Friday Sermon
17 October 2025
Muhammadsa: The great exemplar
After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:
In the previous Friday Sermon, the Battle of Tabuk was briefly discussed, and I will present some further details in this regard today. Whilst mentioning the background to the Battle of Tabuk, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:
“When the Holy Prophetsa conquered Mecca, Abu ‘Amir Madani, who belonged to the tribe of Khazraj, due to his relations with the Jews and the Christians, was well-acquainted with their manner of prayer and worship. For this reason, people also called him a priest; however, he was not a Christian by faith. After the Holy Prophetsa migrated to Medina, this individual fled to Mecca. Nevertheless, once Mecca was conquered as well, he thought that he would have to come up with a new scheme in opposition to Islam. At last, he changed his name and appearance and started living near Medina, in the village of Quba. Having lived away from home for many years and having changed his appearance and attire, the people of Medina did not recognise him. Only those hypocrites recognised him whom he had formed a relationship with. Joining the hypocrites of Medina, he suggested that he would go to Syria to instigate the Christian government and the Arab Christian tribes and to encourage them to launch an attack on Medina. And he told them (i.e., the hypocrites within Medina) that they should raise alarm that Syrian forces were going to launch an attack on Medina. That is, the hypocrites in Medina should start spreading this news there. He said that if his ploy was successful, both parties would fight and engage in battle. However, if his scheme proved unsuccessful, even then there was a possibility that the Muslims would travel to Syria because of these rumours and attack them. As such, a fight will break out between them and the government of Caesar and their mission will be accomplished. This mischievous person said that both scenarios would benefit them.
“Hence, after making this suggestion, he went to Syria and the hypocrites of Medina began spreading these rumors daily that they encountered such and such tribe and they told them that the Syrian army was preparing to attack Medina. The following day, they would again say that they encountered such and such a tribe, and they told them that the Syrian army was soon going to attack Medina. These rumours spread so quickly and widely that the Holy Prophetsa considered it appropriate to take the Muslim army and personally confront the Syrian army. This was an extremely difficult time for the Muslims. It was a year of famine. The previous season produced little grain and fruit, and the crops of the current season were not yet ready; they had not yet been harvested. It was either the end of September or the beginning of October when the Holy Prophetsa set off for this expedition. The hypocrites knew that this was a conspiracy and that they conspired with the intention that if the Syrian army did not launch an attack, then the Muslims would personally confront and fight with the Syrians and ultimately be destroyed. The circumstances of the Battle of Mu’tah were before them. On that occasion, the Muslims had to face such a large army, as a result of which they suffered great losses and barely survived. They now wanted to witness another Mu’tah with their very own eyes, during which, they believed, the Holy Prophetsa was going to be martyred as well (God-forbid). For this reason, on the one hand, the hypocrites would daily spread rumours that they had come to know through such and such means that the enemy was about to attack and that they had come to know through such and such means that the Syrian forces were approaching. And on the other hand, they were instilling fear in people (by saying) that it is not easy to fight such a large enemy and that they should not go to fight. The purpose of this mischief of theirs was to let the Muslims go ahead and attack Syria; however, insofar as possible, they should go in the smallest possible numbers so that their defeat would become as certain as possible.” (Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 359-360)
If they are few, then their defeat would become certain.
In any case, in light of incoming reports, the Holy Prophetsa assessed the situation and concluded that if he delayed confronting the Romans or allowed them time to enter areas under Muslim rule, the harm would be far greater. Therefore, despite scarcity of resources and the difficulty of the situation, he resolved that – without giving the Romans any opportunity to advance – he would go into their territory and fight them in a decisive battle.” (Muhammad Abu Zuhrah, Khatam al-Nabiyyin, Vol. 3, pp. 951-952, Dar al-Fikr, al-Arabi, 2012)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has described this elsewhere as follows:
“When these rumours reached the Holy Prophetsa, he ordered that rather than wait for the Romans to march upon us and attack, it was necessary to meet them at the frontier and stop them there. And so, he commanded the Muslims to prepare.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 22, Friday sermon, 14 March 1941, p. 135)
The reference I quoted earlier was from another book of history, and this short excerpt was from Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.
Generally, the Holy Prophetsa kept military expeditions relatively discreet, but after the Khaibar campaign, the Tabuk expedition was of such a nature that he issued a public announcement, forewarned the people about the hardships of the route and the large numbers of the enemy, and urged them to prepare. (Sahih al-Bukhari [translation], Kitab al-jihadi wa s-siyar, Bab mun arada ghazwatan fa warra bi ghairiha…, Hadith 2948, Vol. 5, p. 303)
This narration appears in Bukhari. At the same time, he sent men to Mecca and to other Arab tribes, inviting them to join the army.
