Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(at)
Friday Sermon delivered at Masjid Mubarak, Islamabad, Tilford, UK
Rightly Guided Caliphs_Hazrat Abu Bakr(Ra) & Special Prayers for a World Facing Threats of Nuclear Warfare
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) continued highlighting incidents from the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra).
Election of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) as the Caliph
His Holiness(aba) said that he would continue mentioning incidents surrounding Hazrat Abu Bakr?s(ra) election as the Caliph. His Holiness(aba) said that Khubab bin Munzir(ra) encouraged the Ansar not to differ amongst themselves and remain firm upon their stance that there should be a leader from among them and a leader from among the Muhajireen. Hazrat Umar(ra) said that this would never be accepted by the Arabs as there cannot be two swords in one sheath. Furthermore, it would not be acceptable for the leader to be selected from those who were not the people from whom the Holy Prophet(sa) hailed i.e. the Quraish. This led to further disputes and differences of opinion.
His Holiness(aba) said that Hazrat Abu Ubaidah(ra) said to the Ansar that they were the first to support the Holy Prophet(sa) and that now they should not be the first to raise a dispute. Hazrat Umar(ra) then took hold of Hazrat Abu Bakr?s(ra) hand and asked who it was that the Holy Prophet(sa) told “Grieve not, for Allah is with us”. It was his companion in the cave, who was none other than Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra). Hazrat Umar(ra) then pledged allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) and encouraged everyone to follow suit. Thus, one by one, people came forward and pledged allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) as the first Caliph of Islam. This was known as the Bai?at of Thaqifah Banu Sa?idah.
His Holiness(aba) said that the next day, Hazrat Umar(ra) delivered a speech in which he said that God Almighty had entrusted the people in the hands of a person who was the best among them, who was one of the two mentioned in the cave. He again encouraged everyone to pledge allegiance to him which they did.
His Holiness(aba) said that Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) also delivered a speech in which he said that he would strive to grant everyone their rights. He said that the people should follow him so long as he remained obedient to God and His Messenger (sa).
Hazrat Ali(ra) Pledges Allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that when Hazrat Ali(ra) was informed that Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) was accepting the pledge of allegiance, he hurried out without even fully getting ready so as not to delay and pledged allegiance to him. Contrary to some records which say that Hazrat Ali(ra) delayed pledging allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra), His Holiness(aba) said that records which say that Hazrat Ali(ra) pledged allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) on the first or second day after the demise of the Holy Prophet(sa) are the most accurate, as Hazrat
Ali(ra) never left the side of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra).
Abu Quhafah Reaffirms Faith After His Son is Elected as the Caliph
His Holiness(aba) said that news reached Makkah that people were pledging their allegiance. This news also reached Hazrat Abu Bakr?s(ra) father, Abu Quhafah. He was astonished, and would name various tribes and ask whether they too had pledged allegiance to him, and he would receive a reply in the affirmative. Upon this, Abu
Quhafah declared, „I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad(sa) is His Messenger?. Although he had already accepted Islam before, hearing that his son – who had not held much significance before Islam – was now being accepted by Arabs as their leader, further strengthened his faith.
A Dream Regarding the Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that once the Holy Prophet(sa) saw a dream which indicated to Hazrat Abu Bakr?s(ra) Caliphate. He saw that he was standing by a well, and then saw Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) come and draw out water from the well. Then Hazrat Umar(ra) came, and the bucket had become larger, and he too drew out water from the well with great strength.
His Holiness(aba) said that Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) also saw a dream in which he was wearing a Yemeni cloak which had two stains on it. When he narrated the dream to the Holy Prophet(sa), he interpreted the Yemeni cloak to mean that Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) would have a vast progeny and the two stains to mean that he would be the ruler over people for two years.
Humility of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said that despite being the leader and having control over all funds, he did not take any of the wealth for himself. Instead, Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) decided to sell some clothes in order to have enough wealth to eat. When Hazrat Umar(ra) saw this, he said that Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) should take a stipend from the treasury. Although Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) was hesitant, Hazrat Umar(ra) said that the Holy Qur?an had permitted doing so and so he would not feel reluctant. Thus a stipend was set for him, however it was minimal, to the extent that it was just enough for his most basic needs of food and clothing.
Five Challenges of Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra)
His Holiness(aba) said from the outset of his Caliphate, Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) had to deal with five challenges:
1. The grief of the Holy Prophet?s (sa) demise.
2. The fear of division amongst the Muslim people.
3. The departure of Hazrat Uthman?s(ra) army.
4. The issue of those Muslims who refused to pay Zakat.
5. Those who openly declared their reversion from Islam, including false claimants to prophethood.
Likeness to the Prophet Joshua(as)
However, God enabled him to overcome all of these challenges. The Promised Messiah(as) likened Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) to Yusha bin Nun(as), the first successor to Moses(as). Just as he upheld the dispensation of Moses(as) after his demise, so too did Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra) uphold the dispensation of the Holy Prophet(sa) after his demise.
His Holiness(aba) said that he would continue this mention in future sermons.
Appeal for Prayers With the Threat of Nuclear Warfare
His Holiness(aba) appealed for prayers in light of the prevailing situation in the world and the worsening conditions of war. Now there are even threats of nuclear warfare, which will have catastrophic consequences and impact future generations, as His Holiness(aba) has been warned before. It is only God who can grant these people some sense.
