Friday Sermon
25 April 2025
Muhammadsa: The great exemplar
After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awwuz, and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:
Various expeditions from the life of the Holy Prophetsa were being mentioned. In this regard, there is one expedition of Hazrat Ghalib ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Laythira towards Fadak. Hazrat Bashir bin Sa‘dra, along with 30 individuals, headed towards the Banu Murrah in Fadak in Sha’ban [eighth month in the Islamic calendar] in 7 AH. The Banu Murrah martyred all the comrades of Hazrat Bashir bin Sa‘dra. (Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 132)
This has already been mentioned previously. When the Holy Prophetsa came to know of the martyrdom of Hazrat Bashir bin Sa’d’s company, he prepared Hazrat Zaid bin ‘Awwamra and said, “Go until you reach the place where the company of Hazrat Bashir bin Sa‘dra was martyred. If Allah grants you victory, then do not spare any of them.” That is, do not spare any of the enemies who acted unjustly and killed and martyred the Muslims. The Holy Prophetsa prepared 200 Companions to accompany him and tied a flag for them. (Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 140)
When Hazrat Ghalibra reached the enemy, he sent a reconnaissance party comprising Hazrat ‘Ulbah bin Zaidra along with 10 other individuals towards the enemy camp. They saw a group of people there and upon returning, informed Hazrat Ghalibra of the circumstances. Hazrat Ghalibra advanced close enough that he could see the enemy. They were relaxed and had fallen asleep. Hazrat Ghalibra praised and glorified Allah, called out to the enemy and said: “I advise you to fear Allah, Who is One and has no partner.” As a matter of fact, he said this to his comrades, not to the enemy. He said: “I advise you to fear Allah, Who is One and has no partner. Obey me and do not be disobedient towards me. Do not oppose any of my instructions, because the one who is not obedient, his opinion is futile.”
In another narration, these words have been recorded as follows: “Do not disobey me, because the Holy Prophetsa has said, ‘Whoever obeys a leader appointed by me, obeys me and whoever disobeys him, disobeys me.’ Hence, if you disobey me, you will disobey your Prophetsa.” Following this, he established a bond of brotherhood between them and said: “You are with such and such person and you are with such and such person. None of you should be separated from their brother. It should not be such that if one of you comes to me and I ask him where his comrade is, he responds that he does not know.” Following this, he said: “When I raise the slogan that Allah is the greatest, then do so with me.” When the battle commenced, the Muslims encircled the enemy. Upon this, Hazrat Ghalibra said that Allah is the greatest and the other Companions also repeated after him and then drew their swords. The enemy had also prepared for the battle and came forth. The battle ensued for some time and the Muslims defeated the enemy with ease. That day, the slogan of the Muslims was ‘Amit, Amit’ [Bring death]’. The Muslims brought back several camels and goats as spoils of war. Every person received 10 camels, or 10 goats as the equivalent for one camel. (Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 266)
Another expedition was that of Hazrat Shuja‘ bin Wahbra, which was sent towards Sayyi. This expedition took place in Rabi‘ al-Awwal, 8 AH, under the leadership of Hazrat Shuja‘ bin Wahbra. He was sent towards Sayyi, which was a location situated at a distance of five nights’ journey from Medina, between Mecca and Busra. (Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 142; Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Ladunyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 337)
Hazrat Shuja’sra father’s name was Wahb bin Rabi‘ah. Hazrat Shuja‘ra was among the pre-eminent Companions who accepted Islam in the very early days. Six years after the advent of the Holy Prophetsa, he joined the second group of emigrants to Abyssinia on the instruction of the Holy Prophetsa.
After some time, upon hearing the rumour that the people of Mecca had embraced Islam, Hazrat Shuja‘ra returned to Mecca from Abyssinia. Later, when the Holy Prophetsa gave permission for the Companions to migrate to Medina, he left Mecca with his brother, ‘Uqbah bin Wahb, and migrated to Medina. Hazrat Shuja‘ra participated alongside the Holy Prophetsa in all major battles, including Badr, Uhud, and the Battle of the Ditch, and he was martyred in the Battle of Yamamah when he was just over 40 years old. (Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Ladunyah, Vol. 5, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 21; Usd al-Ghabah, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Vol. 2, p. 611, Vol. 4, p. 59)
In any case, the details of this expedition are as follows: The Holy Prophetsa was receiving continuous reports that the Banu Hawazin from the region of Sayyi were assisting the enemies of Islam and ambushing individuals from tribes allied with the Muslims. Following their ambush, they would hide in the wilderness. In Rabi‘ al-Awwal, 8 AH, the Holy Prophetsa appointed Hazrat Shuja‘ra with a group of 24 soldiers to suppress the Banu Hawazin – who were also known as the Banu ‘Amir.
