After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta'wwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Ameer-ul-Mumineen (aba) stated: With reference to the Spiritual Influence of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Promised Messiah (as) states: "It is my belief that the Spiritual Influences of the Holy Prophet (sa) was so magnificent, that it was not granted to any other prophet in the world. This is the secret behind the progress of Islam that the Noble Prophet (sa) possessed an immense power of attraction. Moreover, his words bore such an impact that whoever would listen to them, would become captivated." He further states: "Those that were entranced by him became completely purified." At another occasion the Promised Messiah (as) stated, "This miracle of the Holy Prophet (sa) is so great that it is sufficient to open the eyes of the world."

The Promised Messiah (as) further states: "Reforming an individual is difficult. (Its is very difficult to reform even one person.) However, in this case, an [entire] nation was prepared, who showed such an example of their faith and sincerity that they readily let themselves be slaughtered like sheep for the sake of the Truth they had chosen… It was only due to this reformation and guidance that Allah the Exalted, by way of a prophecy, named the Holy Prophet (as) 'Muhammad'. Through this, he was to be praised in this world because he filled the world with peace, reconciliation, excellent morals and righteousness." Even today, we see that fair-minded people cannot but admit it, that the Holy Prophet (sa) transformed extremely ignorant, ill-mannered and those immersed in all sorts of immoral vices, into well-disciplined and saintly people.

A few years ago, a Jewish scholar came to meet me and related an incidence of him going to see the Al-Aqsa Mosque [in Jerusalem], he said that despite being a Jew, he believed in the Kalima [Muslim creed]. He said he believed in La Ilaaha Ilalah i.e. that there is none worthy of worship except Allah as he is a monotheist and also believe in Muhammadur Rasoolulah [Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah]. He said that he was familiar with the history of Arabs and only a prophet could have reformed and revived a nation from such depth of moral decline. Therefore, regardless of believing in the Holy Prophet (sa) or not, I consider him to be a prophet sent by God."

With regards to the companions, their extraordinary status and extraordinary reformations, which were brought about within them, the Promised Messiah (as) states on occasion, '… The group of the companions was a unique group. It was a group worthy of honour and worthy to be followed. Their hearts were filled with certainty and conviction.' The Promised Messiah (as) states, 'When [a person is endowed with] conviction, he gradually desires to sacrifice his wealth in the initial stages. Following this, when his certainty increases, that person filled with conviction becomes willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of God.'

The Promised Messiah (as) further states, 'Remember that the true servant of Allah the Exalted are those, with regards to whom Allah has said: "[Arabic] [whom neither merchandise nor traffic diverts from the remembrance of Allah]. That is, when a person's heart develops a true loving relationship with God, he cannot separate himself therefrom. This state can be understood in this manner that when someone's child is ill, he may go about his daily business, but his heart remains focussed on his child. Similarly, those people who form a true relationship with God based on love, cannot forget God under any circumstances.' Thus, the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, had developed such a true loving relationship with God the Exalted, that it was completely out of the question that they would become neglectful of God or that they would hesitate to make any form of sacrifice. There are many examples in relation to the companions.

It is narrated with regards to Hazrat Khabbab bin Al-Aratt that when the time of demise approached, he was so fearful of Allah the Exalted. Despite making immense sacrifice for the cause of faith and enduring extreme hardship, he was fearful for his good ending. He said with utmost humility that during the time of the Holy Prophet (saw), I did not possess even a dinar or dirham. However, today, as a result of the blessings of the Holy Prophet (saw), due to the favours of Allah the Exalted, as a result of accepting these sacrifices, Allah the Exalted has endowed me with such [an abundance of] wealth that the box in the corner of my house contains forty thousand dirhams. He further said that Allah the Exalted has given me so much that I fear that Allah the Exalted has perhaps given me the reward for my deeds in this very world and that I will be deprived of the rewards of the hereafter and the life to come. His funeral prayers were led by Hazrat 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, who paid tribute to him in these words, "May Allah the Exalted have mercy on Khabbab. He accepted Islam with utmost love and eagerness and was then enabled to migrate [to Medina]. Following this, the life he lived was that of a Mujahid [servant of God]. He passed through severe trials and demonstrated examples of utmost patience and steadfastness." Hazrat Khabbab bin Al-Aratt was forced to lie down on the burning coal, with an oppressor holding him down by placing his foot on his chest; this will burn away the skin and the fat of the back and left him with white streaks and permanent scars on his back.

