Bilaal al-Ḥabashi (may Allah be pleased with him)

When Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) owner, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, found out about Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) entry into the fold of Islam, he threatened him, and when that didn't work, he offered him incentives to abandon his faith. But Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) remained steadfast, refusing to return to disbelief and misguidance. Furious at the idea of a slave thinking that he had the right to choose his own faith, Umayyah decided to teach Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) a painful lesson and to make him an example for other Muslims. Having prevented Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) from eating any food or drinking any water for an entire day, Umayyah took him out to the hot sands of the desert. Then, placing Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) bare back on top of some burning hot sand, Umayyah ordered his other servants to carry a huge stone and place it over the chest of Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him), whose hands were meanwhile tied down so that he could not move. When the brutal deed was done and Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) slay there in extreme pain, Umayyah said, "You will remain upon this condition until you either die or disbelieve in Muhammad and instead worship Al-Laat and Al-‘Uzza." Rather than complain about his predicament or give in to the demands of Umayyah, Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) simply answered in a dignified tone, "One, One."

Umayyah and his minions continued to torture Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) in this manner until one day, Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) was tortured so severely that his torturers realised that he was too weakened from their constant beatings to be of any more use to them. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) then walked by and addressed Ummayyah ibn Khalaf, Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) owner, saying, "Will you not fear Allah regarding this poor person? Until when (will you continue to persecute him)!"

Ummayyah said, "You are the one who corrupted him! so you save him from his present condition."

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "I will do so, I have a black slave who is stronger than him and firmer than him upon your religion. I will trade you him for Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) ." According to another narration, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not trade his own slave for Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him), but instead purchased him for either 7 Awaaqin (a measurement used for gold) or 40 Awaaqin of gold.

Ummayyah accepted the offer. Once the trade was completed, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) declared that Bilaal (may Allah be pleased with him) is now a free man.