Hazrat Shuja‘ra and his men would travel by night and hide during the day, until one morning they came upon the Banu ‘Amir and launched a surprise attack. Hazrat Shuja‘ra instructed his men not to pursue the fleeing enemies. They seized a large number of camels and goats, which they drove back to Medina, and the spoils of war were distributed. Each Muslim received 15 camels as his share. This expedition lasted 15 days. (Muhammad Azhar Farid Shah, Ghazwat-o-Saraya, Faridiyah Publishers, Sahiwal, p. 415; Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 267)
Another expedition that is mentioned is the Expedition of Hazrat Ka‘b bin ‘Umairra towards Dhat Atlah. This took place in 8 Rabi‘ al-Awwal, 8 AH. (Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 143)
The Holy Prophetsa sent Hazrat Ka‘b bin ‘Umair al-Ghiffarira to Dhat Atlah, which was located in the land of Syria, beyond Wadi al-Qura, near Mu’tah, and approximately 600 miles from Medina. Hazrat Ka‘bra was accompanied by 15 Companions. The Holy Prophetsa had received intelligence that the Banu Quda‘ah were gathering a large force at Dhat Atlah, beyond Wadi al-Qura, with the intention of attacking the Muslims. (Buraik bin Muhammad, Ghazwah Mu’tah wa al-Saraya wa al-Bu’uth, p. 219; Bashmil, Ghazwah Mu’tah, Nafis Academy, Karachi, p. 325; Muhammad Azhar Farid Shah, Ghazwat-o-Saraya, Faridiyah Publishers, Sahiwal, p. 416)
Upon reaching Dhat Atlah, Hazrat Ka‘bra encountered a massive army. This happened because, as Hazrat Ka‘bra approached the area, a spy from the enemy spotted them and immediately alerted his people of the approaching Muslim army. The enemy then prepared and assembled a large army.
The Companions invited them to embrace Islam, but they refused and began firing arrows at them. Seeing this, the Companions of the Holy Prophetsa fought valiantly, and continued fighting until all of them were martyred. One of the Companions, who had been severely wounded and was laying injured amongst the bodies, managed to escape. According to one narration, this survivor was Hazrat Ka‘b bin ‘Umairra himself. (Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 267; Muhammad Azhar Farid Shah, Ghazwat-o-Saraya, Faridiyah Publishers, Sahiwal, p. 416; Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 143)
In any case, it is recorded that it was a cold evening when he mounted a ride and returned to the Holy Prophetsa to inform him of what had happened. The news caused the Holy Prophetsa great sorrow. (Kitab al-Maghazi li al-Waqidi, Vol. 2, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 202)
He intended to immediately send an army in response, but upon learning that the enemy had moved away from that location, he postponed the plan. (Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 267)
The Battle of Mu’tah took place in Jamadi al-Ula 8 AH, corresponding to September 629 CE. Mu’tah was a town situated in the Balqa region on the border of Syria, which was approximately 600 hundred miles from Medina. This expedition is also known as the Battle of Jaish al-Umara, because before sending out the army, the Holy Prophetsa appointed more than one commander to lead it. (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra MA, Sirat Khatamun Nabiyyin, p. 740; Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 144; Allamah Bashmid, Ghazwah Uhud, Nafis Academy, Karachi, p. 325; Hassan bin Muhammad al-Mashat, Inarah al-Daji fi Maghazi Khair al-Wara, Dar al-Minhaj li al-Nashr wa al-Tauzi’, p. 558)
Regarding the purpose of this battle, it is recorded that the Holy Prophetsa had dispatched Hazrat Harith bin ‘Umairra as an emissary with a letter to the governor of Busra. When he reached the area of Mu’tah, Shurahbil bin ‘Amr Ghassani came to him and asked, “Where are you going?” He replied, “I am going to Syria.” Shurahbil asked, “Are you by any chance an emissary of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa?” He replied, “Yes, I am an emissary of the Holy Prophetsa.” Shurahbil ordered his men to tie him up and then martyred him.