Then there was a companion Moaz Bin Jabal. He was renowned for performing the Tahajjud prayer and worshipping for long durations. His relatives described his Tahajjud prayers in the following manner that he would supplicate to God 'O my Lord, I know that there is the Fire of Hell and one must do good deeds to [save oneself] from it, but I am much too weak to be saved from it. O Allah grant me guidance from Thyself, the guidance which will be granted on the Day of Resurrection, the day on which You will do as you have forewarned." With regards to Hazrat Moaz bin Jabal, the son of Hazrat Ka'ab bin Malik states: God Almighty's treatment with Moaz is astonishing. He was very handsome, generous, his prayers would often be accepted, whatever he would ask of God, He would grant it. God Almighty had a special relationship with him. Even if he fell in debt, God Almighty would provide for means to pay it off. God Almighty blessed him with extraordinary understanding and insight.

Hence, such an incident of Hazrat Shammaas Bin Uthman (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) stated regarding Hazrat Shammaas (ra) that if I were to compare Shamaas to anything then I would liken him to a shield, because during the Battle of Uhud he was like a shield to me. He protected me from the front, from behind, from the right and from the left and fought until his last breath. Shamaas stood before him like a shield, up to the point where he was severely wounded. It was in this state that he was taken to Medina. But due to the severity of his injuries, he passed away after a day or two. The Holy Prophet (sa) said that Shammaas should be buried in the clothes he was wearing, as is custom with other martyrs.

Another Companion, Saeed Bin Zaid was the brother-in-law of Hazrat Umar (ra). It was due to his acceptance Islam that when Hazrat Umar (ra) moved to strike him, Saeed's wife, the sister of Hazrat Umar (ra) came before him and was injured. This had a deep effect on Hazrat Umar (ra) which turned his attention towards accepting Islam. There is one incident outlining Hazrat Saeed's standard of self-sufficiency and fear of God. He made his living on one of his properties, or one of his plots of land. A woman also had a plot of land adjacent to his. She claimed ownership to his land saying that he had seized some of her land. Hazrat Saeed (ra) replied that there is no need to fight the case, and withdrew all his rights to the land. He handed over the plot of land to that woman and said "I heard the Holy Prophet (sa) say that if someone unlawfully takes even a hand's-breadth of the land of another, on the Day of Judgement, he will have to bear the burden of seven lands. Hence, I do not wish to have this allegation upon me nor do I wish to fight, but the world should not say that I seized the land of someone else." There is another Hadith narrated by him in which it is stated that the greatest crime, i.e. unlawful act is to unjustly attack the honour and integrity of a Muslim. This is the very thing which the Muslims have forgotten today and we see that Muslims are attacking the honour of other Muslims for their own vested interests.

We find mention of another companion, Hazrat Suhaib bin Sanaan Rumi (ra). When Muslims were granted permission from God Almighty to migrate, Hazrat Suhaib (ra) also decided to migrate. He gradually progressed in life as initially he came as a slave [to Mecca], was freed and then started doing some trade and eventually became a very wealthy merchant and earned a lot of money through his trade. When he was about migrate, the people of Mecca said to him that 'when you first came to the city you were a poor slave and therefore we will never allow you to take away with you the wealth that you earned here''. So he said, ''very well, I shall leave my wealth here, now will you allow me to go?'' Therefore, he left behind half of his wealth with the Meccans and began preparations to migrate. Thus, with great wisdom and by sacrificing his wealth he managed to save his family and himself and safely reached [Medina]. When Suhaib (ra) met the Holy Prophet (sa) and informed him that he sacrificed all his wealth and safeguarded his own life as well as his faith and arrived there, the Holy Prophet (sa) replied that this was not a fruitless transaction but rather a very profitable one. Thus, every companion had their own unique qualities.

