Friday Sermon delivered at Masjid Mubarak, Islamabad, Tilford, UK
Rightly Guided Caliphs – Hazrat Uthman(ra)
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) said that he would continue highlighting incidents from the life of Hazrat Uthman(ra).
Amir Mu‘awiyyah’s Suggestions to Hazrat Uthman(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that Hazrat Uthman(ra) performed his last Hajj about a year before his demise. At the time, the rebels had already started creating their disorder. Amir Mu‘awiyyah had accompanied Hazrat Uthman(ra), and suggested that Hazrat Uthman(ra) should go to Syria with him, as the disorder was rising. Hazrat Uthman(ra) replied that under no circumstance would he leave the proximity of the Holy Prophet(sa). Then Amir Mu‘awiyyah suggested that he would send a Syrian army for Hazrat Uthman’s(ra) protection. Hazrat Uthman(ra) replied that he would not allow for such an expense to be incurred by the treasury simply for his protection. Then Amir Mu‘awiyyah replied that the only reason this disorder could rise was that senior companions were present in Madinah and the rebels could think that if they did away with Hazrat Uthman(ra) then one of them could take care of matters after him. Thus, Hazrat Uthman(ra) should send them away and spread them out in various places. Hazrat Uthman(ra) replied that he could not spread out those whom the Holy Prophet(sa) had gathered.
Upon this, Amir Mu‘awiyyah was in tears, and said that Hazrat Uthman(ra) should at least announce that should anything happen to him, Amir Mu‘awiyyah had permission to take retribution. Hazrat Uthman(ra) replied that whatever was destined to happen would come to pass, and he could not do this either.
Hazrat Uthman(ra) Admonishes the Rebel Captors
His Holiness(aba) said that whilst Hazrat Uthman(ra) was imprisoned in his own home by the rebels, he said to his captors that they should not kill him. He said that if they did so, they would never be able to offer prayers together, nor would they ever be united in fighting back against the enemy. He advised them to abstain from fighting. However the rebels did not pay any heed to his words. And so, Hazrat Uthman(ra) prayed to God, that He should keep account of all those who had besieged his home and caused this rebellion and punish them accordingly. It is narrated that all those who had participated in this rebellion eventually all perished.
His Holiness(aba) said that on the day when Hazrat Uthman’s(ra) home was besieged, some companions had gathered at his home, and insisted that a group of believers were present to help protect Hazrat Uthman(ra) against the rebels. However, Hazrat Uthman(ra) said that no one’s blood should be shed simply for his sake, nor should anyone shed the blood of anyone else for his sake either.
His Holiness(aba) said that in this way, until the very end, Hazrat Uthman(ra) did not give the rebels even the slightest opportunity to justify their heinous actions or to justify fighting against him and the believers.
The Rebels Martyr Hazrat Uthman(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that when the rebels saw that there were devoted Muslims gathered by the door of Hazrat Uthman(ra) they knew that it would be difficult to enter into his home. Thus, they decided to go into a neighbour’s home and climb over the wall from there. When they entered Hazrat Uthman’s(ra) home, they found him reciting the Holy Qur’an. Hazrat Uthman(ra) had known from before that this was the day he would be martyred, and so he had assigned two people to stand guard at the treasury, so that no matter what happened, no one could steal from the treasury.
His Holiness(aba) said that first, Hazrat Abu Bakr’s(ra) son advanced, and harshly pulled Hazrat Uthman(ra) by the beard. Upon this, Hazrat Uthman(ra) said to him that had his father (Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra)) been alive, then he would never have acted in this way. Upon hearing this, he moved away and left. However the other rebels advanced, and one of them struck Hazrat Uthman(ra) on the head with an iron rod, and blood began to drip from his head. The rebels, without any regard, kicked the copy of the Holy Qur’an which Hazrat Uthman(ra) had been reciting. Incidentally, the blood of Hazrat Uthman(ra) fell onto the following verse:
‘and Allah will surely avenge thee against them, for He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ (2:138)
Then the rebels continued to attack him. They began striking with their swords. Hazrat Uthman(ra) tried blocking the strike which cut his hand. At this moment, Hazrat Uthman(ra) said that this was the hand which first wrote down verses of the Holy Qur’an. At this time, Hazrat Uthman’s(ra) wife came forward and stood before him, but those rebels did not even hesitate in attacking a woman, as a result of which her fingers were cut. Then they continued attacking Hazrat Uthman(ra) until they martyred him. ‘Surely to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.’
