After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) stated:

The name of the first of the companions that I will mention today, who took part in the Battle of Badr, is Hazrat Tulaib Bin Umair (ra). His title was Abu ‘Adi. His mother’s name was Arwah, who was the daughter of Abdul Muttalib and was hence the paternal aunt of the Holy Prophet (sa). He was one of the earliest converts to Islam. He accepted Islam while the Holy Prophet (sa) was at Dar-e-Arqam. After accepting Islam, Hazrat Tulaib said to his mother, who was very supportive of him accepting Islam, ‘I implore you in Allah’s name, please go to the Holy Prophet (sa), greet him, accept him and give this testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (sa) is the Messenger of Allah.’ At which, she accepted Islam. Upon this she said, ‘I also testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (sa) is the messenger of Allah.’”

Hazrat Tulaib (ra) was among those Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia. However, when the rumour reached Abyssinia that the Quraish have accepted Islam, and Mecca was in peace, some Muslims returned to Mecca and Hazrat Tulaib (ra) was also among them. However, because of intense persecution of the Quraish, many Muslims emigrated back to Abyssinia, the second migration to Abyssinia.

When Hazrat Tulaib (ra) migrated from Mecca to Medina, he stayed with Hazrat Abdullah bin Salama Ajlani. The Holy Prophet (sa) formed a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Tulaib (ra) and Hazrat Munzir bin ‘Amr (ra). Hazrat Tulaib (ra) participated in the battle of Badr and he is counted amongst the prominent companions of the Holy Prophet (sa). He participated in the battle of Ajnadain, which took place in 13AH during, in the month of Jumadi-ul-Ula. He attained martyrdom during this very battle at the age of thirty-five. However, according to some sources, he was martyred during the battle of Yarmouk.

The next companion to be mentioned is Hazrat Salim Maula ibn Abi Huzaifa. His title was Abu ‘Abdullah and the name of his father was Ma’qil. He is counted among the prominent companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and he was also among the Muhajireen [Muslims, who migrated from Mecca to Medina]. He migrated to Medina prior to the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) formed a bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Salim and Mu’adh bin Ma’is. He was a freed slave of Hazrat Thubaita bint Ya’aar, the wife of Hazrat Abu Huzaifa. Hazrat Abu Huzaifa took Hazrat Salim as his adopted son. Thus, he was also known as Salim bin Abi Huzaifa. Hazrat Abu Huzaifa wedded him to his niece, Fatima bint Waleed. It is narrated that when God Almighty revealed the verse: “Call them by the names of their fathers. That is more equitable in the sight of Allah. But if you know not their fathers, then they are your brothers in faith and your friends. And there is no blame on you in any mistake you may unintentionally make in this matter, but what matters is that which your hearts intend. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.” After the revelation of this verse, Hazrat Salim (ra) became known as ‘Maula Abu Huzaifa i.e. the freed slave of Abu Huzaifa. a liberated servant or friend of Abu Huzaifa (ra).

Hazrat Salim Maula Abi Huzaifa (ra) used to lead the prayers, when early Muslims emigrated to Medina because he was the one amongst them who knew the Qur’an the most. Hazrat Salim (ra) was a Qari of the Holy Qur’an. He was amongst the four companions about whom the Holy Prophet (sa) had stated that one should learn the Qur’an from them.

In one of the traditions it states that once Hazrat A’isha (ra) arrived a little late to see the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) asked her why she was late, and she replied, “A Qari was reciting the Holy Qur’an with extraordinary beauty. I began listening to his recitation of the Qur’an, and thus got late.” The Holy Prophet (sa) put on his cloak and went outside and saw that it was Hazrat Salim (ra) who had been reciting the Holy Quran. Upon seeing this, the Prophet (sa) proclaimed, “I thank God Almighty, Who has granted my people such a beautiful Qari [reciter] as yourself.” On the occasion of Uhud, when the Holy Prophet (sa) was injured, it was Hazrat Salim (ra) who had the honour of washing his wounds.

Hazrat Salim (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) said that “on the Day of Judgement, a particular group of people shall be summoned – this is something worth listening to very carefully – on the Day of Judgement, a particular group of people shall be called upon who shall have as many good works as the mountains of Tihaamah. Tihaamah is a mountain range in a region of uneven terrain off the coast of the Arab peninsula which begins from Sinai and extends to the south-western side of Arabia. There is a certain part of this mountain range which begins from the Gulf of the Red Sea. The Holy Prophet (sa) said that the good works of these people shall be equal to the Tihaama mountain range. However, when these good works are presented before God, He shall reject them and shall cast these people into the fire. Upon hearing this, Hazrat Salim (ra) said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you! Please specify the characteristics of such people so that we may recognise them! I swear by that God Who has raised you as a Prophet that I fear becoming among these people.” Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that “their good deeds will be rejected because they will freely partake forbidden/unlawful things as presented before them…. The things which God has forbidden, they have no regard for what is permissible and what is not, and then the materialistic world overpowers them. Hence, it is a moment for constant reflection and continuous fear for a believer and may God always enable everyone to keep evaluating themselves.

