Friday Sermon delivered at Masjid Mubarak, Islamabad, Tilford, UK
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta`awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba) said that he would continue mentioning incidents that followed the Battle of Khaibar.
His Holiness(aba) said that there were negotiations which took place with the People of Taima. Taima was a well-known city from Madinah on the way to Syria. When the people of Taima heard about the incidents of Khaibar, rather than opposing Islam they sent a representative to the Muslims in order to negotiate a peace treaty. The Holy Prophet(sa) accepted this and granted permission to the Jews of Taima to remain in their land with their wealth.
His Holiness(aba) said that it is narrated that when the Holy Prophet(sa) returned from Khaibar, he walked all night. When he felt tired, he set up camp near Madinah and asked Hazrat Bilal(ra) to ensure that he awoke for the morning prayer (Fajr). When it came time for the morning prayer, Hazrat Bilal(ra) had also grown tired and fallen asleep. As a result, Hazrat Bilal(ra) was unable to wake anyone up, including the Holy Prophet(sa). The Holy Prophet(sa) awoke when the sun had already come out. The Holy Prophet(sa) set out with his Companions and after a short while, stopped to lead the Muslims in the morning prayer. The Holy Prophet(sa) then said that if one forgets to offer a prayer, then they should offer it as soon as they remember, for God has stated that prayer should be established for His remembrance. His Holiness(aba) noted that this incident has been recorded in different places with relation to other battles as well, i.e. some narrate this in relation to Tabuk or Hudaibiyah.
His Holiness(aba) said that whilst on the way back from Khaibar to Madinah, the Companions raised their voices with slogans glorifying Allah. Upon this, the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed them to use a normal volume of voice, for they were not calling upon one who is deaf and distant, rather they were calling upon One Who is All-Hearing and Ever Present. The Holy Prophet(sa) said to one Companion, ‘Shall I not inform you of a leaf from the leaves of Paradise?’ The Companion replied saying yes of course. The Holy Prophet(sa) said to recite:
La Hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
‘There is no power to avoid sin or do good except through Allah’
His Holiness(aba) said that there are various narrations of how long the Holy Prophet(sa) remained in Khaibar. Some narrations mention that the Holy Prophet(sa) remained there for six months while other narrations mention 40 days. Most narrations incline towards the lesser amount of time.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Battle of Khaibar resulted in many benefits for the Muslims and Islam. For example, the surrounding Arabian tribes which once used to plot against Islam became fearful and began extended offers of peace and even accepted obedience to Islam. Similarly, as a result of Khaibar, the majority of the Jewish power in Arabia was eliminated. Then, the victory at Khaibar also resulted in better living conditions in Madinah. It is recorded that after this battle was the first time the residents of Madinah were able to start eating to their fill.
His Holiness(aba) said that there is another expedition mentioned in history which is known as the Expedition of Dhat al-Riqa. This expedition is kown by the name Dhat al-Riqa because there was a tree or mountain in the area where this expedition took place called Dhat al-Riqa. Another reason is that between six people there would only one riding animal which they all shared. Because of walking on rocky terrain, the Companions’ feet to their nails were injured. They would tie pieces of cloth to their feet, which are known as Riqa.
His Holiness(aba) said that according to various historical accounts, this expedition took place either during 4AH or 5AH. However, Imam Bukhari has placed this in 7AH after the Conquest of Makkah, which seems to be the most acceptable date. Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad(ra) has also mentioned this expedition as being in 7AH.
His Holiness(aba) said that one of the reasons for this expedition was that there were people who would commit robbery along the paths in Najd and bother those passing by. They would not remain in one place and so it was difficult to catch them. The Holy Prophet(sa) decided to take definitive action against them. Similarly, another reason was that a man came with trading goods to Madinah and the people of Madinah purchased those from him. He informed them that Banu Anwar and Banu Tha’labah were gathering an army against them. When the Holy Prophet(sa) learned of this, he began preparations for a journey.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Holy Prophet(sa) set out with anywhere between 400 to 800 Companions. From them the Holy Prophet(sa) deployed various contingents along the way, all of which reported back that they did not find any army. Upon reaching Nakhl, the Bedouins fled to the mountains. From Nakhl, the Holy Prophet(sa) proceeded to Dhat al-Riqa where the Muslims met with the army of Ghatfan however there was no battle albeit the threat of a battle remained. As this state of potential battle persisted, it came time for prayer, and the Holy Prophet(sa) offered Salat al-Khauf (manner of offering prayer during times of fear or a potential threat). This entailed one group of people offering half of the prayer behind the Holy Prophet(sa) and then switching with the second group of people for the second half of prayer, while the group not offering prayer stood guard.