Hazrat Uthman’s(ra) Fearless Display
His Holiness(aba) continued quoting the Second Caliph(ra) who related the incident and said that as the rebels were attacking Hazrat Uthman(ra), they were using foul language about his wife, and even further, about Hazrat A’ishah(ra). Yet despite it all, Hazrat Uthman(ra) never feared martyrdom. Even before, when he knew that this disorder was brewing, he would go to the mosque on his own in order to pray. Even when he was imprisoned in his own home, he instructed the Companions(ra) to go back home, rather than staying with him in order to protect him. Even when the rebels entered his home, he continued reciting the Holy Qur’an without any fear. Then, even when Hazrat Abu Bakr’s(ra) son advanced to attack him, he was able to calmly help him see reason. Thus, all the incidents leading up to his martyrdom clearly show that Hazrat Uthman(ra) did not have even the slightest bit of fear.
His Holiness(aba) said that it was after the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman(ra) that people began to understand the true importance of Khilafat. His Holiness(aba) went on to explain the extraordinary virtues possessed by Hazrat Uthman(ra). His Holiness(aba) explained his esteemed rank, and that even the Holy Prophet(sa) respected him a great deal. For example, once, the Holy Prophet(sa) was laying down, and Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) walked in, but the Holy Prophet(sa) continued laying down. Then Hazrat Umar(ra) walked in but the Holy Prophet(sa) continued laying down. Then Hazrat Uthman(ra) walked in, and the Holy Prophet(sa) immediately began straightening out his clothes, and later said that Hazrat Uthman(ra) was a man who possessed great modesty, and so he did this keeping his sentiments in mind. Hazrat Uthman(ra) was one of those six people to whom the Holy Prophet(sa) gave the glad tiding of a lofty status, and he was of those ten companions to whom the Holy Prophet(sa) gave the glad tiding of paradise.
His Holiness(aba) said that he would continue highlighting incidents from the life of Hazrat Uthman(ra) in the future.
Funeral Prayers
His Holiness(aba) said that he would offer the funeral prayers in-absentia of the following,
Maulvi Muhammad Idrees Sahib from Ivory Coast who passed away during the night between the 27th and 28th February. He studied at Jamia in Rabwah, after which he had the honour of serving as a missionary in Ivory Coast. When he arrived in Pakistan, he had not informed anyone prior to his arrival, so he was standing at the airport and was worried. Then a man came to him and asked him where he needed to go and after explaining to him, the man took him to the Ahmadiyya Hall. Later the man said that the night before, his wife had seen a dream in which a foreigner who needed help had come to Pakistan, and thus she had asked her husband to go to the airport. He was very proficient in spreading the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat. He loved the Community a great deal. If ever someone asked what his nationality was, he would say that it was Ahmadiyyat. He possessed a great deal of knowledge and would have debates with other Muslim scholars in which he would be successful. He prayed a great deal and would advise others to do the same. He is survived by his wife, four daughters and a son. His Holiness(aba) prayed that his children may be able to follow in his footsteps and may Allah elevate his station in Paradise.
Amina Nayga Kare Sahiba who was the wife of the National President of the Community in Uganda. She passed away on February 20. She was very learned and well-educated, and her husband said that he attributes a great deal of his success to her. She was very passionate about spreading the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat. She was also imprisoned on false charges. She was extremely pious, and would be able to bear any attack levelled against her but would never be able to bear any allegation against the faith. She is survived by her husband and six children, of whom two are missionaries.
Noohi Kazak Sahib who passed away on December 10, 2020. He was very pious, regular in his prayers and fasting, always presented financial sacrifices, loved Khilafat a great deal and was always kind and giving to the less fortunate. He is survived by two wives and three young daughters. He was always ready to serve the Community in whatever capacity was required. He was kind to others, and was also helpful at home as well. Rather than gathering wealth for himself, he would spend it to help those in need and who were less fortunate. He instilled the love of Khilafat in other members of his family as well. One of his brothers is Mutaz Kazak Sahib, a professor in Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada.
Farhat Naseem Sahiba of Rabwah who passed away on December 26, 2020. She was very pious, regular in prayers and fasting, helped the poor, and always presented financial sacrifices. She is survived by three sons, three daughters and many grandchildren. One of her sons and two of her grandchildren are missionaries.
His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat all the deceased with mercy and forgiveness and elevate their station in paradise.
Summary prepared by The Review of Religions.