When the Holy Prophetsa received this news, it deeply grieved him. Hesa gathered his Companions and informed them of the martyrdom of Hazrat Harith bin ‘Umairra and of those who had martyred him. This incident lead to the Battle of Mu’tah. (Ibn Sa’d, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 4, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 255)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, describing the causes and background of this battle, writes, “When the Holy Prophetsa returned from performing the pilgrimage [Umrah], he began to receive reports that the Jews and disbelievers had stirred up the Christian Arab tribes on the borders of Syria as a result of which they were preparing to attack Medina. In response, the Holy Prophetsa sent a party of 15 men towards the Syrian border to investigate the truthfulness of these rumours.
“When this group arrived at the Syrian border, they saw that an army was indeed gathering there. Instead of returning to inform the Holy Prophetsa, they were overcome by the zeal for preaching – which in those days was the hallmark of true believers – and they boldly stepped forward to invite the enemy towards Islam. However, those who were incited by hatred and were preparing to attack and conquer the nation of the Holy Prophetsa would not be affected by the message of God’s unity (these men would not be affected by the preaching). As soon as the Companions began to present the teachings of Islam, soldiers from all sides drew their bows and began firing arrows at them.
“When the Muslims saw that their preaching was not being met with arguments or discourse but with arrows, they did not flee, nor did they save their own lives from the crowds of hundreds. Instead, as true believers, those 15 men stood their ground against hundreds of soldiers, and each one of them was martyred there. (Today, these so-called Muslims treat the Ahmadis in the same way).
“The Holy Prophetsa desired to dispatch another army to punish those who had committed this barbaric act. In the meantime, he received news that the enemy forces, which had been gathering there, had now dispersed. Thus, he delayed his plan for the time being.
“During this period, the Holy Prophetsa wrote a letter to the leader of the Ghassan tribe, who governed Busra under the authority of the Roman Empire, or possibly wrote to Caesar himself. These letters likely contained a complaint regarding this incident, explaining how some Syrian tribes were preparing to attack Islamic territory, and that they had killed 15 Muslims without cause. One such letter was entrusted to a Companion named al-Harithra, who travelled towards Syria and stopped at a place called Mu’tah. There, he encountered Serjeel, a leader of the Ghassan tribe, who had been appointed by Caesar. (Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has written Serjeel, but I believe this is a typographical error as his real name was Shurahbil.)
“He asked them, ‘where are you going? Perhaps you are a message-bearer of the Prophet Muhammad?sa’ He answered in the affirmative, at which point he captured him, tied him up and beat him to death. Although this detail is not mentioned in the books of history, the context reveals that this person was very likely one of the leaders of the same group who martyred the 15 Companions before – i.e., the person named Shurahbil. Thus, his inquiry of whether he was a representative of the Holy Prophetsa reveals that he feared the Holy Prophetsa would inform Caesar that his subordinates in the region were attacking Muslims. To prevent an investigation into the matter, he concluded that it was in his best interest to kill the emissary, so that neither would any report reach the king nor would there be a subsequent investigation. But God Almighty did not allow his ill intentions to be fulfilled, and some way or another the news of Harith being martyred reached the Messengersa of Allah, who then responded to the earlier incident of injustice and the subsequent one by sending an army of 3000 Muslims towards Syria under the leadership of Hazrat Zaid bin Harithahra, (his freed slave).” (Dibacha Tafsirul Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 331-333)
The appointment of commanders by the Holy Prophetsa for this battle is mentioned as follows:
The Holy Prophetsa appointed Hazrat Zaid bin Harithahra as the commander of an army of 3000 and instructed: “Should Zaid be martyred, Ja’far bin Abi Talib shall take over as commander, and if Ja’far is martyred, Abdullah bin Rawahah shall take his place as commander, and if he too should be martyred, then whosoever the Muslims appoint amongst themselves shall take his place.”
A Jewish man by the name of Nu’man was present on this occasion. He called out, “O Abu al-Qasim! (This is how the Jews used to address the Holy Prophetsa) If you are a true Prophet, then each person whose name you have mentioned – whether they are a few or many – will all be martyred.” The man continued, “When the Israelite Prophets would appoint commanders of an army and say that if such and such person dies, then so and so should take his place, then even if they listed 100 names, they would all be martyred.” Then he turned his attention toward Zaid and said, “Zaid, you should write down your will because if Muhammad is a true Prophet, then you certainly will not come back alive.” Hazrat Zaidra responded, “I bear witness that he is indeed a true and pure Prophet.”
