After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) said that he would continue mentioning incidents from the Conquest of Makkah, including the conversion of previously staunch opponents to Islam.
Acceptance of Wahshi bin Harb
His Holiness (aba) said that another opponent of Islam who accepted Islam at the time of the Conquest of Makkah was Wahshi bin Harb, the same person who had martyred Hazrat Hamzah (ra) at the Battle of Uhud. After the Conquest of Makkah, he fled to Ta’if; however, when the people of Ta’if sent emissaries to the Holy Prophet (sa), he accompanied them. When the Holy Prophet (sa) asked if he was the same Wahshi who had killed his uncle Hamzah (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) asked Wahshi to avoid being in his sight, so as not to remind him of that incident. After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), when the false prophet Musailimah Kazzab emerged, Wahshi intended to kill him to make up for having killed Hazrat Hamzah (ra).
Acceptance of Sarah
His Holiness (aba) said that another person was the bondswoman of Amr bin Hashim, named Sarah, who used to sing songs. At the time of the Conquest of Makkah, she submitted before the Holy Prophet (sa), expressing that she was needy. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked what had happened to the songs she would sing. She said that ever since the leaders of the disbelievers were killed in the Battle of Badr, they stopped listening to songs. The Holy Prophet (sa) granted her a camel. However, even afterwards, she continued singing songs against the Holy Prophet (sa). Later, she was the same person with whom Hazrat Hatib’s (ra) letter to the Quraish was found. She accepted Islam and remained alive until the era of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) caliphate.
Acceptance of Fartanah
His Holiness (aba) said that then there was the bondsman of Ibn Khattal, Fartanah, who also used to sing songs against the Holy Prophet (sa). She too accepted Islam.
Acceptance of Harith bin Hisham
His Holiness (aba) said that another prominent person who accepted Islam was the Makkan leader Harith bin Hisham, and he was Abu Jahl’s cousin. At the Conquest of Makkah, he entered the home of Umm Hani (ra) because Hazrat Ali (ra) was after him to kill him. Hazrat Umm Hani (ra) informed the Holy Prophet (sa) that she had granted protection to Harith bin Hisham, and the Holy Prophet (sa) said that anyone she had granted protection to was safe. He was embarrassed to be seen by the Holy Prophet (sa) because he had only seen him with the disbelievers. However, he then remembered the kindness and forbearance of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hence, he went to meet the Holy Prophet (sa) at the mosque and was happily greeted by him, and then Harith bin Hisham accepted Islam.
Acceptance of Suhail bin Amr
His Holiness (aba) said that Suhail bin Amr also accepted Islam. He too was a leader of Makkah and was the representative of Makkah during the negotiations of the Treaty of Hudabiyah. When the Conquest of Makkah happened, he closed himself in his home and sent his son to the Holy Prophet (sa) to seek security for him, because he feared for his life on account of the opposition he had shown towards Islam, even though the Holy Prophet (sa) had granted general amnesty. Upon meeting his son, the Holy Prophet (sa) assured that Suhail was protected. The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed the companions that if they saw Suhail out and about, they should not cast piercing glances at him, for he could not avoid accepting Islam for too long. He participated in the Battle of Hunain even though he had not yet accepted Islam. It was on the way back from the Battle of Hunain that he accepted Islam, and from that point on, a revolutionary spiritual change came about in him.
During the Farewell Pilgrimage, when the Holy Prophet (sa) cut his hair, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) saw Suhail (ra) taking the hair and rubbing it over his eyes. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) thought that this was the same person who had refused ‘In the name of Allah the Gracious the Merciful’ being written at the top of Hudaibiyah or ‘Messenger of Allah’ being written beside the Holy Prophet’s (sa) name on the Treaty of Hudaibiyah. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) praised God for such a massive change coming about in Suhail (ra). Similarly, after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), Suhail (ra) stood up to those who were becoming apostates and urged them to see reason. Many were influenced by his powerful words, as a result of which they remained steadfast upon Islam.
Acceptance of the Sons of Abu Lahab
His Holiness (aba) said that then there is the conversion to Islam of Utbah and Mu’attib. During the Conquest of Makkah, the Holy Prophet (sa) asked where the sons of Abu Lahab were. The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed Hazrat Abbas (ra) to find them and bring them to him. The Holy Prophet (sa) invited them to Islam, and they both accepted and pledged allegiance at his hand. They then went to the area of the Ka’bah between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka’bah, which is known to be a place of acceptance of prayers. The Holy Prophet (sa) was visibly happy upon this incident.
Acceptance of Safwan bin Umayyah
His Holiness (aba) said that then there is the incident of Safwan bin Umayyah’s acceptance of Islam. He was the son of the Makkan chieftain Umayyah bin Khalaf. He was a staunch opponent of Islam and inflicted hardships against the Muslims in Makkah and had even plotted to assassinate the Holy Prophet (sa). Upon the Conquest of Makkah, he fled out of fear. His friend Umair bin Wahb (ra), who had accepted Islam, sought protection on his behalf, which the Holy Prophet (sa) granted. He requested a token from the Holy Prophet (sa), which he could take to Safwan as proof of his protection, upon which the Holy Prophet (sa) granted his turban. Hazrat Umair (ra) reached Safwan right as he was about to board a boat in the Red Sea and informed him that he had ensured protection. Safwan said he would not believe it until he saw some token ensuring his protection, upon which Umar (ra) presented the Holy Prophet’s (sa) turban.