On the other hand, the Holy Prophetsa urged the wealthy to spend their wealth in the way of Allah. (Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, 2002, p. 183)
He also sent messages to various tribes, calling them to take part in the battle, and dispatched envoys to them, as has been mentioned. Accordingly, he sent Hazrat Buraidah bin Husaib to the tribe of Banu Aslam, Hazrat Abu Ruhm Ghifari to his people, Banu Ghifar, Hazrat Abu Waqid Laithi to his tribe, the Banu Laith, and Hazrat Abu Ja‘d Damri to his own people. He sent Hazrat Rafi‘ bin Maqis to the tribe of Juhainah; likewise, Hazrat Nu‘aim bin Mas‘ud to the tribe of Ashja‘; and Budail bin Warqa’, ‘Amr bin Salim, and Busar bin Sufyan to the tribes of Banu Ka‘b and Banu ‘Amr. Similarly, he dispatched ‘Abbas bin Mirdas to the tribe of Banu Sulaim. (Imta’ al-Asma’, Vol. 2, Ghazwah Tabuk, al-Khabr an al-Ghazw wa al-Ba’thah ila al-Qaba’il, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, 1999, p. 47; Da’irah Ma’arif Sirat Muhammad Rasulullahsa, Vol. 9, Bazm Iqbal, Lahore, p. 465)
At that time, an atmosphere of intense fear and anxiety prevailed in Medina, because a powerful enemy could attack at any moment. According to a narration in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hazrat Umarra relates, “We would say among ourselves that a Ghassani king had already shod his horses in preparation for war against them (meaning he had completed all his arrangements).” In another narration in Bukhari, Hazrat Umarra states, “We were fearful of a Ghassani ruler. We were told that he had begun preparing to attack us. Our hearts were filled with fear in this atmosphere.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-mazalim wa l-ghadab, Bab al-ghurfati wa l-‘ulliyyati l-mushrifati…, Hadith 2468; Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab at-tafsir, Bab ‘tabtaghi mardata ’azwajik’…, Hadith 4913)
Nevertheless, despite these fears, the Companions displayed extraordinary faith and devotion through their readiness and financial sacrifices. It is mentioned that alongside this anxiety, Medina was suffering from a severe drought at the time, while the crops and fruits were just about to ripen. During this period of hardship, people were busy preparing to harvest their produce when the call for Jihad was made.
Added to this was the extreme heat and the long journey of hundreds of miles, as well as the scarcity of provisions. Despite all these difficulties, when the Holy Prophetsa announced the expedition, his devoted and selfless Companions – embodiments of sincerity and loyalty – left behind their ready crops and ripened fruits to prepare for the journey.
Though preparing for such a long expedition was no easy task for these sincere yet poor Companions, the Holy Prophetsa was fully aware of their hardships. Therefore, he made a general appeal for financial sacrifice, urging the wealthy to spend in the way of Allah and to provide mounts for others. He proclaimed:
مَنْ جَهَّزَ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ
“Whoever equips the Jaish al-‘Usrah, i.e., the army assembled to go to Tabuk, shall have paradise.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Wasaya, Bab idha waqafa ardan aw bi’ran…, Hadith 2778)
On this occasion, the first person to bring his wealth was Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra. He brought the entirety of his household wealth, which amounted to four thousand dirhams. The Holy Prophetsa asked him, “Have you left anything for your family?” He replied, “I have left for them Allah and His Messengersa.”
In one narration, Hazrat Umarra relates an incident about himself. He says that the Holy Prophetsa once instructed them to give in charity. At that time, he had some wealth, so he thought to himself, “If ever I am to surpass Abu Bakr in anything, it will be today.”
He says, “I brought half of all I owned. The Holy Prophetsa asked me, ‘What have you left for your family?’ I replied, ‘The same amount that I have brought to you, I have left half for them.’ Then Abu Bakrra came with everything he possessed. The Holy Prophetsa asked him, ‘O Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?’ (Whilst Hazrat Umarra was present), he replied, ‘I have left for them Allah and His Messengersa.’”
Upon hearing this, Hazrat Umarra said, “By Allah, I can never surpass him in anything.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Manaqib, Bab Rajah in Yakun Abu Bakr mimun Yud’a min Jami’ Abwab al-Jannah, Hadith 3675; Sharh al-‘Alamah al-Zarqani ala al-Mawahib al-ladunyah, Vol. 4, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, 1996, p. 69)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra also narrated this incident in his own words, explaining that during one expedition, Hazrat Umarra thought, “Abu Bakr always excels me, but today I shall surpass him.” With this thought, he went home, took half of his wealth, and brought it to the Holy Prophetsa. It was a time of great trial for Islam, yet Hazrat Abu Bakrra brought all his possessions and presented them before the Holy Prophetsa.
