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). Later in the sermon, His Holiness(aba) also launched a new search engine for the Holy Qur’an.
Hazrat Uthman(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that according to traditions, the Companions(ra) regarded Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) as the senior-most companion, then Hazrat Umar(ra) and then Hazrat Uthman(ra). In another narration, someone asked Hazrat Ali(ra) who the most noble men were after the Holy Prophet(sa), to which he replied Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra), then Hazrat Umar(ra) and then Hazrat Uthman(ra).
The Holy Prophet’s (sa) Regard for Hazrat Uthman(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said, describing the relationship between the Holy Prophet(sa) and Hazrat Uthman(ra) that once the Holy Prophet(sa) did not offer the funeral prayer of a person. The companions asked him why this was as they had never seen him not offer the funeral prayer of someone. The Holy Prophet(sa) replied saying that he had not offered the funeral prayer of that particular person because he held enmity against Hazrat Uthman(ra) due to which God was displeased with him.
His Holiness(aba) said that the two Adhan [call to prayer] given for the Friday prayer were implemented during the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman(ra). Before, the Adhan only used to be given when the Imam would sit by the pulpit. But as the number of Muslims grew by the era of Hazrat Uthman(ra) an earlier Adhan would be called outside the mosque.
His Holiness(aba) said that during the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman(ra), once Eid happened on a Friday. Hazrat Uthman(ra) said in his Eid sermon that two Eids had been combined in one day. He further said it would be good for those who wished to stay and wait for the Friday Prayer, however those who wished to go were free to do so as well.
Diligence of Hazrat Uthman(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that Hazrat Uthman(ra) has narrated a total of 146 sayings from the Holy Prophet(sa). The number of narrations related by him is relatively lower as compared to other companions as he exercised extreme caution and ensured that anything narrated by him was absolutely accurate.
His Holiness(aba) said that once, Hazrat Uthman(ra) was performing ablution and then he laughed. He explained that once he saw the Holy Prophet(sa) do the same, and said that whenever someone asks for water to perform ablution, and then washes his face, then all the sins related to the face are washed away, and the same is the case with all other parts of the body that are washed during ablution.
His Holiness(aba) said that Hazrat Uthman(ra) was married eight times during the course of his life, all of which were after his acceptance of Islam. It is recorded that at the time of his martyrdom, Hazrat Uthman(ra) had four wives.
Adopt the Spirit of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
His Holiness(aba) quoted the Promised Messiah(as) who said that one cannot be a true believer until they adopt the spirit of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra), Hazrat Umar(ra), Hazrat Uthman(ra) and Hazrat Ali(ra); all of whom did not care for worldly allures but had dedicated their lives to the service of Islam. The Promised Messiah(as) also said that after the Holy Prophet(sa), Islam was fortified by Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra), Hazrat Umar(ra) and Hazrat Uthman(ra).
His Holiness(aba) said that this concludes the series of sermons on the life of Hazrat Uthman(ra). His Holiness(aba) said that he would begin highlighting the life of Hazrat Umar(ra) in the future.
Launch of a New Search Engine for the Holy Qur’an
His Holiness(aba) said that he would be launching a new website for searching the Holy Qur’an: holyquran.io. This search engine has been created by the alislam.org team but can be accessed as a separate website. Any chapter, verse, word or topic can be searched in either Arabic, Urdu or English in this new search engine. The search results can be compared with translations done by the Community along with translations done by non-Ahmadis. The commentary, topics and related verses can be seen with every verse. There is more work being done as this is only the first version of this search engine and the updated version will be completed by the Annual Convention UK 2021.
Furthermore, on the alislam.org website itself a new layout for reading and listening to the Qur’an has been added. Verses can be read with English commentary, word for word translations and an index of topics. His Holiness(aba) prayed that this project becomes a means of spreading the beautiful teachings of the Holy Qur’an throughout the world and that members of the Community may also be able to benefit from this.
His Holiness(aba) again made an appeal for prayers for the Ahmadis residing in Pakistan and Algeria, that may Allah improve their circumstances and alleviate their hardships.
Funeral Prayers
His Holiness(aba) said that he would lead the funeral prayers in-absentia of the following deceased members. His Holiness(aba) commented that he receives many requests for leading funeral prayers and it is difficult to lead them all, but in any case he would be leading the funeral prayers of the following and the rest, though unnamed, will be included in the prayers:
Muhammad Sadiq Durga Rampuri Sahibof Bangladesh who passed away on November 14, 2020. He served as the National Secretary Waqf-e-Nau for quite some time. He was regular in going to the mosque. He is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.
