Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih delivered his Friday sermon from Bait us Sabuh, Frankfurt, Germany. He quoted from writings of the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} in which he gave thanks to God for giving him a community of selfless and sincere people who were ever willing and ready to comply with anything he asked of them. He wrote that the matchless sincerity and obedience of the Companions of the Holy Prophet ^{(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)} meant that they not only endured all kinds of pain for him but also did not hesitate to give their lives and this is what ultimately made them successful.

The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} wrote in his book ‘Haqiqat-ul-Wahi’ that God had foretold him and it is recorded in ‘Braheen Ahmadiyya’ that God would put his love in the hearts of people. The revelation came at a time when no one knew the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)}, yet God produced thousands who became his sincere and devoted followers. Some of the followes gave their lives for him, others endures financial ruin, some were driven out of their homes, yet these devoted followers gave preference to their commitment to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} over everything else.

One of his companions Syed Mir Nasir Shah sahib wrote to him: ‘It is my greatest wish that on the Day of Judgement I am included in the blessed Jama’at under your auspices as I am now. God knows that the love this humble person feels for you is such that I would sacrifice all my property and life for you. I am devoted to you with a thousand lives, may my brothers and parents be sacrificed for you. May God bring about my ending in your love and obedience.’

Next Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih recounted accounts of some companions of the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} who excelled in their sincerity, devotion and obedience. Every single account has a profound lesson for us in the cheerfulness with which the companions offered complete obedience. These accounts are a model for all of us; such devotion also becomes a source of enhancement of Taqwa.

Hadhrat Fazl Illahi sahib postmaster sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that when he was promoted at work he was also transferred to another place. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} told him that people spent thousands to come to Qadian and he was planning to leave it. He advised him not to go and said he would help him out. Fazl sahib stayed in Qadian.

Hadhrat Mufti Fazlur Rahman sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that during a Gurdaspur court case the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} always asked him to drive his [horse-drawn] carriage. There would be no other passenger in the carriage. During this time his child fell ill with typhoid. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} often visited the child. A day before the next court appearance his wife asked him to write to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} for prayer. In response the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} wrote that he would pray but if it were irrevocable destiny it could not be averted. This saddened Mufti sahib and he realised that the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} would not just write that. The following day was the day to travel to Gurdaspur but the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} came to Mufti sahib’s house and told him to stay. Mufti sahib relates that this was the only instance when he could not accompany the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} to Gurdaspur and he regretted it.

Hadhrat Hafiz Abdul Zaki sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he heard from Mir Muhammad Ismael sahib that when he was a medical student in Lahore the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} advised him not to stay alone in lodgings. Mir sahib made this a rule and always rented a house and shared it with another person. He made this a routine in his life.

Hadhrat Malik Shadi Khan sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that before his Bai’at he visited Qadian. He had earrings on. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} said Muslims [men] did not wear earrings and asked him to remove them. Shadi Khan sahib did as he was told and the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} told him that he now looked like a Muslim. Shadi sahib then made his Bai’at.

Mother of Bashir Ahmad Bhatti ^{(may Allah be pleased with her)}: The lady relates than once Hadhrat Amaan Jan ^{(may Allah be pleased with her)} had some pilao rice cooked which was distributed in all the household and it was instructed that all family members should eat the rice as a blessing. The lady’s husband was employed away in Jammu at the time. She posted some rice to him in an envelope so that he too could partake the blessing.

Hadhrat Abdul Ghaffar sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that when the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} visited Lahore for the last time he asked for his father to come over. Khawaja Kamal questioned his father’s presence there. Ghaffar sahib’s father showed him the Promised Messiah’s ^{(on whom be peace)} letter in which he was asked over. His father shaved the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} and groomed his hair. He recounted to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} what Khawaja sahib had said, ^who replied, ‘I have sent for you, do not care what others say’.

Hadhrat Sheikh Zain ul Abideen sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that when Hafiz Hamid Ali came to Qadian he used to smoke hookah a lot. He used to go to a particular household to smoke hookah. When the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} came to know, he gave Hamid Ali sahib some money and asked him to get himself a hookah and said he should not go to that house to smoke [as it was bad company]. Six months later the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} asked Hamid Ali sahib to give up hookah. He immediately did so.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih explained that this should not be inferred as an endorsement of smoking. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} once said that had tobacco existed in the time of the Holy Prophet ^{(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)} he would have prohibited it.

Hadhrat Malik Ghulam Hussein Mohajir sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that once a rich merchant came to stay in Qadian and the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} appointed Malik sahib to oversee two workers who looked after the merchant and also asked him to look after the guest. When requested Malik sahib used to fetch fresh cold water for the guest whose stay lasted a month. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} would also personally asked after the merchant. After he left, the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} gave the other two workers and Malik sahib some remuneration.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih explained that everyone served guests at that time, indeed it is our teaching. However, this account shows that apart from an obligation, it was a labour of love.