When the Holy Prophetsa asked, “O Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?” he replied, “Allah and His Messengersa.”
Hazrat Umarra said, “Hearing this, I felt deeply ashamed. I realised that even today, though I had tried my utmost to surpass Abu Bakr, once again he had surpassed me.” (Fazail-ul-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 11, p. 577)
Regarding Hazrat Uthman’sra financial sacrifice, it is narrated that Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Khubbab stated:
“I was present beside the Holy Prophetsa and he was urging people to contribute towards the Army of ‘Usrah. Hazrat Uthman bin Affanra stood up and said, ‘O Messengersa of Allah, I take responsibility to provide one hundred camels, with their saddles, in the way of Allah.’ Then the Holy Prophetsa once again urged people to contribute towards the army, and Hazrat Uthman bin Affanra stood up again and said, ‘O Messengersa of Allah, I take responsibility to provide two hundred camels, with their saddles and coverings, in the way of Allah.’ Then, having heard what Hazrat Uthmanra had pledged, the Holy Prophetsa once again urged people regarding contribution for the army, and Hazrat Uthman bin Affanra stood up once more and said, ‘O Messengersa of Allah, I take upon myself to provide three hundred camels, with their saddles and coverings, in the way of Allah.’ I saw the Holy Prophetsa descending from the pulpit while saying:
مَا عَلى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هُذِهِ- مَا عَلى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هُذِهِ-
“There is no reproach upon Uthman for whatever he does after this; there is no reproach upon Uthman for whatever he does after this.”
In another narration, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Samurah relates that Hazrat Uthmanra presented 1,000 dinars before the Holy Prophetsa when he was preparing for Jaish al-Usrah, and placed them in his lap. Hazrat Abdur Rahman said, “I saw the Holy Prophetsa turning those (dinars) over in his lap and saying:
مَا ضَرَ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ
“‘Nothing will harm Uthman after what he has done today.’” He said this twice.
According to another narration, Hazrat Uthmanra donated 10,000 dinars on this occasion. Upon this, the Holy Prophetsa offered this prayer for Hazrat Uthmanra:
غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ يَا عُثْمَانُ مَا أَسْرَرْتَ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتَ وَمَا هُوَ كَا ئن إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَا يُبَالِى مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَهَا
“O Uthman, may Allah forgive you for what you have done in secret and what you have done openly, and for whatever will occur until the Day of Judgement. After this, whatever action he does, he should not be concerned about it.”
According to one narration, he provided 1,000 camels and 70 horses for the preparation of this expedition. Another narration relates that the Holy Prophetsa offered this prayer for Hazrat Uthmanra:
اللَّهُمَّ ارْضَ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ فَإِنِّي عَنْهُ رَاضٍ
“O Allah, be pleased with Uthman, for I am also pleased with him.”
Ibn Ishaq narrates that Hazrat Uthmanra spent so much wealth during the Battle of Tabuk that no other Companion could match it. (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Manaqib ‘an Rasulillahsa, Bab fi Add Uthman…, Hadith 3700 and 3701; Ibn Ishaq, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, 2004, pp. 596-597; Sharh al-‘Alamah al-Zarqani ala al-Mawahib al-ladunyah, Vol. 4, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, 1996, p. 69; Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, 2002, p. 184)
When one of Hazrat Uthman’sra trade caravans returned from Syria with a great amount of profit, he took responsibility for the expenses of one-third of the entire army. (He said, “I will bear the cost for one-third of the army.”) He gave provisions for more than 10,000 soldiers and ensured that for every soldier, even a shoelace was purchased from his own wealth (meaning the smallest of things). 10,000 dinars were spent on this, in addition to the cost of the camels and horses. Aside from this, he presented 1,000 camels and 100 horses, and aside from other provisions, he also presented 1,000 dinars to the Holy Prophetsa. These 1,000 dinars were separate from the 10,000 dinars he had already spent on preparing the army.
On this occasion, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf presented 100 uqiyyah of silver, and according to some narrations, two hundred uqiyyah of silver. The uqiyyah is a weight equivalent to approximately 10.5 tolas; that is, between 1050 and 2100 tolas of silver, or around 1.25 to 2.5 kilograms of silver if we use today’s measure.
The Holy Prophetsa then said:
“Uthman bin Affan and Abdur Rahman bin Auf are treasures from among the treasures of Allah upon the earth; they spend purely for the sake of Allah’s pleasure. They have given a lot of wealth.”