When the Holy Prophetsa was appointing commanders of the army, there was also an incident of Hazrat Ja‘farra saying to the Holy Prophetsa, “O Messenger of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for your sake. I did not think that you would appoint Zaid as a commander over me. (I.e., that he belonged to a noble family, but he was not appointed). The Holy Prophetsa responded, “You should go forth, for you do not know who is actually superior.” The Holy Prophetsa handed a white flag to Hazrat Zaidra and instructed him to invite people to Islam once he reached the place of the martyrdom of Harith bin Umair. If they accept, then all is well and good. Otherwise, seek help from Allah and engage them in battle. (Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 145; Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Ladunyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, pp. 340-342; Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Bab Ghazwah Mu’tah, Hadith 4261)
The Holy Prophetsa bid them all farewell and advised them. Regarding this, there are further details; they made preparations and the army gathered together at a place situated approximately 3 miles from Medina called Jurf.
The Holy Prophetsa also accompanied the departing army up to Thaniyyatul Wada‘ to bid them farewell. Prior to their departure for battle, the Holy Prophetsa gave the Muslim army a series of instructions. He stated: “I enjoin you to adopt righteousness [taqwa] and to treat your fellow Muslims with kindness. Go forth in the name of Allah and engage with those who deny Him. Do not deceive anyone, do not act treacherously, and do not slay any infant, woman, or elderly person. Do not cut down any date palm, nor any other tree, and do not demolish any buildings.” (Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Ladunyah, Vol. 3, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 342)
He further instructed the commanders of the army:
“When you encounter an idolater, invite him towards one of three choices. Whichever he accepts, abide by it and do not cause him harm. First, invite him to migrate from his city to the city of Muhajirin. If he agrees, inform him that he shall receive the same rights and bear the same responsibilities as the Muhajirin. However, if he refuses [to migrate], then direct him to live among the Bedouin Muslims, for in that case, the same injunctions of Allah will be applied to him as is stipulated for the other Muslims, however they shall have no share in the spoils of war unless he joins the Muslims in Jihad.
“If he refuses this as well, then demand the payment of jizyah [a protective tax]. If he accepts, then accept it from him and do not inflict any harm upon him. But if he refuses even this, then seek the help of Allah and fight against them.
“And if you besiege a fortress or a city, and they request a guarantee of safety in the name of Allah and His Messengersa, do not grant them such a pledge in the name of Allah and His Messengersa. (In other words, do not enter into a treaty in their name). Instead, offer them your own guarantee, or that in the name of your forefathers. For if you break your own pledge or that of your forefathers, it is less grave than violating a pledge made in the name of Allah and His Messenger.” (Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad, Vol. 6, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 146)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has also mentioned the details of this as follows:
“The Holy Prophetsa instructed Zaid bin Harithah to be the commander of the army. He instructed that if Zaid were to be martyred, then Ja‘far bin Abi Talib should take command. If Ja‘far were also martyred, then ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah would become the commander. And if he too were to fall in battle, then the Muslims should elect a leader from among themselves.
“At that moment, a Jewish man was present in the gathering. Upon hearing this, he said, ‘O Abu al-Qasim, if you are indeed truthful, then surely all three of these men shall be slain, for Allah the Almighty always fulfils whatever a prophet utters.’ Then, turning to Zaid, he said, ‘I tell you truthfully: if Muhammadsa is truly the Messenger of God, then you shall never return alive.’
“In response, Zaid said, ‘Whether I return or not, surely Muhammadsa is indeed the true Prophet of God.’
“The following day, the army set out in the morning. The Holy Prophetsa, along with some Companions, accompanied them to bid them farewell. Never, during the blessed lifetime of the Holy Prophetsa, had such a large army been dispatched for such an important task under the command of a Muslim general without the Holy Prophetsa himself being part of it.