His Holiness(aba) said that on this occasion there is mention of a man attacking the Muslims. One night, there were fierce winds and the Holy Prophet(sa) asked who would stand guard beside his tent. Hazrat Abbad bin Bishr(ra) and Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir(ra) came forward for this task, deciding to split the duties through the night. As Hazrat Abbad(ra) offered prayer, a person from the enemy saw an opportunity and fired an arrow at Hazrat Abbad(ra) which struck him. He did not break his prayer, rather he removed the arrow and continued praying. Then again, there was another arrow shot at him, which he removed, however this next time there was a great deal of blood. He completed his prayer and awoke Hazrat Ammar(ra). Upon seeing his state, Hazrat Ammar(ra) asked why he hadn’t woken him earlier. Hazrat Abbad(ra) said that he had been reciting Surah al-Kahf in his prayer, and had not wished to break his recitation. Such was the extraordinary connection the Companions had with God.
His Holiness(aba) said that after fifteen days, the Holy Prophet(sa) set out to return to Madinah. It is recorded that certain miracles took place during this expedition. One was the famous incident which is as follows: during the journey, the Holy Prophet(sa) took rest under the shade of a tree and hung his sword up by a branch. The Companions relate that they had all taken rest as well and awoke to find the Holy Prophet(sa) calling them. When they reached the Holy Prophet(sa) they found a Bedouin sitting beside him. The Holy Prophet(sa) told them that he had taken his sword while he was sleeping and when he awoke he found him standing over him with his sword. The Bedouin asked him, ‘Who will save you from me?’ The Holy Prophet(sa) replied saying, ‘Allah’. Upon this, the Bedouin placed the sword back in its sheath, and the Holy Prophet(sa) did not punish him in any way.
His Holiness(aba) said that there is another similar narration from 3AH where a man from the opponents of Islam found the Holy Prophet(sa) sleeping alone. He stood over him with a sword and asked, ‘Who will save you from me?’ The Holy Prophet(sa) replied saying, ‘Allah’. Upon this, the sword fell from his hands, which the Holy Prophet(sa) picked up and asked, ‘Now, who will save you from me?’ Upon this the man replied, ‘No one.’ He vowed never to oppose Islam again.
His Holiness(aba) said that there was also an incident related to a bird. One of the Companions took a baby bird and the bird’s mother came before the Companion. This bewildered those who were looking on. The Holy Prophet(sa) asked that why were they surprised, when this bird has come to save its. The Holy Prophet(sa) said that certainly, God has even more mercy upon you than this bird has show for its child.
His Holiness(aba) said that on the way to Dhat al-Riqa, a woman brought her child to the Holy Prophet(sa) and said that he was stricken by madness. The Holy Prophet(sa) placed his blessed saliva in the boys mouth and said that he would never experience a bout of madness again and from that day onward he was cured of his madness.
His Holiness(aba) said that during this expedition, there were three eggs which the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed to be cooked. They were brought in a bowl which the Holy Prophet(sa) and the Companions ate to their fill. When they had all eaten, the eggs remained in the bowl as though they were untouched.
His Holiness(aba) said that whilst on the way back from this expedition, a camel came running as it wailed, The Holy Prophet(sa) said that the camel was complaining against its owner, that for the past several years, its owner was not taking any work from it and now intended to slaughter it. The Holy Prophet(sa) asked Hazrat Jabir(ra) to bring its owner. Hazrat Jabir(ra) said he did not know who the owner was. The Holy Prophet(sa) said that the camel would lead him to its owner, and so it did. When the owner was brought, the Holy Prophet(sa) asked to purchase the camel, and upon doing so, the Holy Prophet(sa) lef the camel to graze freely in the jungle.
His Holiness(aba) said that during this expedition, the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed Hazrat Jabir(ra) to announce that everyone should perform ablution. The Holy Prophet(sa) was informed that there was not a single drop of water among the Companions. The Holy Prophet(sa) instructed to check a certain Companion’s water skin to see if there was any water left in it. When it was checked, there was very little water remaining in his water skin. This was brought to the Holy Prophet(sa), who held the water skin and prayed and he pressed it. He then handed it back and asked for a large tub. Then, the Holy Prophet(sa) spread his hands in the tub and placed them at the bottom and told Hazrat Jabir(ra) to pour whatever drops of water were left while saying the name of Allah. Hence, Hazrat Jabir(ra) poured the drops of water over the Holy Prophet’s (sa) hands which were in the tub which then began flowing from his fingers like a stream until the entire tub was filled. The people came and drank from the water and drank to their fill.
His Holiness(aba) quoted the Promised Messiah(as) explained that when such a high level of connection with God is reached like that of the Holy Prophet(sa), it is possible for such miracles to be exhibited which appear beyond human capacity and bear in them the hue of Divine power. An example of this is when during the Battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet(sa) threw a handful of stones which became a storm causing the enemy to become blinded and defeated. God explained this in the Qur’an when He states,
‘And thou threwest not when thou didst throw, but it was Allah Who threw.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 8:18)
It was in the same way that the Holy Prophet(sa) displayed many miracles, even those which were not the result of direct prayer but were manifestations of Divine power, such as the incidents where a little food or water was made to be great in quantity enabling all to be satiated. All such incident contain within them the hidden power of God.
Summary prepared by The Review of Religions
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