The names of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar’s (ra) sons were Salim, Waaqid and Abdullah. He had named them after various prominent companions of the Holy Prophet (sa). One of the sons was Salim, who was named after the companion, Salim Maula Abu Huzaifah (ra).

He was a brave and steadfast person and did not show any distress even at the time of immense danger. He had no hesitation to speak up, if he felt that the spirit of the commandment of the Holy Prophet (sa) was not adhered to. For example, he spoke up, when Khalid Bin Walid ordered to kill some prisoners of wars against the explicit commandments of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) offered blood-money as well as other provision to the affected people and tried his utmost to offer them support, despite the fact that they were enemies. This was the standard of justice of the Holy Prophet (sa).

On the day of the battle of Yamammah, Hazrat Salim, the freed slave of Hazrat Huzaifah was told that he would be the flagbearer of the army, during the battle, when Hazrat Salim’s right hand was severed, he held the flag in his left hand. When his left hand was severed, he held the flag between his neck and recited the following: “And Muhammad is only a Messenger, and many a Prophet there has been beside whom fought numerous companies of their followers”. He was later martyred. Muhammad bin Thabit narrates that during the battle of Yamama, when the Muslim army became dispersed, Hazrat Salim stated: “This is not something we would do to the Holy Prophet (sa)”, i.e. that they would not run away. He dug himself a trench and stood inside it. On that day, he was carrying the flag of the Muhajireen [those who migrated from Mecca] and he fought valiantly, until he was martyred. When Hazrat Salim was martyred, people would say that they lost one fourth of the Quran. This meant that out of the four scholars from whom the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed to learn the Quran, one had departed.

The next companion is Hazrat Itbaan bin Malik. He belonged to the Banu Salim bin Auf branch of the Khazraj tribe. The Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Itbaan participated in the Battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. He began to lose his eyesight during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (sa) and passed away during the reign of Hazrat Muawiyah.

According to one narration, when Hazrat Itbaan bin Malik (ra) lost his eyesight, he sought permission from the Holy Prophet (sa) to be excused from attending the mosque for congregational prayer. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked him whether he could hear the Adhan [call to prayer], to which he replied in the affirmative. The Holy Prophet (sa) therefore did not grant him permission to be excused. This is a very well-known Hadith and is often quoted, however there are some more details related to this account. According to a narration from Sahih Bukhari, the Holy Prophet (sa) later granted permission to Hazrat Itbaan (ra) to offer his prayers at home. If people cannot get to the Mosque because of the extreme weather conditions and difficulties, it is permissible to offer prayers at home on the condition that the prayer should be offered in congregation and there is no excuse for this. Thus, this should always be borne in mind. Here in these countries, if the mosque is at a distance and there is also no means of transportation, then as I have said on many occasions, the Ahmadis should offer their homes as Salat centres where the local neighbouring Ahmadis can gather and offer their prayers in congregation. May God Almighty enable everyone to adhere to these injunctions.

I shall now lead some funeral prayers in absentia and briefly mention about the deceased. The first is respected Ghulam Mustafa Awan Sahib, who passed away in Rabwah on 16^th March at the age of 78 – Inna Lillah Wa Inna Illahi Rajiioon. By the grace of God Almighty, he was a born Ahmadi and Ahmadiyyat entered his family through his paternal grandfather, Diwan Baksh Sahib. The deceased was regular in his five daily prayers and in offering the Tahajjud prayer. He was a very righteous, compassionate, caring, courteous and social person, who led his life with simplicity. He was a person who was deeply reliant on supplications and prayers. He was very hospitable, cared for the needy and poor and would often help reconcile and heal relations of the others. He would always give precedence to his faith over all worldly things and was an extremely devout individual. He had a deep bond of love with Nizam-e-Jama’at and the institution of Khilafat.

The second funeral is of respected Amtul Haye Sahiba, who is the wife of Muhammad Nawaz Sahib of Kathgarhi. She passed away on 15^th March – Inna Lillah Wa Inna Illahi Rajiioon. She belonged to a neighbouring village of Qadian called Bagul. She was only two years of age when her father passed away and her father’s elder brother, Muhammad Ibrahim, brought her up. The deceased was a born Ahmadi and their family entered Ahmadiyyat in 1903. All of her siblings were non-Ahmadis and she would always try her utmost in doing Tabligh to them. It was as a result of her efforts in Tabligh, one of the brothers of her mother, Abdul Mujeed Sahib, accepted Ahmadiyyat and by the grace of God Almighty, his progeny is also serving the Jama’at. While she was living in Shorkot, the situation against Ahmadis was very hostile in 1953 and 1974. However, she endured this period with great courage and bravery, she did not show any kind of fear. It was during the disturbances of 1974, at the time, all the men were out and only women were at home. She stood guard in the courtyard of the house, with an axe in her hand. Suddenly someone from outside shouted to launch an attack on their house and she replied from inside, ‘If anyone jumps over the wall and comes inside, I will sever their head from their body just as Hazrat Safia (ra) once did.’ Observing her great strength and courage, the enemy left from there. May God Almighty elevate her status and grant her His forgiveness. May He also enable her children and progeny to continue her good deeds.