In one narration, it is mentioned that Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf presented 400 uqiyyah of gold, equal to about 4500 tolas of gold; some also state that he donated 900 camels. In any case, their sacrifices have been particularly mentioned.
In another narration, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf came to the Holy Prophetsa and said, “I possess 8,000 dirhams. I have kept 4,000 dirhams for my family and am giving 4,000 to you.” The Holy Prophetsa offered a prayer of blessing for him, saying:
بَارَكَ اللهُ فِيمَا أَمْسَكْتَ وَفِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ
“May Allah bless all that which you have kept for your family and that which you have given in His way.”
Hazrat Asim bin Adi offered 70 wasq of dates. One wasq is equal to 60 saa’, and one saa’ is approximately three sair, which comes out to a total of around 12,600 kilograms of dates. Among those who presented wealth to the Holy Prophetsa, the names of Hazrat Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, Hazrat Talhah bin Ubaidullah, Hazrat Sa’d bin Ubadah, and Hazrat Muhammad bin Maslamah are also included as those who offered great sacrifices. (Sharh al-‘Alamah al-Zarqani ala al-Mawahib al-ladunyah, Vol. 4, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, 1996, p. 69; Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, 2002, pp. 183-184; Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah (translation), Vol. 3, Dar al-Isha’at, 2009, pp, 396-397; Alamah Burhanuddin Halbi, Ghazwar al-Nabi (Urdu translation), Dar al-Isha’at, 2001, p. 686; Al-Lu’lu al-Maknun Sirat Encyclopaedia, Vol. 9, Dar al-Salam, p. 457; Siyar al-Sahabah, Vol. 1, Dar al-Isha’at, Karachi, 2004, p. 161; Sahih Muslim, Noor Foundation, Vol. 12, p. 184; Farhang-e-Sirat, Zawar Academy Publications, Karachi, 2003, p. 49)
The Promised Messiahas states:
“There was a time when people would sacrifice their lives for the divine faith like goats and sheep. And what of their financial sacrifice? On more than one occasion, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra sacrificed all the wealth in his home, to the extent that he did not leave so much as a needle behind in his home. Similarly, Hazrat Umarra, in accordance with his means and open-heartedness, and Hazrat Uthmanra, in accordance with his means and capacity, presented what they were able to. In a similar manner, all the Companions were prepared to sacrifice their lives and wealth for the sake of this divine faith.”
Then, the Promised Messiahas states:
“Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Quran:
لَنۡ تَنَالُوا الۡبِرَّ حَتّٰی تُنۡفِقُوۡا مِمَّا تُحِبُّوۡنَ
“‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love.’
“The Companions would spend their wealth in order to attain righteousness.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 5, , 2022, p. 192, footnote)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:
“At times, the Companions would sell all the wealth and means in their homes in order to fulfil the war-related expenses. In fact, it is also observed that sometimes they would sell their very properties and spend the wealth to provide all the necessary means for others (who were going to war). Once, the Holy Prophetsa emerged and said, ‘Our army is about to embark on a journey; however, the believers do not have the means for it. Is there anyone from among you who will attain the reward for this?’ As soon as he heard this, Hazrat Uthmanra got up, took out the wealth he had earned, and offered that amount to the Holy Prophetsa for the expenses of the Muslims. When the Holy Prophetsa saw this, he said, ‘Uthman has bought paradise.’” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 19, pp. 98-99)
In one of his sermons, whilst addressing the topic of financial sacrifices, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh recounted this incident in the following manner:
“Once, there was a great need for wealth in the course of preparations for a battle. Those were days of financial difficulty. That is how the world is; sometimes there are periods of financial ease, and sometimes there are periods of financial difficulty. Those days were of financial difficulty, yet there were requirements for war. The Holy Prophetsa presented this absolute need before the companions and encouraged them to offer financial sacrifices. This resulted in Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra bringing all of his wealth, and Hazrat Umarra bringing half of his wealth. Hazrat Uthmanra said, ‘Please accept my offer of bearing the expenses of ten thousand Companions.’ In addition, he also provided one thousand camels and 70 horses. Similarly, all the sincere Companions offered financial sacrifices according to their means and capacities, and Allah the Almighty granted them excellent rewards.” (Khutbat-e-Nasir, Vol. 2, p. 341, Friday Sermon, 18 October 1968)
It is a great blessing of Allah the Almighty that the members of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat understand the importance of financial sacrifices. I often present incidents of certain people who truly sacrifice whatever they have. Those who are wealthy and well-off should bear in mind the examples of Hazrat Abu Bakrra, Hazrat Umarra, and Hazrat Uthmanra and thus increase the standard of their sacrifice. Those who are poor and the middle class continue to offer sacrifices. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, there are also many among the wealthy who offer the highest degrees of sacrifice. However, those among the wealthy who are weak in this regard should also come forward for the sake of spreading the faith. In this age, this is also an opportunity for them to present sacrifices.
