SUMMARY OF FRIDAY SERMON

by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
July 11^th, 2003

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Today Hazur^aba delivered the Friday Sermon in light of verse 122 of Surah Al Imran (3:122). Hazur^aba explained the historical perspective of the verse and said that it indicated to the time of the Battle of Uhud. Hazur^aba proceeded to read a comprehensive account of the Battle of Uhud as written by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him).

When Abu Sufyan attacked Medina with his 3000 strong army the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him), although personally preferred to fight the enemy from within Medina, on the insistence of many young Muslims who were desperately eager to fight in the name of Islam, accepted their advice and decided to go out of Medina to face the enemy in an all out battle. In numbers, the Muslims were less than a third of the invading army and were comparatively very poorly equipped. Upon reaching Uhud the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) positioned 50 Muslims over a hilly pass and strictly instructed them not to move from that point under any circumstances. The remaining Muslims fought gallantly with the huge Meccan army and forced it into retreat. Seeing this, the 50 Muslims guarding the hilly pass, after some argument, decided to join the rest of the Muslims. The Meccans spotted this weak spot and returned to the battlefield via the hilly pass and made a sudden attack on the Muslims. Their attack was ferocious and as a consequence majority of the Muslim fell fighting. So much so that despite Talha's (may Allah be pleased with him) heroic attempt to guard the Holy Prophet's blessed countenance from the enemy's arrows and other Companions' valiant defence of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) the Prophet was wounded and fell on the bodies of his dead Companions. When the enemy saw him lying unconscious they took him for dead.

Everyone around assumed the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) had passed away and were distraught yet gathered courage and decided to fight on and to `go where their beloved master had gone'. Later when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) regained consciousness the Muslims felt buoyant and the Meccans were astonished that he was still alive. The Muslims, though badly injured and wounded used tactics to dupe the enemy into thinking they had gathered a large army, the Meccans thus left.

Hazur^aba said a most pertinent lesson in the historical perspective of the Battle of Uhud is complete compliance to the Imam while contending with one's adversaries. He said he is rather concerned by various people writing to him in response to the continual and persistently invective nature of the opponents of Ahmadiyyat. Hazur^aba said people write to him wishing to perhaps take on spiritual challenge (mubahala) with the opponents of Ahmadiyyat. Hazur^aba strongly dissuaded from this and explained that a spiritual challenge should never be taken lightly; it has its own regulations and is always carried out by Divine order. This was the way of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) who did not ever enter a mubahala until God commanded him to and indeed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) followed suit. In the current era Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rahma'ullah) undertook the spiritual challenge by
Divine decree and not otherwise. Hazur^aba said even in discussions etc it is erroneous to bind the truth of Ahmadiyyat to stipulations, he said Ahmadiyyat is the truth in any case and whoever has challenged the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has come to naught. He enjoined the Community to follow the Imam and to remain behind the shield of the Imam. When Allah Himself looks after us then why the concern? The only concern should be to purify oneself and to submit to Him completely. Hazur^aba said the predominance shall be Ahmadiyyat's, which is in fact, the true Islam. Hazur^aba enjoined to be ever mindful of the saying of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace):

" I am Divinely commissioned and I have been given the glad tiding of triumph".