Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
3 May 2024 / 24 Syawal 1445H
Planning Wealth Management For Charity
My blessed Friday congregants,
Let us continue in our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands, and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May Allah s.w.t. grant us opportunities to contribute to the benefit of humanity. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Dear Friday congregants,
Islam teaches us to put in the effort before leaving our fate to Allah (tawakal). Putting in the effort involves wise planning before leaving the outcomes in Allah's hands. The same principle applies to managing wealth. Proper planning helps those entrusted with managing wealth to do so according to the wishes of the owner after their passing. Trust in Allah follows, with the hope that Allah will bless and ease our efforts.
Reflect on the value of using wealth for a good cause, as mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 261:
Which means: “The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies ˹the reward even more˺ to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.”
Subhanallah! Allah promises to multiply the reward for every contribution by up to 700 times, regardless of the value of the contribution, whether small or large. Imam Muslim narrated from al-A’mash that a man came to the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. with a camel tied with its reins, saying: “O Messenger of Allah, this is my contribution in the way of Allah.” The Prophet replied: “With this camel as your contribution, you shall have 700 camels with their reins on the Day of Judgment.”
Dear brothers,
There are many ways to contribute to the cause of Allah, such as through charity (sadaqah), zakat, and waqf. Allow me to emphasise the practice of waqf in today's sermon.
Waqf is a form of worship that allows us to get closer to Allah through our wealth. Property dedicated as waqf is used to benefit the community today and in times to come. The practice of waqf was established in the second year of the Hijra. Many wealthy companions of the Prophet were eager to dedicate their lands. Among them was Umar ibn al-Khattab, who contributed one of his properties in Khaybar as Waqf. He approached the Prophet and asked for advice, saying: “O Messenger of Allah, I have a plot of land in Khaybar, which is the best land I own. What do you advise me to do with it?” The Prophet replied: “If you like, preserve it and give its yield in charity; it should not be sold, gifted, nor inherited.” (Narrated by Imam Bukhari).
The beauty of waqf is that it guarantees constantrewards during the donor's lifetime and even after their passing. This is known as amal jariah, or deeds which entail continuous rewards as long as the waqf property remains and continues to benefit others, or until the end of time. This is an investment for our afterlife.
Dear my beloved brothers,
The tradition of waqf in Singapore has long been established by our past generations. Muslim philanthropists and merchants who travelled here began dedicating their wealth as waqf as early as 1800s. For example, Bencoolen Mosque and Al-Huda Mosque were built on waqf lands. These properties were established as waqf to serve the well-being and benefit of the local community.
Dear brothers, these scenarios occurred over a century ago. Are there opportunities for us today to do something similar? If so, how can Muslims today dedicate their wealth as waqf? Must one own real estate to create a waqf?
Zumratal Mukminin Rahimakumullah,
Today, we have the chance to revive the practice of waqf to meet the long-term socio-religious needs of the Muslim community in Singapore. If we do not own property to dedicate, we can still contribute to waqf through funds managed by mosques and full-time madrasahs.
Some of us might have heard about the Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura (WMS) or also known as Singapore Community Wakaf. It was introduced in June 2020 to provide sustainable funding for the future needs of our community and its institutions. With the launch of Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura, we can build waqf funds and leave a meaningful legacy for future generations. Let us all contribute to the interests, welfare, and well-being of the generations to come. Make an effort to plan our well-being and the welfare of society in the best way. Create a written and official plan to ensure that our noble intentions for waqf, along with charity and good deeds, are fulfilled even after we have left this world.
May Allah accept our good deeds and grant us continuous rewards. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
SECOND SERMON
الحَمْدُ للهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا كَمَا أَمَرَ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَن لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَيَا عِبَادَ الله، اِتَّقُوا اللهَ تَعَالَى فِيمَا أَمَرَ، وَانتَهُوا عَمَّا نَهَاكُم عَنْهُ وَزَجَرَ.
أَلَا صَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ الْمُصْطَفَى، فَقَدْ أَمَرَنَا اللهُ بِذَلِكَ حَيْثُ قَال فِي كِتَابِهِ العَزِيزِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَـا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتِ، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا البَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ البُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّة وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ عَامَّةً، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبِ السِّلْمَ وَالسَّلاَم وَاْلأَمْنَ وَاْلأَمَانَ لِلْعَالَمِ أَجْمَع يَا لَطِيْف. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي القُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذكُرُوا اللهَ العَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُم، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.