The Companions offered whatever they possibly could and provided those soldiers who were poor and had no other means with riding animals, swords and other provisions for war. When some poor Companions and female Companions would offer one or two mudd of grain, their hearts would be filled with longing that if only they had more to offer. However, the hypocrites would mock them and say, “Will these people defeat Caesar with handfuls of grain?” A mudd is a small measure, equivalent to a fistful. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran regarding the mockery by the hypocrites:
ٱلَّذِينَ يَلۡمِزُونَ ٱلۡمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ فِي ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهۡدَهُمۡ فَيَسۡخَرُونَ مِنۡهُمۡ سَخِرَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۡهُمۡ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
“Those who find fault with such of the believers who give alms of their own free will and with such as find nothing to give save the earnings of their toil. They thus deride them. Allah shall requite them and their derision, and for them is a grievous punishment.”
Among those who worked hard to offer financial sacrifices was Hazrat Abu Aqeel. He spent the entire night drawing water from a well and earned two saa’ of dates. One saa’ is approximately 2.5 kilos, so he earned a total of five kilos of dates. He kept one saa’ for his family and he took the other saa’ and went to the Holy Prophetsa. He sacrificed whatever he could. (Abu Aqil, Usd al-Ghabah, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, 2003, p. 215; Al-Lu’lu al-Maknun Sirat Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, Dar al-Salam, p. 458)
At one instance, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:
“Once, the Holy Prophetsa made an appeal for financial contributions, and so, one Companion took up some work; presumably, he went to someone’s well and drew water from it. In return, he received half a sair, or three pao (unit of measurement) of grain, which he then brought and offered as financial contributions. At that time, there was a need for thousands of rupees; the hypocrites would mockingly say, ‘What sort of preparation for battle is this?’ This incident is from the Battle of Tabuk, which took place against the Byzantines. At the time, the Roman Empire was the equivalent of the British Government today. (When Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said this, the British held dominion over the world). It was to fight against that army that this Companion brought some handfuls of barley. The hypocrites laughed; however, when the Holy Prophetsa learned of this, he said, ‘What do they know of the value which this barley holds in the sight of God?’ It was this barley which led to the ultimate victory of the Muslims, and the Byzantines were defeated. Not only the Byzantines, but the Persians as well, whose empire contended with that of the Romans. Yet, the Muslims defeated them.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 17, pp. 46-47)
There is mention of a remarkable incident concerning one Companion. As mentioned already, in preparation for this expedition, the noble Companions were, in their own way, striving to get themselves ready for the journey and to respond to the call for financial sacrifice. The affluent Companions would present their wealth and possessions, while the poor and destitute among them would labour and offer whatever meagre income they managed to earn.
In these circumstances, there is mention of a Companion named Hazrat Urwah bin Zaid, who adopted such an innocent and pure manner of seeking the pleasure of Allah the Almighty that it stood out for its uniqueness and sincerity. He, too, was among the poor and devoted; he had nothing to offer, nor the strength to participate in battle.
Thus, one night, he stood in prayer, and weeping profusely, supplicated: “O Allah! You have commanded us to strive in Your cause and have encouraged us towards this. But I possess nothing with which I can prepare, nor does Your Messengersa have enough provisions to grant me so that I may go forth and fight. And Your Prophetsa has launched an appeal for financial sacrifice – yet I am unable to take part in that either. However, I do hereby forgive anyone, for Your sake, every wrong or injustice that they have ever done to me regarding my life, my wealth, or my honour – and I offer all of it as charity for the Muslims.”
The next morning, he presented himself before the Holy Prophetsa along with the other Companions. The Holy Prophetsa enquired, “Where is the one who offered his honour as charity last night?” No one stood up. The Holy Prophetsa repeated his question, yet no one responded. Eventually, Hazrat Urwah stood and related the entire account.
Upon hearing this, the Holy Prophetsa said:
أَبْشِر فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ كُتِبْتَ فِي الزَّكَاةِ الْمُتَقَبَّلَةِ
“Rejoice! By Him in Whose hand is my life, you have been counted among those whose charity has been accepted.” (Ibn Kathir, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 4, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar al-Ma’rifah, Beirut, 1976, p. 9; Da’irah Ma’arif Sirat Muhammad Rasulullahsa, Vol. 9, Bazm Iqbal, Lahore, pp. 462-464)
What a beautiful and extraordinary expression of sincerity and sacrifice! Allah the Almighty, Who knows the secrets of every heart and is aware of all circumstances, accepted his offering and informed the Holy Prophetsa of it.
