After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) stated:
Hazrat Khalid bin Qais. Hazrat Khalid belonged to the Banu Bayada branch of the Khazraj tribe. His father’s name was Qais bin Malik while his mother’s name was Salma bint Harithah. His wife was Umm Rabee’ and they had a son called Abdur Rahman. According to Ibn Ishaq, he participated in the pledge that took place at Aqabah along with 70 companions from among the Ansar. Hazrat Khalid also participated in the Battles of Badr and Uhud.
Hazrat Haris bin Khazama Ansari. His title was Abu Bishr. He belonged to the Khazraj tribe of the Ansar, who were confederates of the Banu ‘Abdil Ash’al tribe. His title was Abu Bishr. Hazrat Haris bin Khazama participated in all of the battles alongside the Holy Prophet (sa) including the Battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq [the ditch]. The Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Haris bin Khazama and Hazrat Iyas bin Bukair. It is mentioned in history that during the Battle of Tabuk, the camel of the Holy Prophet (sa) went missing. The hypocrites raised the objections against the Holy Prophet (sa) saying, “How can he have knowledge of the Heavens when he does not even know where his camel is?” When the Holy Prophet (sa) came to know about this, he said, “I only possess knowledge of those matters which God has informed me.” He then said that God had informed him about his camel, that it was in the mountain pass of a certain valley. The companion who went in search of the camel according to the instructions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and brought it back, was Hazrat Haris bin Khazama. He passed away in Medina in 40AH, during the Khilafat of Hazrat Ali, at the age of 67.
Hazrat Khunais bin Huzafah. His title was Abu Huzafah. His mother’s name was Da’eefah bint Hizyam. He belonged to Bani Saham bin ‘Amr tribe. He had accepted Islam before the Holy Prophet (sa) went to Dare Arqam. Hazrat Khunais was among those Muslims who participated in the second migration to Abyssinia. The Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Khunais and Hazrat Abu ‘Abs bin Jabar. Hazrat Khunais participated in the Battle of Badr. Ummul Mu’mineen Hazrat Hafsah was the widow of Hazrat Khunais before she married the Holy Prophet (sa). According to another narration, Hazrat Khuanis bin Huzafah (ra) was wounded during the battle of Uhud and sometime later, he passed away in Medina as a result of these wounds. The Holy Prophet (sa) lead his funeral prayer and buried him in Jannat-ul-Baqi’ [cemetery in Medina], next to Hazrat ‘Uthman bin Maz’oon.
Hazrat Haritha bin Nu’man. His title was Abu Abdullah. Hazrat Haritha bin Nu’man was an Ansari [Muslims native to Medina] companion. He belonged to the Banu Najjar clan of the Khazraj tribe. He participated alongside the Holy Prophet (sa) in all battles including the battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. He is considered among the leading companions.
Hazrat ‘Aisha (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) had great respect and honour for him. Hazrat ‘Aisha (ra) has also mentioned this about him in the narration that he used to treat his mother in the best manner and the Holy Prophet (sa) advised that everyone ought to follow this virtuous example.
Hazrat Haritha bin Nu’man’s narrated: “I heard from the Holy Prophet (sa) that helping the needy, safeguards a person from the suffering of death.” So he always made every effort to help the needy. He offered his house for Hazrat Fatima (ra) when she got married saying, “O Messenger of Allah! Everything I own belongs to you, my Master. By God, whatever you accept of me causes me greater joy than that which remains with me.” Hazrat Haritha bin Nu’man passed away during the rule of Hazrat Ameer Muawiyah.