Hadhrat Maulwi Aziz Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that once Hadhrat Mufti Sadiq sahib sought permission to leave from the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} who said that he should stay one more day. The next day Mufti sahib said to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} that he had to report to work. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} told him not to worry about the time. Mufti sahib left. The train he was meant to catch from Batala was a 2 pm train and he arrived there at 4 pm. When he reached the train station the train was two hours late and he managed to catch it.

Hadhrat Abdul Aziz sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that Mian Chiragh Din sahib related that once he was visiting Qadian and asked the Promised Messiah’s ^{(on whom be peace)} permission to leave on a Sunday as he had to go to work the next day. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} did not let him leave on the Sunday but said he could go on the Monday. It was 3pm when Chiragh sahib arrived at his office on the Monday. As soon as he sat in his office chair an office clerk came regarding some papers from midday that day. Later, Chiragh sahib’s senior came and handed him a paper saying it was the reply to the memo he had sent at 11 am. It thus appeared that everyone in the office assumed Chiragh sahib had been there all day.

Hadhrat Mir Mehdi Hussein sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that once the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} asked him to fetch some fuel for the Langar [community kitchen] by the evening. Mir sahib sat on the rooftop of Masjid Mubarak praying to God to guide him as he was completely unfamiliar with the task. During his prayers he heard a voice which assured him that the fuel would come to him. So, he stayed put and continued to pray. Later, he became concerned lest he was taking the revelation he received too seriously. A maid saw him still sitting there after Zuhr and she reproached him for sitting there waiting for the fulfilment of his revelation. She said she would tell the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} that he was sitting there waiting. Mir sahib felt bad that the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} received so many Divine revelations and here he was sitting on the basis of his one revelation, so he rushed off to find fuel. Again, he felt God had commanded him that the fuel would some to him, so returned and again engaged in prayer. Later, he heard someone calling out that fuel had arrived and whoever wanted it should come and buy it. Ultimately Mir sahib was able to purchase the fuel at the price of his choice.

Hadhrat Ghulam Rasool Rajiki sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that once someone asked him to travel to Kapurthala to give series of dars (lesson) and also do some Tabligh work, but Rajiki sahib refused and said he wished to stay in Qadian. The person put it to him what if he asked the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} that Rajiki sahib should go with him and an instruction was given. To this Rajiki sahib said, of course he would go then. Written permission was sought from the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} who sent a verbal message that Rajiki sahib could go. Maulana Rajiki relates that he stayed in Kapurthala for about six months where he gave series of dars and did Tabligh work. He says it was the first time that by virtue of the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} he travelled merely to serve Islam.

Hadhrat Khair ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he was in Gurdaspur during one of the court cases. One evening the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} said that a person whose was to be in the witness stand the next day had not come. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} asked who knew such and such person. Khair ud din sahib said he knew the person. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} instructed him to promptly leave and fetch that person by 9 am the next morning. Khair ud din sahib travelled overnight and reached his destination first thing in the morning and went to see the Maulwi sahib the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} had asked for. Khair ud din sahib explained the situation. The Maulwi sahib read the Quranic verse ‘O ye who believe! respond to Allah, and the Messenger when he calls you that he may give you life…’ (8:25) and straight away left with Khair ud din sahib.

Hadhrat Khalifa Nur ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He was a resident of Jammu, Kashmir. He relates that he once saw an elderly man and woman sitting by a grave. They told Khalifa sahib that it was the grave of a Prophet. When Khalifa sahib expressed astonishment they told him that the Prophet had travelled to Kashmir from far away. Khalifa sahib mentioned this to Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} [who also resided in Kashmir at the time]. A long time after this Maulana Nur ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} gave up his employment in Kashmir and left for Qadian. Once in an assembly where Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} was also present, the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} said that he felt that the Quranic verse ‘…and We rescued them and helped them reach an elevated land, a restful place with springs of running water.’ (23:51) referred to a place like Kashmir. Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}mentioned the incident that Khalifa sahib had related to him. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} called Khalifa sahib and asked him to carry out further research into the matter. Khalifa sahib’s research took him around Kashmir where he collected signatures of 560 religious scholars about the grave. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} was pleased with his work.

Hadhrat Syed Taj Hussein Bukhari ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that when the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} was visiting Sialkot, he went to see him with his grandfather and took Bai’at. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} told him to come to Qadian to get his education. Syed sahib obeyed the instruction.

Hadhrat Mian Sonay Khan sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he saw many dreams relating to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} but somehow he did not take Bai’at. In his dreams he was asked by holy men why he would not take Bai’at. Eventually Sonay Khan sahib went to Qadian and introduced himself to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} who recognised him as the Sonay Khan who had seen many dreams. Sonay Khan sahib stayed in Qadian for three days and took Bai’at. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} gave him the following advice; ‘consider me truthful, offer five daily Prayers and never tell a lie.’