Women, too, were not left behind in this spirit of sacrifice. They presented their jewellery to assist in the preparations for this battle. Hazrat Umm Sinaan Aslamiyyah relates: “In the house of Hazrat Aishara, I once saw that a sheet had been spread before the Holy Prophetsa upon which were perfume (bottles), bracelets, bangles, earrings, rings and anklets, all of which had been contributed by women for the preparation for jihad for the Muslims.” (Kitab al-Maghazi, Vol. 2, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, 2013, pp. 380-381)
Thus, on one hand, this was the state of the sincere believers and devotees. On the other hand, the hypocrites too exerted their full efforts. In one sense, this was the final scheme and conspiracy on the part of the hypocrites, and they were utterly convinced of their success. They were certain that the Muslims would embark on this long journey towards Syria and were possessed by the satanic thought that, God forbid, the Holy Prophetsa would never be able to return to Medina.
Hence, they tried to ensure that as few Muslims as possible joined the Holy Prophetsa. In their estimation, the smaller the army, the more likely it would be that they suffer defeat and destruction. Therefore, they began to exaggerate the difficulties of the situation and the hardship of the journey, with the intention of disheartening the Muslims.
They tried to frighten the Muslims using various excuses, saying things such as, “The heat is unbearable; the journey is too long; there are hardly any means of travel.” Since the majority of the inhabitants of Medina were farmers, whose crops were ready for harvest, and this was at a time of famine, the hypocrites went about spreading rumours everywhere, saying: “Do you not realise what sort of army you will face? They are fierce and seasoned warriors! To fight them is no easy task. We can see clearly that you will either be slain, or all of you will be taken captive.”
These were the words of the hypocrites. Although their propaganda had no effect on the sincere and steadfast believers, it did instil fear in the hearts of some whose faith was weak. They began to make excuses and present pretexts for not joining the battle, though the majority of such people were themselves hypocrites.
The Holy Quran mentions this propaganda of the hypocrites and their excuses for remaining behind in the following words:
–فَرِحَ ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقۡعَدِهِمۡ خِلَٰفَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوٓاْ أَن يُجَٰهِدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالُواْ لَا تَنفِرُواْ فِي ٱلۡحَرِّ ۗ قُلۡ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرّٗا ۚ لَّوۡ كَانُواْ يَفۡقَهُونَ
فَلۡيَضۡحَكُواْ قَلِيلٗا وَلۡيَبۡكُواْ كَثِيرٗا جَزَآء بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُون
“Those who were left behind rejoiced in their sitting at home behind the back of the Messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their property and their persons in the cause of Allah. And they said, ‘Go not forth in the heat.’ Say, ‘The fire of Hell is more intense in heat.’ Could they but understand! They must laugh little and weep much as a reward for that which they used to earn.”
According to narrations, these people would come before the Holy Prophetsa and present various excuses, seeking permission not to partake in the battle. The Holy Prophetsa would grant them permission. There were more than 80 such individuals who, through different pretexts and justifications, obtained permission to stay behind. These were in addition to the hypocrites who were with ‘Abdullah bin Ubayy, etc.
Allah the Almighty exposed the fallacy of all these excuses in the Holy Quran, making it clear that their remaining behind was due to the weakness of their faith and that they were deceitful in their excuses. When the verses concerning them were revealed, a warning was thereby issued for all time to come; that whenever the Imam launches an initiative or calls towards a cause, how should one respond; the response must be to step forward and by any means possible, make preparations to answer such a call.