“The Holy Prophetsa continued walking with them, offering counsel and words of wisdom. Eventually, he accompanied them to the very place outside of Medina from where he had once entered the city upon his migration, and where the people of Medina would usually bid farewell to their travellers. The Holy Prophetsa stood there and said while advising the army, ‘I enjoin you to fear Allah and to be kind to all the Muslims who are with you. Go for battle in the name of Allah, and fight against your enemy and the enemy of God who is in Syria. When you reach Syria, you will find such people who sit in places of worship and invoke the name of God. You should not combat them in any way (do not bother them in the slightest) and do not cause them any trouble. In the enemy’s land, you should not kill any woman, child, blind person, or elder. Do not cut down any tree or destroy any building.’ With this guidance, the Holy Prophetsa returned from there, and the army set out towards Syria.” (Dibacha Tafsirul Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 333-334)
At another instance, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has mentioned further details about this incident. After mentioning the entire account, he stated: “It is Allah the Almighty’s great wisdom that the incident occurred exactly as was foretold (i.e., regarding the leaders who were martyred as mentioned by the Holy Prophetsa. Firstly, Hazrat Zaidra was martyred, after which Hazrat Ja‘farra took the reins of the army. He too was martyred and after him, Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawahara took command of the army. He, too, was martyred, and it was nigh that the army would become scattered when Hazrat Khalid bin Waleedra, being urged by a group of Muslims, took hold of the flag. Allah the Almighty granted them victory through him and he managed to bring the army safely back.” (Fariza-e-Tabligh aur Ahmadi Khawatin, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 18, p. 406)
There are further accounts relating to this incident which will continue in the future, insha-Allah. At present, I wish to mention one martyr and some deceased members and will lead their funeral prayers [in absentia]. The member who embraced martyrdom last week in Karachi is Laeeq Ahmad Cheema Sahib, son of Chaudhry Nazeer Ahmad Cheema. He was martyred on 18 April.
اِنّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
[Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.]
A mob attacked him and brutally martyred him. The deceased was 47 years old. According to the details of the reports, on the day of the incident, opponents gathered in the form of a mob and began causing commotion outside Ahmadiyya Hall. It was a Friday, and Laeeq Cheema Sahib was sent to inspect the situation. The deceased martyr reached the scene. The opponents recognised Laeeq Cheema sahib and attacked him. They dragged him quite some distance and took him to the intersection. There, they beat him with bricks and stones and martyred him in a brutal manner. When he was breathing his last, a shopkeeper present tried to give him some water to drink, but he was forcibly stopped from doing so. After a delay of more than 30 minutes from the time of the incident police arrived at the scene, after which the body was transferred to the hospital, where his demise was confirmed.
Ahmadiyyat entered the family of the deceased martyr through his great-grandfather, respected Chaudhry Hakim Ali Sahib of Chishtian, district of Bahawalnagar, who had the good fortune of pledging allegiance at the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and joined the fold of Ahmadiyyat. The deceased martyr had limited formal education, but he had opened his own workshop and would repair cars and motorcycles. His workshop had expanded greatly. Owing to his good and honest reputation, cars of various governmental departments would be brought for repair at his workshop and owing to this, he had had a vast social circle. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the martyr was a musi [part of the institution of Al-Wasiyyat] He was always ready to carry out work in service for the Jamaat. He was regular in offering the Tahajjud prayer as well as the five daily prayers. He would regularly take his children with him to offer the prayers.
He would enquire from the Ahmadi workers at his workshop and from his family members at home about whether they had offered prayers. Despite being busy with his work, he would leave his work and give precedence to offering prayers. It was not that he remained occupied in his work – no. Generally, those people who do this sort of work and become busy do not give due attention to prayers. However, he never delayed offering his prayers. He was very friendly and loving. He maintained close ties with everyone. He had a special bond with Khilafat. He would listen to programmes on MTA, especially my sermons when they played on MTA. He was always prepared to attend the Jamaat’s cases and to perform duty at any time. Two days before the incident of his martyrdom, he endured a great deal of hostility from the opponents in the courts and he was threatened. He had already been receiving threats. He had profound love for the Holy Quran. Though he did not initially know how to read very well, he learned the Holy Quran when he was older and then he would regularly recite it and listen to its recordings. He would keep a recording of the Holy Quran playing in his workshop.
Before the incident of his martyrdom, someone requested him to arrange for [a donation] of blood in light of his illness. Upon this, the deceased martyr responded by saying that after the Friday prayer, he would go and donate his own blood for him. However, God had other plans and Allah the Almighty bestowed upon him the rank of martyrdom.
He had two wives. His first wife, Maryam Laeeq says, “He tended to my needs. He raised the children in an excellent manner and drew great attention towards the offering of prayers.”
The second wife also says – he had made it so that both lived together like sisters – that, “Though he did not have much worldly education, his general knowledge was quite vast. He often spoke about the prophets. He would teach me about various things as well (This is the second wife, Farah Laiq, who says that he would teach her as well). My parents did not teach me in the same manner that my husband taught me during the two years after our marriage.”