Hadhrat Fazl Illahi sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that once the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} and Hadhrat Amaan Jan came ^{(may Allah be pleased with her)} came for a walk to his village. On their way back Amaan Jan ^{(may Allah be pleased with her)} asked for some water. Illahi sahib’s mother gave him the water to take to Hadhrat Amaan Jan. She had only started to drink when the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} said that water should be drunk while sitting down. Hadhrat Amaan Jan ^{(may Allah be pleased with her)} promptly sat down and then finished her drink of water.

Hadhrat Nizam Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates a time when it was routine for all guests to gather in a specific room called ‘Gol Kamra’, a message would then be sent to the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} that everyone was present and he would arrive. Once the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} arrived in the room early and Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din had not come yet. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} asked Nizam sahib to ask Maulwi sahib to come. When Nizam sahib went to Hadhrat Nur ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} he asked if the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} had arrived. On hearing that he had, Hadhrat Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} promptly got up and ran all the way to the Gol Kamra. Nizam sahib relates that Hadhrat Nur ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} always sat in the Promised Messiah’s ^{(on whom be peace)} company with his head bowed and only spoke when he was directly addressed by the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)}.

Hadhrat Hafiz Jamal Ahmad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he heard from Maulwi Ghulam Muhammad that once someone came to Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din’s ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} house close to midnight from the Promised Messiah’s ^{(on whom be peace)} house asking for some milk. Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} said he had no milk in the house but asked the person to do whatever it took to find some milk, he said he did not want whoever had come to see the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} go without. The person ran and found a house with a buffalo and it so happened that the buffalo could be milked successfully at that time of night. Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} was delighted.

He also relates that once Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} was asked by someone to go to Batala to treat an ailing person. There, he received a message from the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} to return by the evening. Due to heavy rain the area had flooded and Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} waded through knee-high water to reach Qadian. The Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} told him he certainly did not wish him to go through that kind of trouble to return.

Hadhrat Maulwi Mian Abdul Aziz sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that once Hadhrat Mualana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} sat in his clinic on a hot summer day when Hadhrat Amaan Jan ^{(may Allah be pleased with her)} sent a servant with a message for Maulana to carry out phlebotomy [opening a vein]. Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} sent back a message that in her current condition phlebotomy was strictly forbidden in medicine. She sent the servant again but the same answer was given. Later, Mian Mahmood came to the clinic. Hadhrat Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} took him in his lap and asked him how he had come by. He replied his father was asking for him to come and carry out phlebotomy. Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} promptly got up and did as he was asked. On his way back someone asked him that he had earlier said the procedure was forbidden. Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} replied that now it was not a matter of medicine but was an order to be obeyed.

Hadhrat Mian Sharafat Ahmad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} always enjoined that visitors to Qadian should first go to see the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} and then come to see him. Mian sahib relates his father always followed this practise.

Hadhrat Muhammad Zafrulla Khan sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that aside running his clinic Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} used to give dars of Qur’an. At times during dars someone would say that the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} had come out. Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} would promptly stop the dars and would start to tie his turban as he began walking towards the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} as well as try and slip his shoes on while walking.

Hadhrat Sufi Ghulam Ahmad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that after the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} passed away everyone took Bai’at on the hand of Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} who said that up till the previous day he was their brother but he was now their father. He also said that even if it had been the youngest daughter of the Promised Messiah ^{(on whom be peace)} taking the Bai’at [at the time], he would have observed it.

May God enable us to follow in the footsteps of these companions and may we also set high standards in maintaining connection with the Second Manifestation that has been established through the Promised Messiah (^{on whom be peace)} and by adhering to Khilafat, may we become a part of this Community which is to be the recipient of God’s grace in this age.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said he would lead two funeral Prayers in absentia after Friday Prayers. On 17 May Tariq Ahmad sahib was martyred in Layyah, Pakistan. He was 41 years old. He had gone out to buy grocery. On his way home he was kidnapped by unknown persons. He was brutally beaten up and later shot at in the head. His body was put in a drum and thrown in a canal. According to the report by the local Ameer sahib it was not a case of animosity to the Jama’at but Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih thinks it was precisely that. May God elevate the status of the shaheed and may He make the enemies a cautionary sign while manifesting clear signs in favour of Ahmadiyyat. It should always be remembered that unless prayers are made and signs are sought from God in such situations, the signs that God has promised do not appear. Shaheed leaves behind a widow, six sons and two daughters.

Amatul Quyyum sahiba passed away in Rabwah on 3 May. She was from a long standing Rabwah family and leaves behind three daughters and five sons. May God elevate her station.