Background
On 15 December 2017, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (May Allah strengthen his hand), the Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, embarked on an historic series of Friday sermons, providing biographies of 313 Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sa).
These Companions represented the 313 early devotees to Islam who stood in service of the Prophet Muhammad during the first battle fought by the nascent Muslim community, the Battle of Badr. To date, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has provided biographies of 309 Companions and continues with his final sermons on the Rashidun Caliphs (May Allah be pleased with them).
Battle of Badr
Known in Arabic as the Ghazwat Badr, the Battle of Badr is one of the most significant events in the history of Islam. It took place on 17 Ramadan of the year 2 AH (13 March 624 CE) after the early Muslim community was instructed by their Lord to migrate from the town of Mecca to Medina, a town 300km to the North, following years of fierce persecution.
Angered by the emergence of the new religion of Islam and by the claims of its founder, the tribes of Mecca pursued the Muslims with the objective of destroying Islam and harming its followers. As a result, the Prophet Muhammad called on his followers to join him in defending the town and its inhabitants.
More than a thousand battle-hardened Meccans marched for days until they met the ill-equipped Muslim army over 100km from Medina at the site of Badr. Against all odds, the Muslims were victorious and won a battle that was key to safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of the people of Medina.
Historical Sermons
The monumental series of sermons delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad spanned over 95 days and 84.5 hours. The detailed sermons provide us with an overview of these blessed Companions and the varying opinions of classical and modern historians on the events and characteristics of their lives. Moreover, they offered greater clarity on subtle points of history often misrepresented of based on misunderstandings of historical sources.
Perhaps the most striking and valuable aspect of the sermons, however, is found in the rich examples of nobility, servitude and strength of faith highlighted in the lives and character of these 313 Companions and in teacher whom, through their Lord’s grace, transformed their lives-the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (sa).
Through these sermons, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has provided Muslims and non-Muslims alike with the examples of tremendous role models, whose characteristics and actions remain a living and relevant roadmap to all. In this regard, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“When we study the lives of the Companions (ra) and garner knowledge about their practices, their lofty status is further highlighted before us. This status should draw our attention towards the fact that their lives, character, achievements, obedience and standards of worship are an example for us and that we must endeavour to inculcate these [traits] into our lives.”(Friday Sermon 16 March 2018)
More Information
For more information about Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, please visit:https://www.alislam.org/khilafat/https://www.pressahmadiyya.com/khalifa/