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Summary

The following points below are summary from this week's Friday Sermon:

• Summary prepared by The Review of Religions
• After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) said that he would continue mentioning details from the Expedition of Tabuk.
• His Holiness (aba) said that, as previously mentioned, there were some hypocrites who did not accompany the Muslim army on this expedition, and they presented various excuses for not going. In fact, this has even been recorded in the Holy Qur’an. It was the Holy Prophet’s (sa) practice that whenever he returned to Madinah from a journey, he would first stop at the mosque to offer voluntary prayers. The Holy Prophet (sa) did the same when he returned from the Expedition of Tabuk. Thereafter, the Holy Prophet (sa) remained in the mosque as people came to meet him. These people also included those hypocrites who had not accompanied the Muslim army, and in order to preserve their reputation, they presented various excuses to the Holy Prophet (sa). Historians say that such people numbered around 80, while others say they were more. 
• His Holiness (aba) said that still, the Holy Prophet (sa) accepted their apparent excuses, renewed their pledge of allegiance and prayed for their forgiveness, leaving the matter to God. However, this crime of the hypocrites could not be forgiven, and God revealed to the Holy Prophet (sa) that their crimes were such that God could not be pleased with them. It is stated in the Holy Qur’an:
• ‘They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say, ‘Make no excuses; we will not believe you. Allah has already informed us of the facts about you. And Allah will observe your conduct, and also His Messenger; then you will be brought back to Him Who knows the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you all that you used to do. They will swear to you by Allah, when you return to them, that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone. Surely, they are an abomination, and their abode is Hell – a fit recompense for that which they used to earn. They will swear to you that you may be pleased with them. But even if you be pleased with them, Allah will not be pleased with the rebellious people.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 9:94-96)
• His Holiness (aba) said that as is evident, God was very displeased with those who remained behind from the Expedition of Tabuk, and He forbade the Holy Prophet (sa) from offering their funeral prayers or praying at their graves. They were also forbidden from taking part in any appeal for financial sacrifices or participating in any subsequent military campaigns. God says:
• ‘Those who were left behind rejoiced in their sitting at home behind the back of the Messenger of Allah, and were averse to striving with their property and their persons in the cause of Allah. And they said, ‘Go not forth in the heat.’ Say, ‘The fire of Hell is more intense in heat.’ Could they but understand! They must laugh little and weep much as a reward for that which they used to earn. And if Allah returns thee to a party of them, and they ask of thee leave to go forth to fight, say then, ‘You shall never go forth with me and shall never fight an enemy with me. You chose to sit at home the first time, so sit now with those who remain behind.’ And never pray thou for any of them that dies, nor stand by his grave; for they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were disobedient. And their possessions and their children should not excite thy wonder; Allah only intends to punish them therewith in this world and that their souls may depart while they are disbelievers.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 9:81-85)
• His Holiness (aba) said that there were four types of people who remained behind from the Expedition of Tabuk: 
• 1. Those fortunate people who were given a specific duty by the Holy Prophet (sa) and remained behind to fulfil that duty. 
• 2. Those who were unable to go due to some physical limitation, an illness, weakness, or were extremely poor and did not have a riding animal. God attested that the excuse of such people was legitimate and He forgave them. In fact, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that such people were with the Muslim army in spirit wherever they went, meaning God included them in the blessings and rewards of the expedition. 

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Summary prepared by The Review of Religions