“It was the result of the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) own exemplary conduct, his profound yearning, and his heartfelt prayers that the Companions attained such lofty standards, becoming prepared to offer every sacrifice in the cause of faith.” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

On 13 March 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. In today’s sermon, His Holiness spoke of the persecution and exemplary steadfastness displayed by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his followers during their efforts to spread the peaceful message of Islam.

At the outset of his sermon, His Holiness highlighted that the example and teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had such a profound impact upon the world that his followers and companions attained the highest spiritual ranks, even while enduring severe persecution at the hands of their own countrymen.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad opened his sermon and said:

“Two sermons ago, while speaking about the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I referred to that aspect of his noble character which reflected his deep yearning for the establishment of tauhid [the Oneness of God]. This was the very purpose for which he was raised, and for which he strove tirelessly. This burning desire was not only manifest in his own words and actions, but he also instilled within his Companions and followers such a spirit that they became ready to offer every sacrifice for the cause of Tauhid. Indeed, history offers no parallel to the spirit he nurtured within them.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:

“Today, I will again speak about this aspect of the blessed character of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and in this context I will also mention some of the sacrifices made by certain Companions. It was the result of the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) own exemplary conduct, his profound yearning, and his heartfelt prayers that the Companions attained such lofty standards, becoming prepared to offer every sacrifice in the cause of faith.”

His Holiness then narrated several incidents that illustrated the severe persecution and mistreatment the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) endured while striving to establish the doctrine of Tauhid. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad related that on one occasion the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was being beaten so brutally by his persecutors that Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) rushed to the scene and proclaimed:

“Will you slay a man because he says, ‘My Lord is Allah,’ while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord?” [The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 40:29]

Thereafter, His Holiness spoke about how the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his followers were compelled to seek refuge in the valley of Valley of Abu Talib, where the Muslims endured a complete social and economic boycott imposed by the leaders of Mecca. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad noted that the Muslims remained confined there for three years, enduring extreme hardship and deprivation.

After these three difficult years in the Valley of Abu Talib, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) travelled to the city of Ta’if with the intention of conveying the message of Islam to its people. However, upon arriving with his peaceful message, he was met with brutal hostility and abuse. It is narrated that the people of Ta’if attacked him so viciously that his blessed shoes became filled with his own blood.

His Holiness then spoke about the opposition and abuse faced by the companions after their acceptance of Islam. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“As I mentioned, the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also faced severe persecution after accepting the truth of Tauhid. On the one hand, the leaders of the Quraysh in Mecca sought to use their power and influence, employing diplomacy, threats, and every possible tactic in an attempt to prevent the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from preaching the message of Islam.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:

“On the other hand, they unleashed a campaign of cruelty and brutality against those who had accepted Islam, subjecting them to such savage treatment that the pen scarcely has the strength to record its details, nor can it be fully conveyed in words. Yet even the accounts that have been preserved are so harrowing that they shake the human heart.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) then spoke of the remarkable example of Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), who had been enslaved by the Quraysh of Mecca and endured severe abuse and torture after accepting Islam. His masters subjected him to the most cruel forms of punishment, yet Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) remained unwavering. Even under such torment, he would repeatedly say, “Ahad, Ahad” meaning “One, One,” affirming the absolute Oneness of God.

Thus, even while facing the harshest persecution, the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remained steadfast in their faith. They never abandoned the fundamental teaching of the Oneness of God and continued to proclaim Tauhid with unshakeable conviction.

Concluding his sermon, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad urged the Community to adopt the true tauhid as exemplified by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Thus, it is this true Tauhid that we must strive to attain and seek with sincere effort. We must endeavour to elevate our faith to such a standard that we are prepared to make every sacrifice for its sake. We should cultivate within ourselves a sincere love for the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

In this age, Allah the Almighty has sent the true servant of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), to continue the mission of establishing Tauhid, and we have taken the pledge of allegiance at his hand. Therefore, we must make every possible effort to fulfil the rights of this pledge, and for this we must also turn to prayer.”

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:

“During the remaining days of this Ramadan in particular, we should pray earnestly that we may be at the forefront in establishing Tauhid and in safeguarding its honour. May Allah the Almighty grant us the ability to do so and remove our weaknesses.

As I mentioned in the previous sermon, we should also pray for the Muslim Ummah, that they too may come to understand the reality of Tauhid and act upon it. Only then can their survival be assured, and only then can they be safeguarded from the deceptive schemes of their enemies. May Allah the Almighty grant them this understanding as well.”