Thus, Allah the Almighty states:
لَوۡ كَانَ عَرَضٗا قَرِيبٗا وَسَفَرٗا قَاصِدٗا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحۡلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡنَا لَخَرَجۡنَا مَعَكُمۡ يُهۡلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّهُمۡ لَكَٰذِبُونَ
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَتَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ
لَا يَسۡتَـٔۡذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ أَن يُجَٰهِدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيم بِٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
إِنَّمَا يَسۡتَـٔۡذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَٱرۡتَابَتۡ قُلُوبُهُمۡ فَهُمۡ فِي رَيۡبِهِمۡ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ
وَلَوۡ أَرَادُواْ ٱلۡخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّواْ لَهُ عُدَّةٗ وَلَٰكِن كَرِهَ ٱللَّهُ ٱبِعَاثَهُمۡ فَثَبَّطَهُمۡ وَقِيلَ ٱقۡعُدُواْ مَعَ ٱلۡقَٰعِدِينَ
لَوۡ خَرَجُواْ فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمۡ إِلَّا خَبَالٗا وَلَأَوۡضَعُواْ خِلَٰلَكُمۡ يَبۡغُونَكُمُ ٱلۡفِتۡنَةَ وَفِيكُمۡ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لَهُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيم بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
لَقَدِ ٱبۡتَغَوُاْ ٱلۡفِتۡنَةَ مِن قَبۡلُ وَقَلَّبُواْ لَكَ ٱلۡأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ وَهُمۡ كَٰرِهُونَ
“If it had been an immediate gain and a short journey, they would certainly have followed thee, but the hard journey seemed too long to them. Yet they will swear by Allah, saying, ‘If we had been able, we would surely have gone forth with you.’ They ruin their souls, and Allah knows that they are liars. Allah remove thy cares. Why didst thou permit them to stay behind until those who spoke the truth had become known to thee and until thou hadst known the liars? Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day will not ask leave of thee to be exempted from striving with their property and their persons. And Allah well knows the righteous. Only those will ask leave of thee to be exempted who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts are full of doubt, and in their doubt they waver. And if they had intended to go forth, they would certainly have made some preparation for it; but Allah was averse to their marching forth. So He kept them back, and it was said: ‘Sit ye at home with those who sit.’ If they had gone forth with you, they would have added to you nothing but trouble and would have hurried to and fro in your midst, seeking to create discord among you. And there are among you those who would listen to them. And Allah well knows the wrongdoers. They sought to create disorder even before this, and they devised plots against thee till the truth came and the purpose of Allah prevailed, though they did not like it.”
Thus, Allah the Almighty (in these verses) has clearly exposed the condition of the hypocrites, and He addressed the Holy Prophetsa, stating that although he accepted their false excuses, had he not done so and had he not granted them permission, their hypocrisy would have been laid bare for all to see. They had no intention of joining the battle, regardless, but in any case, Allah the Almighty declares that their staying behind was ultimately better. For had they participated, they would have engaged in actions during the battle that would have brought harm to the Muslims.
In any case, the outcome did not align with the desires of these hypocrites. (Al-Lu’lu al-Maknun Sirat Encyclopaedia, Vol. 9, Dar al-Salam, pp. 461-462; Da’irah Ma’arif Sirat, Rasulullahsa, Vol. 9, Bazm Iqbal, Lahore, p. 474)
The remaining details of this, insha-Allah, shall be discussed in future sermons.
In the previous Friday sermon, I had mentioned the attack that took place in a mosque in Rabwah [Pakistan]. Pray for the khuddam who were injured in that incident. May Allah the Almighty grant them all complete recovery. May He protect them from every complication, as often such incidents bear lingering effects. At present, three khuddam remain hospitalised due to more severe injuries, while the other five, after receiving initial medical treatment, have returned home. However, their wounds will take time to heal. May Allah the Almighty grant each one of them a complete recovery, and may He safeguard all members of the Jamaat, wherever they may be, from all forms of evil and harm.
After the prayers today, I shall lead the funeral prayer in absentia for Respected Sahm Ali Naina Sahib of the Marshall Islands, who passed away recently at the age of 83 in California, USA:
اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَيْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
(Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.)
He was first introduced to Islam through the preaching efforts of our missionary, Hafiz Jibreel Saeed Sahib, during the 1980s. Thereafter, he embraced Islam and entered the fold of Ahmadiyyat. Despite facing great opposition, he remained resolute and steadfast in his faith.
On one occasion, a senator in the national parliament labelled Islam as an illegal and terror-linked religion. In response, the deceased courageously published a statement in the local newspaper, declaring, “We are Ahmadi Muslims, and we have no connection whatsoever with terrorism.” This bold proclamation became a source of strength for the Jamaat, and despite the senator’s efforts to pass a bill against Islam, the attempt failed due to the deceased’s efforts.
He was regarded as an influential figure within the local society.
Falahuddin Shams Sahib, Naib Ameer of the USA, writes that he had the opportunity to serve in the Marshall Islands for five years, and he would regularly visit the area as it was assigned to the USA Jamaat. Sahm Sahib had accepted Ahmadiyyat through Hafiz Jibreel Sahib. Initially, only four or five families were part of the Jamaat, and it was not yet registered officially. Through the tireless efforts of Hafiz Sahib and the deceased, the Jamaat was eventually formally registered.