The deceased martyr’s brother, speaking about what his brother told him, said, “My brother repeatedly spoke about attaining martyrdom and would say that only the fortunate attain this blessing. He would often say that if the time for him to make such a sacrifice came, he would take a bullet to his chest.” He further says, “No matter the state of opposition, he always told his brothers to offer prayers in the mosque because this is the very time to show patience.”
His son Hizqeel Ahmad, who is only 12 years old. He says, “My father told me never to worry. That’s why I didn’t worry at all when my father was martyred.” He exhibited great courage, resolve and patience. He says, “I am brave just like my father and I am ready to take a bullet to my chest.”
He is survived by two wives, seven children, one sister and one brother. His eldest daughter is 17 years of age, while his youngest daughter is a year and a half old. He had told his wife of a dream in which he saw that they would have another child. His second wife says that when she took a test, she learned that Allah the Almighty will also grant her the blessing of a child.
The missionary of the Society chapter, Tauseef Sahib, says, “The deceased offered the five daily prayers in congregation at the [prayer] centre. He offered tahajjud [pre-dawn voluntary prayers], voluntary acts of worship, followed and obeyed Khilafat, tended to the poor and fulfilled the rights owed to Allah and the rights owed to His creation to the best of his abilities. As he went about his way, if there was ever a person in need, he would help them immediately. If he saw that someone’s car had broken down, he would stop along his way and help them. He would quietly help the needy. He was constant in acts of virtue and always served selflessly in every way. He had complete certainty in God Almighty. He attributed everything he did and every success he had to the grace of God Almighty. Despite strained circumstances and opposition, he always offered his prayers in congregation on time at the [prayer] centre. He was gentle in nature; if ever someone spoke with him angrily, he would remain silent and would never respond. In fact, he would smile and leave the gathering.”
Similarly, the Finance Secretary or the Local President say that once their calculations were incorrect. They mistakenly told him that he had an outstanding balance. He did not say anything about not having arrears and paid the amount which was quite large; a hundred thousand rupees. Later, they informed them that they had made an error in calculation and that he did not in fact have any arrears and the amount was an excess. He responded that it did not matter; he would not take back what he had already given in the way of God. He was meant to move out of the country with his family and all the preparations had been made. The narrator says that a day prior [to the martyrdom], he told him that they were about to move out of the country where there is religious freedom. His desire was to teach his children how to pronounce the Adhan [call to prayer] and Takbir [announcement of the commencement of prayer] aloud and in a melodious manner so that, upon leaving, when they offer prayers in congregation at home, they may regularly call the Adhan and then offer prayers. May Allah the Almighty elevate the martyr’s station and keep his family under His protection. May He swiftly procure the means for the enemy to be brought to task. Today, as well, a report has been received from a village in Kasur where a young Ahmadi has been martyred. The details have not yet been received. May Allah the Almighty procure the means for these oppressors to be brought to task. All that can be said for them is:
اَللّٰھُمَّ مَزِّقْھُمْ کُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍ وَ سَحِّقْھُمْ تَسْحِیْقًا
[O Allah, annihilate [the enemy] and crush them to pieces.]
The second mention is of Amatul Musawwar Nuri Sahiba, who was the wife of Doctor Masudul Hassan Nuri Sahib. She recently passed away.
اِنّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
[Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.]
She was the granddaughter of Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib, the granddaughter of Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafiz Begum Sahiba, and the daughter of Mirza Daud Ahmad Sahib. She was a musia by the grace of Allah the Almighty. She was also my paternal cousin. Dr Masudul Hassan says, “Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh facilitated our marriage himself. Huzoorrh did not ask her about it, nor her parents. He asked my father about me and whether he should arrange my marriage. When Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh informed Colonel Daud Sahib and his wife about the marriage proposal, they said they would like to pray istikharah [prayer for seeking guidance and good from God] for a few days. His Holiness said, ‘I have already prayed istikharah and there is no further need for istikharah. The marriage should take place.’” And so, they were married. He says, “By the grace of Allah the Almighty, our married life of 51 years was a bond of love, affection, obedience, and friendship. She was regular in offering prayers and worship. She tended to the poor and was hospitable. She had great trust in Allah. For some years, she had developed a great interest in deeply studying the Holy Quran. She would often ask questions to various scholars of the Jamaat. She was also interested in studying about other religions.”
