On 30 January 2026, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, delivered this week’s Friday Sermon from the Mubarak Mosque in Islamabad, Tilford, UK.

His Holiness continued to speak about the love and devotion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for Allah the Almighty.

At the outset of his sermon, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad reflected upon the Battle of Uhud, a defensive war fought by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions.

His Holiness explained that during the battle, the Muslim ranks were momentarily overwhelmed, more than seventy Muslims were martyred, and a rumour spread that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had been martyred. In this critical moment, the Companions formed a protective circle around the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to shield him from further attack.

From below the mountain, Abu Sufyan, who at the time was a fierce opponent of Islam, called out asking whether the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was still alive. On the instruction of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the Muslims remained silent. Abu Sufyan then asked whether Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was alive, and then whether Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was alive. Again, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed the Companions not to respond. Assuming that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his closest Companions had been killed, Abu Sufyan began raising slogans in praise of idols.

His Holiness explained that it was at this point, when the oneness of Allah was challenged and false deities were glorified, that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) could no longer remain silent.

Quoting the Second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him), His Holiness stated:

“Those Companions who were surrounding the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had withdrawn from the enemy and gathered around his blessed body. They lifted him, as he had lost consciousness. When the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regained consciousness, he instructed that word be spread in all directions that the Messenger of Allah was alive and that everyone should regroup. He then led them towards the foothills of the mountain.”

His Holiness continued:

“Abu Sufyan shouted loudly, claiming that they had killed Muhammad. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed the Companions not to reply, lest the enemy, upon learning the truth, launch another attack. When no response came from the Muslim side, Abu Sufyan assumed his claim was correct. He then declared that Abu Bakr and Umar had also been killed. Umar was filled with zeal and was ready to respond, but the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed him to remain silent. The disbelievers thus became convinced that they had eliminated the founder of Islam and his closest supporters.

Then behold the exalted station of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The very Messenger who had remained silent upon the announcement of his own death, and upon the claims of the deaths of Abu Bakr and Umar, became restless when the honour of the One God was challenged. His soul was stirred with intense passion, and he said to his Companions, ‘Why do you not respond?’

He instructed them to reply that the glory belongs to Allah, the One without partner, and not to idols.

This courageous proclamation had such a profound impact upon the enemy forces that they abandoned any further attack and returned to Mecca.”

His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad then narrated an incident in which the idolaters of Mecca approached the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and demanded that he describe the God he worshipped.

At that moment, Allah the Almighty revealed the following verses to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that perfectly define the Oneness of God with unmatched beauty and clarity:

“Say, ‘He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Independent and Besought of all. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.” (The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 112)

During his sermon, His Holiness further highlighted that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was always prepared to meet his Lord and viewed this worldly life as fleeting. His Holiness explained that the Holy Prophet devoted himself entirely to Allah the Almighty, to the extent that his days and nights were immersed in remembrance of God. Such was his state of devotion that he would often fall asleep while engaged in prayer and supplication to Allah the Almighty.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would fall asleep whilst reciting the following words:

“O Allah! In your name I die and live!”

Then upon rising again from sleep, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would pray:

“All praise is for Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and unto Him is the resurrection.”

His Holiness explained that these prayers reflected the fact that every waking moment of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was devoted entirely to his Lord – Allah the Almighty.

Concluding his sermon, His Holiness spoke about the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) departure from this world, and how he remained wholly absorbed in the remembrance of Allah the Almighty even during his final moments.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad read a passage from the writings of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), in which he beautifully described the final moments of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

The excerpt stated:

“At the final moment, Allah the Almighty granted the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the choice that if he so wished, he could remain in this world, and if he so wished, he could return to his Lord. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) submitted, “O my Lord, now I desire only to come to You.” The final words upon which his pure soul departed were: ‘I now wish to go to the Highest Companion.’

Allah the Almighty had granted him the choice to remain alive if he desired worldly life, yet he declared that he no longer wished to remain in this world, and thus he presented himself before Allah the Almighty.

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, and grant them peace and blessings. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Exalted.”