On 15 December 2019, students of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK were fortunate to have a sitting with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper. The session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a nazm. The theme of the sitting was “The Battle of Badr” and various speeches and presentations were delivered on this subject.
After the speeches, Huzooraa asked the students whether any other numbers, aside from 313, were mentioned or recorded with regard to the number of companions at the Battle of Badr. Upon this, a student answered that along with 313, the number 310 has also been mentioned.
Huzooraa added that in other narrations, the numbers 320 and 322 have also been mentioned. Huzooraa also said that he had mentioned this in one of his previous Friday Sermons.
One student asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa about the incident of the treaty of Medina and what today’s world could learn from it. In response, Huzooraa explained how the world could learn and take care of religious sentiments, show justice and how to live together peacefully in a society.
Another student mentioned World War I and the poppies that are worn to remember the soldiers and the two-minute silence on Remembrance Day. The student further said that battles have also been fought by Muslims, such as the Battle of Badr. The student asked what the wisdom was of not allocating a day to remember the Companionsra who fought in the battles.
Huzooraa stated that the vital thing is to act upon Islamic teachings. The Promised Messiahas received the revelation, “Forget not the account of Badr”. The Promised Messiahas had said that war had no value and the actual aspect to remember is to show justice, as mentioned in the Quran.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that the permission for war was only given because the disbelievers of Mecca were against religion and had they not fought, then no church, synagogue, temple or mosque would have remained. Huzooraa added that wearing a poppy for a day or two will not avail anyone, if, for the rest of the year, people continue to usurp the rights of others. Whilst talking about the responsibilities of Ahmadi Muslims when Islam Ahmadiyya spreads in the West, Huzooraa stated that our teaching should be “La Tathriba alaikum-ul-yaum” (No blame shall lie on you this day) as stated in the Holy Quran.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa further said that we must be the ones who remain just, otherwise the slogans we raise of “Love for all, hatred for none” will prove futile. If we retaliate in the same manner as others, then we will be no different.
Huzooraa further said, alluding to the verse mentioned, that Hazrat Yusufas said this to his brothers and the Holy Prophetsa said this at the fall of Mecca. Thus, we should act upon the teachings and practice of the Holy Prophetsa.