There is a narration about Bashir bin Sa’ad from his son, Hazrat Nau’man bin Bashir, who states: “My father bestowed some of his wealth to me.” Both these narrations are from Bukhari. “My mother, ‘Amrah bint Rawahah stated: ‘I will not be satisfied until you request the Holy Prophet (sa) to be a witness regarding this matter.’ My father came to the Holy Prophet (sa) in order to request him to become a witness about the gift he had bestowed to me. The Holy Prophet (sa) stated: ‘Have you given the same to all of your children?’” (Meaning, have you given everyone the same amount of wealth or the same gift?) “He responded: ‘No.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) then said: ‘Fear Allah and treat your children in a just manner.’ My father returned and took the gift back.” The wisdom of this commandment is to practice justice between siblings so that siblings do not resent each other or resent their parents in old age. Discrimination by parents is harmful and destroys the loving relationship between parents and children.
During the battle of Khandaq (ditch), the daughter of Bashir bin Sa’ad – the account of whom is being discussed – narrates: “My mother, Amrah bint Rawahah, gave me some dates, placed in a cloth, and asked me to take them to my father and uncle and to tell them it was for their breakfast.” She says: “I took those dates and started looking for my father and uncle. When I passed by the Holy Prophet (sa), he asked me, “O young girl! what have you brought?” I told him about the dates, which my mother had given me to take to my father Bashir bin Sa’ad and my uncle Abdullah bin Rawaha. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Give them to me”. I placed them in both of his hands. He put them on one piece of cloth and covered them with another. He then asked a man to invite everyone to eat those dates. All those who were digging the trenches gathered and started eating them. The dates kept on increasing, to the extent that when everyone had finished eating they were still overflowing from that piece of cloth.” This is how they were blessed. Hazrat Bashir participated alongside Hazrat Khalid bin Walid in the battle of Ainul Tamar during the Khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr in the year 12 AH where was martyred.
Hazrat Abu Mas’ood Ansari relates that once we were in the company of Hazrat Sa’ad bin Ubadah that the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived. Hazrat Bashir Bin Sa’ad enquired of the Holy Prophet (sa) that “God Almighty has instructed us to invoke salutations upon you - how should we do this?” After a long pause, the Holy Prophet (sa) responded, “You should say, [Arabic] [O Allah! Bless Muhammad and his people as You did bless Abraham, and prosper Muhammad and his people as you did cause to prosper the people of Abraham in the whole world. Surely, You are the Praiseworthy, the Exalted.] And you should say salaam in the same way that you already know. [Arabic] [O Allah! Bless Muhammad and his people and make him prosper. Surely, You are the Praiseworthy, the Exalted]
Now, I would like to request prayers for the preparations for the Annual Convention in Bangladesh. Sadly, ‘so-called’ scholars and opponents have caused a great stir and commotion, resulting in mobs attacking the homes and shops of Ahmadis, burning some homes and looting some shops. Some Ahmadis were also injured. Pray that may Allah the Almighty make the situation there better, and may He grant a swift and complete recovery to those that were injured. May He also make good all material losses, and in the future, whenever the date for the Annual Convention is decided, may they be enabled to hold it.
After the prayers, I shall also be leading a funeral prayer for Respected Siddiqa Begum Sahiba of Dunyapur, Pakistan. She was the mother of Laeeq Ahmad Mushtaq Sahib, the Missionary In-Charge of South America, and the wife of Sheikh Muzaffar Ahmad Sahib. She passed away on 1st February at the age of 74 years – Surely to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. The deceased spent her entire life as an exemplary wife. Despite a modest income, she always remained content and dignified. Not only did she bring up her own children, she also arranged the marriages of her brothers and sisters-in-law. She always gave precedence to the comfort of others over her own. She was regular in her prayers and fasting. She was ever-inclined to supplicating, she had a humble, cheerful, and modest disposition, looked after the poor, and was a pious and sincere woman. She was also regular in reciting the Holy Qur’an, and also enjoyed the honour of having taught many Ahmadi girls its correct recitation. At her own expense, she paid for a Hafiz to help her daughter and two sons to learn the entire Qur’an by heart. She had a great love for the Holy Qur’an. She had a deep connection of subservience with Khilafat and was a Moosiya. May God Almighty shower his forgiveness on her and have mercy upon the deceased and elevate her status; may He grant her children the ability to continue her good works; may He accept her prayers in their favour.