Doctor Sahib says, “She had a large role to play in my life-devotion and academic pursuits. If ever there was a happy occasion or we were to go on a trip, but I had to go to the hospital for an emergency, she would sacrifice and say that she wouldn’t go either. She had been quite ill for the past three or four years and she endured her illness and discomfort with great patience and never expressed it.”
Her son, Doctor Khalid Nuri, who is in America and also goes to the Fazl-e-Omar Hospital for temporary periods of devotion, says, “My mother was a sincere servant of the Jamaat. She had profound love and devotion for Khilafat. She never involved herself in vanities such as backbiting or gossiping etc. She read the Holy Quran with complete understanding. She would also study the books of the Promised Messiahas. She would read Tadhkirah with great attention and would always keep it with her. She also had an interest in collecting historical artefacts and she would speak about them with curators of museums and historians.” She had also involved me in this passion of hers; she searched and had the ground dug around Rabwah and found things, especially in the mountains along the river. When she would come here to London, she would speak with me about these things and show me things. Her son further writes, “She would render great financial aid for the marriages of those who had less means. She would look after the children of all the workers. She would teach girls the Holy Quran. She would make certain that all their needs were met, and she would always be smiling when she met people.”
Her daughter Mubaraka says, “My mother had a passion for reading. Whether books of the Promised Messiahas, material on Christianity, or books on Hinduism, she would read about different topics and had gained quite a degree of knowledge. She had great respect for life-devotees. She always supported my father.”
After his retirement, Doctor Sahib devoted his life [to the service of Islam Ahmadiyyat]. She joined him even though afterwards he could have gotten a high-paying job. She says, “My father’s non-Ahmadi relatives also came for condolences, and they said that she kept the family together and had a relationship with everyone.” Then, she says, “She would advise me never to share matters of my home anywhere else and to write whatever I needed to the Khalifa of the time and to ensure that I implemented whatever he said. She would also advise not to waste time in disputes and quarrels.”
Jalal Ahmad Khan, a driver for the Tahir Heart Institute, says, “She was very virtuous, well-natured, and kind and took care of the poor. During journeys, she would always take care of us as well. She would play a CD of the Holy Quran and its translation and would listen to it throughout the journey.” He says, “She also took great care of my wife and children.” He says, “When we would go to the big cities, the shopkeepers who knew her, especially in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, where she frequented, would say that she had come after quite some time. Initially, when they would ask, she told them that she had moved to Rabwah,where the Jamaat’s hospital is and that her husband works there. She would say this and tell them without any fear, while we would be worried.”
May Allah the Almighty grant her forgiveness and mercy.
The next mention is of Hasan Sanogo Abu Bakr Sahib, who was a local missionary in Burkina Faso. He passed away recently at the age of 63.
اِنّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَیْہِ رٰجِعُوْنَ
[Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.]
During Ramadan, he would deliver daily lectures on the Holy Quran in the Jula language, which were broadcast on Radio Islamic Ahmadiyya. Even the day before his passing, on 22 March, he delivered a lecture.
He acquired his early education in Bobo-Dioulasso, a city in Burkina Faso, and then travelled to Mauritania for higher studies. After completing his initial higher education there, he proceeded to Al-Azhar University in Egypt. There, he mastered Arabic, achieving exceptional proficiency in both literary and spoken Arabic, before returning home. After his studies at Al-Azhar, he settled in Ivory Coast, where he established a religious seminary attended by hundreds of students. Although he was not yet an Ahmadi at that time, he became well-known throughout Ivory Coast due to his fiery eloquence and exceptional speaking abilities.
When Ahmadi missionaries began preaching in that region, the opponents selected Abu Bakr Sahib to confront them. He had great pride in his eloquence. He himself once recounted that on the day of the debate, he confidently wore a grand robe, believing that defeating Ahmadis would bring him fame, prestige and reverence. However, Allah the Almighty had instilled in him a virtuous nature, and he soon realised that truth lay with the Ahmadis, who possessed clear and strong arguments. He was given the book ‘Al-Qaul al-Sarih,’ and after studying it, he debated with Abdul Rahman Qanate Sahib, a missionary of the Jamaat in Abidjan. Allah the Almighty guided him, and he courageously accepted Ahmadiyyat shortly afterwards. This incident of his pledge of allegiance occurred in 1986 when he was around 24 to 25 years old.