After Hafiz Sahib returned, there was a long period during which no missionary was appointed there. During that time, Sahm Sahib took it upon himself to manage the affairs of the Jamaat till his demise. He not only safeguarded the Jamaat but also continued to engage in tabligh, ensuring the name and mission of the Jamaat never faltered.
Whenever delegations visited from the centre, he extended his full cooperation with great warmth and enthusiasm, always stepping forward and rendering his service which was very fruitful.
In the establishment of the Jamaat in the Marshall Islands, he played a pioneering role. The majority of new converts to Ahmadiyyat in that region were a result of his efforts. He also served as Sadr Jamaat (local president) there.
Shams Sahib further notes that when he went to establish a mission in Kosrae, Sahm Sahib once again offered his full assistance. Through his contacts, several individuals joined the Jamaat, and with Allah’s grace, a Mission House was acquired and constructed there. Similarly, he also contributed to the establishment of missions in Kiribati and another location through his personal efforts.
Shams Sahib once asked him what good deed or quality he possessed that granted him the honour of playing such a central role in the establishment of the Jamaat in three islands. With great humility, he replied, “All of this is purely the grace of Allah the Almighty. There is no merit of my own in it.”
Qasim Chaudhry Sahib, missionary of the Marshall Islands, writes that despite facing many obstacles, Sahm Sahib remained steadfast in his faith. Together with his wife, he made many sacrifices. One such example is that his wife donated a piece of her own land, upon which the first mosque in the Marshall Islands was eventually built.
In his own words, he narrates the incident of his acceptance of Islam:
“In 1987, my wife, Mary, and I were residing in a hotel on Long Island. One morning, as I stepped outside our room, I saw a tall African gentleman. I greeted him with ‘salaam’, and he responded in kind. Upon introduction, I learned that he was Hafiz Jibreel Saeed Sahib, the first missionary assigned to Micronesia. As our meetings continued and our relationship grew, he began preaching to me about Islam. He showed me verses from the Bible which foretold the advent of a prophet after Jesusas. I was astonished to learn that not just one, but multiple verses. In fact, the New Testament contained a prophecy in which Jesusas himself is recorded in John 16:7 saying, ‘I must go so that another may come after me.’
“These were truths I had never heard before. Hafiz Sahib explained everything with clarity, always using Biblical references. Allah Almighty then guided me towards the truth, and my heart turned towards Islam, and I accepted it.”
He continues:
“When people found out I had become a Muslim, government officials said they would never allow Islam to spread in the Marshall Islands. I phoned Hafiz Sahib – who had since left – and he reassured me: ‘Do not worry. Allah will open the way.’ And indeed, Allah opened the way. One day, while I was at home, a representative from the Attorney General’s office came and informed me that the Jamaat’s registration had been approved.
“Where officials had previously tried to block our efforts, Allah Himself arranged for the registration to be granted – and the documents were delivered directly to my home. I immediately sent a copy to Hafiz Sahib.”
He further states:
“Over time, I realised that Ahmadiyyat is distinct from other Muslims, and I took great pride in this fact. A voice within me constantly reminded me that I am an Ahmadi Muslim – and I took honour in that. For twenty years, no missionary was sent to our island, and I became very anxious. Hafiz Sahib had advised me to write regularly to the Khalifa of the time and assured me that arrangements would eventually be made.
“Then, in 2004, I received instructions from the centre that a certain individual would be arriving and I should receive him at the airport. When I reached there, a smiling gentleman came out and enquired my name. I told him, ‘I am Sahm,’ and he replied, ‘My name is Kausar’ – he was Inamullah Kausar Sahib. From that day on, we became like brothers. Together we travelled to Kosrae and Pohnpei, where we spent a week. When we later parted ways, it felt as though we had known each other for years – such is the spirit of Islamic brotherhood.”
He concludes:
“By the grace of Allah the Almighty, after accepting Islam, my heart found peace and my soul, contentment. Prayer transformed me. My wife also noticed this change within me. From that point onwards, whenever I needed anything, I would ask Allah – and Allah would grant it immediately. Time and again, I witnessed His succour with my own eyes and expressed gratitude in every prayer.”
His granddaughter, Julia, states:
“He was a most sincere Muslim who derived strength and reassurance from his faith. He spent much of his time in worship and held a deep love for the recitation of the Holy Quran. He regularly studied various Islamic books. Often, we found him immersed in deep thought and reflection.”
May Allah the Almighty bestow His forgiveness and mercy upon him. Some members of his progeny have not accepted Ahmadiyyat; may Allah the Almighty enable them to also enter the fold of Ahmadiyyat.
(Official Urdu transcript published in the Daily Al Fazl International, 7 November 2025, pp. 2-7. Translated by The Review of Religions.)