Mukhtara Bibi Sahiba, the mother-in-law of Naeem Bajwa Sahib who is the Principal of Jamia Mubashireen Burkina Faso. She passed away on January 16. She served in the administrative body for the local chapter of the women’s auxiliary organisation. She was blessed to donate large sums as financial sacrifices. Even a few hours before her demise, she donated her jewelry as a financial contribution. A few years ago her son passed away in a car accident, and she endured this tragedy with great patience. She had a great deal of love for the Holy Qur’an. She is survived by her husband, a son and three daughters. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Manzoor Ahmad Shad Sahib who passed away on January 17. He served the Community in various capacities. He moved to London in 2010 and would volunteer in the Homeopathic dispensary. Three of his grandchildren are Imams serving in the UK. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Hamida Akhtar Sahiba who passed away on January 19. She served the women’s auxiliary organization in Pakistan for about fifty years. She loved Khilafat a great deal and she was always regular in offering prayers, reciting and teaching the Holy Qur’an. She is survived by five sons and two daughters. Many people from her family are serving the Community in an excellent manner. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Nasir Peter Lutzin Sahib who passed away on January 20. He had come across a stall set up by the Community and took some literature from there. He then visited some members of the Community. Upon visiting them, he was impressed by their simplicity and hospitality and eventually he and his wife accepted Ahmadiyyat. His daughter says that her family has witnessed many blessings. Once her parents were attending the Annual Convention UK. For many years her mother had not been able to see out of one eye. However, whilst attending the Convention, she began seeing out of that eye. Nasir Peechar Sahib possessed many virtuous qualities and was at the forefront of presenting financial sacrifices. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with mercy and forgiveness and keep his children steadfast.
Razia Tanveer Sahib of Canada who was the wife of Khaleel Tanveer Sahib who passed away on February 27 after a battle with cancer. She served the women’s auxiliary organisation in Pakistan for over twenty years. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with mercy and forgiveness.
Mian Manzoor Ahmad Ghalib Sahib who passed away on February 7. He accepted Ahmadiyyat upon seeing his elder brother do so and visiting Rabwah. He loved Khilafat a great deal. His Holiness(aba) said that he knew him personally and knew him to be very loyal. He possessed many great and virtuous qualities. He served the auxiliary organisation in various capacities. His grandson Safir Ahmad is an Imam serving in the UK. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Mubasharah Hameed Adani Sahiba who passed away on February 14. She was the mother-in-law of Munir Odeh Sahib of MTA. She worked in MTA for a long time. She possessed many great qualities. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Noorus Sabah Zafar Sahiba who passed away on March 25. She was the wife of Muhammad Afzal Sahib an Imam in Kenya. She always prayed a great deal and also regularly listened to the Friday Sermons. She was regular in offering financial contributions. She was very hospitable. She possessed many great qualities. Muhammad Afzal Sahib’s first wife had passed away in a tragedy, and Noorus Sabah Zafar Sahiba treated his daughters from the first marriage as her own. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Sultan Ali Rehan Sahib who passed away on March 26. He accepted Ahmadiyyat after his own study. He then also preached the message of Ahmadiyyat to his father who later also accepted Ahmadiyyat. He faced many hardships on account of being an Ahmadi, but he endured them with great courage and patience. He is survived by two sons and six daughters. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Maulvi Ghulam Qadir Sahib who passed away on March 26. He served as an Imam in Jammu Kashmir. He was excellent in his work and served the Community in an exemplary fashion. He is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with mercy and forgiveness.
Mahmooda Begum Sahiba who passed away on April 1. She was the wife of a Darvesh of Qadian and showed great patience. She was regular in offering prayers, offering financial contributions and loved Khilafat a great deal. She is survived by three sons and two daughters. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Khalid Sa‘dullah Misri Sahib of Jordan who recently passed away. He was very virtuous and possessed many great qualities. He loved Khilafat a great deal. He regularly watched MTA. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Muhammad Munir Sahib of Rabwah who passed away on April 1. He accepted Ahmadiyyat at the hands of the Third Caliph(rh). He faced a great deal of torture at the hands of his family on account of being an Ahmadi. His family even offered that if he left Ahmadiyyat they would give him enough money that his children would never have to work, yet he remained steadfast upon Ahmadiyyat. He always remained smiling and was very kind. He possessed many great qualities. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Master Nazir Ahmad Sahib of Rabwah who passed away on April 4. He accepted Ahmadiyyat at the age of 15 at the hands of the Second Caliph(ra) after seeing a dream. His son who was only nine years old at the time was attacked with a knife at school on account of being an Ahmadi and later died. Master Nazir Ahmad Sahib endured this time with great patience. He taught many children the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. He was regular in offering prayers. Three of his sons are life-devotees. His Holiness(aba) prayed that may Allah treat the deceased with forgiveness and mercy.
Summary prepared by The Review of Religions.