After accepting Ahmadiyyat, he abandoned his madrasah and all his previous worldly glory. At that time, Ivory Coast had a short course for French-speaking Ahmadi students, which he joined and thereafter dedicated his life to the service of the Jamaat. He soon became one of the Jamaat’s finest missionaries, excelling particularly in delivering speeches in his mother tongue, Jula. His powerful voice and impassioned style of speaking quickly captivated his listeners.
In 1990, when Idris Shahid Sahib was appointed in Burkina Faso, he secured approval for Abu Bakr Sanogo Sahib’s transfer from Ivory Coast to Burkina Faso. Here, he actively participated in preaching efforts, rapidly achieving success in Jula-speaking regions and established many new chapters of the Jamaat through his preaching.
In 1999, he was assigned to Dori, an area in Burkina Faso where some of our members were martyred. Arabic was widely spoken there, and local scholars attempted to impress the public with their knowledge of Arabic. Abu Bakr Sahib successfully debated with prominent scholars in this region, successfully refuting them. He preached in remote villages to such an extent that non-Ahmadi scholars began avoiding debates with him. Soon, he became renowned as a prominent scholar and respected sheikh [religious scholar], leading to the establishment of numerous chapters of the Jamaat.
In 1991, he made contact with Imam Ibrahim Badiga Sahib, a martyr in Mahdi Abad, and his friends, who swiftly embraced Ahmadiyyat and later became shining stars of Ahmadiyyat through martyrdom in 2023.
In 2002, the first Ahmadiyya radio station was established in Bobo-Dioulasso, where Abu Bakr Sahib became its leading speaker. His passionate dedication to preaching enabled the message of Ahmadiyyat to reach millions, and thousands embraced Ahmadiyyat due to his preaching efforts. He served on the National Majlis-e-Amila for several years, and at the time of his passing, he was serving as Secretary Rishta Nata.
In 2012, he was appointed to Sikasso in Mali, where he rendered exceptional services. In 2019, when some youths caused mischief against the Jamaat’s administration in Bobo-Dioulasso, I sent him back there, where he was appointed local president of the Jamaat. Through courage, wisdom, hard work, and prayer, he successfully ended the unrest, leading everyone to renew their pledge of allegiance.
He leaves behind his mother, wife, brother, three children, and grandchildren. His wife, Aishah Koulibaly, says he was always ready to serve Islam. Despite health issues, he always prioritised Jamaat programmes and preaching trips. Sometimes she advised him to rest due to poor health, but he would reply, “I have dedicated my life, and I will strive to serve the faith until my last breath.” She mentions that since their marriage, she never saw a day when he neglected Tahajjud [pre-dawn voluntary prayers] due to illness. Whenever someone approached him with Jamaat or religious matters, he immediately assisted them, even if it meant compromising his own health later. He treated family, neighbours, and acquaintances with great kindness and love, embodying an exemplary personality deeply devoted to the Holy Quran and passionately in love with the Holy Prophetsa.
This indeed is the model of a life-devotee and missionary, one that our missionaries should always keep in view. May Allah the Almighty continue to grant the Jamaat individuals who embody such a spirit of dedication.
Idris Shahid Sahib, former Amir of Burkina Faso, writes that Abu Bakr Sahib tirelessly performed outstanding preaching services. He always had a smiling face, presented solid scholarly arguments, and consistently strived to maintain high standards of service.
Local missionary Darab Al-Hassan notes that Abu Bakr Sahib was a true lover of the Holy Prophetsa. Once, while explaining verse 38 of Surah Al-Ahzab and discussing non-Ahmadi scholars’ absurd comments regarding the Holy Prophet’ssa marriage to Hazrat Zainab, tears came to his eyes, saddened by the ignorant, absurd statements wrongly attributed to the Holy Prophetsa, the best of all creation.
When such people insult the Holy Prophetsa, it is not considered blasphemy, yet Ahmadis honouring him is deemed blasphemous. Even if we take his name, it is deemed blasphemous.
Darab Sahib says that during his travels, he was meticulous in performing Tahajjud. He was deeply devoted to Khilafat and always defended the Jamaat system fiercely. If anyone spoke against the Jamaat, he came to defend it like an unsheathed sword. He never harboured grudges or malice toward anyone. May Allah the Almighty elevate his ranks, enable his progeny to continue his virtuous legacy, and grant them the blessings of his prayers.
(Official Urdu transcript published in the Daily Al Fazl International, 16 May 2025, pp. 2-7. Translated by The Review of Religions.)