Safwan then went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and asked for a period of two months, as he was not yet ready to accept Islam. The Holy Prophet (sa) said that he could take four months if he liked. Later, after the Battle of Hunain, when the Holy Prophet (sa) was distributing the spoils of war, he observed Safwan staring at the wealth which had been gathered in a valley. The Holy Prophet (sa) granted Safwan all the wealth. Safwan said only a prophet could be so generous, and he thus accepted Islam.
Revolutionary Transformation in Those Who Accepted Islam
His Holiness (aba) said the chieftains of Makkah who went on to accept Islam brought about a profound and revolutionary spiritual change within themselves. During the time of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) caliphate, those who hailed from the chieftains of Makkah were bothered to see that those who were once slaves were seemingly being warmly welcomed and given more attention than them. When they asked Hazrat Umar (ra) about this, he said that these were the people who were honoured in the sight of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Makkans said that they were aware that their forefathers had brought shame to their name due to their opposition to Islam, and so they asked how they could rectify this. Hazrat Umar (ra) indicated to them that if they took part in the wars which were ongoing in Syria at the time, then this could remove the blight from their family name. Thus, they went to partake in those wars, resulting in many of them being martyred, thereby restoring honour to their family’s name. At the conclusion of the war, the Muslims found 12 severely injured Muslims. Among them was Ikrimah, and he was offered water. Ikrimah looked around and saw the son of Hazrat Abbas (ra) who was also injured. Ikrimah said that he could not bear to drink water before those who supported the Holy Prophet (sa) early on, while he was still an opponent, and said that the water should be given to Fadl bin Abbas (ra). He signalled that the next person should be given water first, who then signalled to the next, and so on, until ultimately they all passed away.
Removing the Scourge of Idolatry
His Holiness (aba) said that after the Conquest of Makkah, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent envoys in different directions to invite people to Islam and also to destroy any idols. There were three prominent idols in Arabia, Lat, Manat and Uzza, to whom Arabs were devoted. The Qur’an mentions these idols and says, ‘Now tell me about Lat and Uzzah, and Manat, the third one, another goddess. What! For you males and for Him the females! That indeed is an unfair division. These are but names which you have named – you and your fathers – for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow naught but conjecture and what their souls desire, while there has already come to them guidance from their Lord.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 53:20-24)
His Holiness (aba) said that right after the Conquest of Makkah, the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed that all idols should be destroyed, and this proved very wise and it resulted in the fear which people had in their hearts for these idols to be removed and for them to realise that only the One true God was to be feared.
His Holiness (aba) said that he would continue mentioning these incidents in the future.
Funeral Prayers
His Holiness (aba) said that he would lead the funeral prayers in absentia of the following:
Chaudhary Abdul Ghafoor of Hyderabad. He initially studied in Qadian and then obtained further education in Rabwah and also studied in Karachi to become a Mechanical Engineer. After his retirement, he dedicated his life to serving the faith and spent two years in Africa working on a project. He was at the forefront in offering financial sacrifices.
He served the Community in various capacities. He is survived by three sons and five daughters. One of his daughters says that he would say that service to humanity was his bank balance. He served and helped people without discrimination. He was ready to provide any financial sacrifice whenever needed, even once selling his shop in Rabwah to fulfil an appeal for financial sacrifice made by the Third Caliph (rh). His Holiness (aba) said that he also visited him when he was in Pakistan and stayed with him, commenting that he was indeed very hospitable.
Once, His Holiness (aba) had to travel at night in Sindh at a time when conditions were not favourable; however, Chaudhary Abdul Ghafoor went along and made sure His Holiness (aba) reached his destination, and then instead of staying the night, Chaudhary Abdul Ghafoor traversed those same conditions to return home on his own. He was very open about the fact that he was an Ahmadi, and many government officials knew he was an Ahmadi. His Holiness (aba) prayed that may Allah grant him forgiveness and mercy and enable his children to carry on the legacy of his virtues.
Muhammad Ali of Faisalabad. He is survived by three sons and five daughters. One of his sons is a missionary serving in Zambia, and due to being in the UK for the Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention), he was unable to attend his father’s funeral.
Muhammad Ali possessed many virtuous qualities and had a strong connection with Khilafat. He was attached to the Community and gave whatever he could in financial sacrifices. When MTA was launched, he immediately purchased a TV so he could see and hear the Khalifah live. He was also made to face difficulties on account of being an Ahmadi and was even let go from his employment. However, as a result of prayers, he was given his same position a little while later and continued on treating everyone well. His Holiness (aba) prayed that may Allah grant him forgiveness and mercy and enable his children to carry on the legacy of his virtues.
Summary prepared by The Review of Religions