Once, Hazrat Umar (ra) said to Hazrat Suhaib (ra), 'you are extremely generous in feeding others, however I fear that you may be too extravagant.' Hazrat Suhaib replied, 'the food I give is due to an instruction of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) advised me that the best among you is he who feeds others and extends the greeting of Peace.' To say Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rehmatullah Wa Barakatahu is a good deed and described as an excellent quality of people by the Holy Prophet (sa). [Hazrat Suhaib (ra)] states, 'I strongly adhered to this piece of advice given to me by the Holy Prophet (sa) when I arrived in Medina and I only spend what is lawfully right and do not indulge in extravagances.'

Hazrat Usama was the son of Hazrat Zaid (ra) who was a slave that had been freed by the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Usama (ra) was extremely fortunate as the Holy Prophet (sa) had shown him great love. During the time of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Usama (ra) was very young, in fact he was only 18 years of age at the time of the Holy Prophet's demise. However, he still took part in some of the battles. One incident of his is that during a battle, a Kafir [disbeliever] came before Hazrat Usama (ra) and he immediately recited the Kalima [Islamic declaration of faith], however he still killed him as he believed that he only did so out of fear of being killed. Hazrat Usama (ra) relates, ''I mentioned this incident to the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, 'did you kill him even after he had recited the Kalima?' I replied, 'he only recited it in order to be saved from being killed.' The Holy Prophet said, 'did you cut open his heart and see?' He further stated, 'did you kill him after he had recited the Kalima Shahada?'''Hazrat Usama (ra) narrates that ''the Holy Prophet (sa) repeated this sentence so many times that I wished that I had not been a Muslim before this day.'' Hazrat Usama (ra) further states, ''I vowed from then on to never kill anyone who recited the Kalima.'' Only if the Muslims of today could understand this. Not only are they committing atrocities against non-Muslims but Muslims are killing fellow Muslims. For instance, regarding the war in Syria it is said that in the last few years since this war started, hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been killed by other Muslims. Those who recite the Kalima are killing their fellow Muslims, and doing so in its very name. Similarly, in Yemen those who recite the Kalima are being attacked and are being subjected to all kinds of persecution and torture.

May Allah guide the Muslims so that they refrain from merely raising slogans of love for the Holy Prophet (sa) and his companions (ra), and instead act according to their example. In order to establish true righteousness in the world today, God Almighty has sent the Promised Messiah (as). Looking at the condition of the Muslims in the world, they can never reform themselves unless they believe in the Promised Messiah (as). Seeing their condition should make us swell up with emotions of gratitude that God Almighty enabled us to accept the guide of this age, who God Almighty sent as the ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (sa).

Therefore, those who sacrifice everything for the sake of God are bestowed everything and they do not depart this world until they are granted manifold of what they had sacrificed in the way of God. God Almighty does not withhold any amount due to a person, but alas, the people who accept this and are aware of the reality of these matters are scarce. May Allah the Almighty enable us to act on these teachings through which we can become the true followers of God Almighty and His Messenger (sa) and also follow His commandments.

After the prayers, I will lead the funeral prayer of Mrs Amtal Majid Ahmad Sahiba, wife of Chaudhry Nasir Ahmad Sahib, who is Naib Ameer [Vice President] UK as well as head of the Central Jaidad Office. She passed away on 9th January 2018. To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. She was the paternal great granddaughter of Hazrat Maulvi Abdullah Sanoori Sahib, the companion of the Promised Messiah (as). After marriage, they have been residing near Masjid Fazl since 1978. She was regular in her prayers and observing fasts as well as paying her Chanda [obligatory contribution]. She was very compassionate, would greet everyone cheerfully and was very hospitable. She was a very sincere and pious lady. She would share in everyone's pain and misfortune. She had a strong connection with Khilafat and would also encourage her children to remain firmly attached to it. She would urge them to be regular in their prayers. She strived to give good moral training to her children and also had the opportunity to teach the Holy Quran to the local children. May Allah the Almighty elevate the status of the deceased and may He enable her virtuous deeds to carry on through her daughters, ameen.