Bilal himself is not the purpose, you are the object. He was just a sign. Bilal had a very special place with Prophet Muhammad; but what does it mean, if it doesn't find interpretation in humanity and in us? Why did he pick a non-Arab to do that? What is the significance? “OH, because he wanted to show that the blacks were equal in Al-Islam."
He didn't have to make him the caller of the prayer; he could have made him ambassador to Ethiopia. He could have said, "Bilal, you deliver a Khutbah." Or, "Bilal, I want you to be a chief scholar." No, that wouldn't have been in accord with prophecy. The man that's to come, he's not the top scholar. The man who's to come, he's not the orator. He's not respected as an orator, but he has the heart, he has the spirit, he has the love, he has the willingness to pay the price to call everybody to God. He is the caller, he's the caller! Isn't that wonderful? Imam W. D. Mohammed(ra)