Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
1 March 2024 / 20 Syaaban 1445H
Fostering Goodness with the virtue of Ihsan
Dear blessed Muslimin and Muslimat,
Let us continue our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), by obeying all His commands, and by abstaining from all His prohibitions. May we be among His servants consistently blessed with His mercy. Amin.
Dear Friday congregants,
Each of us is fortunate. Why do I say this? Allah has granted us life and a soul for another day, giving us the opportunity to experience His blessings and gifts while performing acts of kindness and ihsan. Therefore, let us reflect and self-examine. What acts of kindness have we performed throughout our lifetime? Have our acts of kindness been enriched by the virtue of ihsan? Have we expressed gratitude for His blessings and increased acts of kindness in His path?
Allow me to share a promise of Allah to His servants who perform good deeds, as recorded in Surah an-Nahl, verse 97. Allah says:
Which means: "Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will surely bless them with a good life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds."
Brothers and sisters,
The Madrasah of Ramadan welcomes anyone seeking the mercy of Allah. However, every learner must first purify their hearts and themselves from sins and guilt as much as possible. Let us seize the opportunity today to improve ourselves. Paying attention to the intentions behind our acts of kindness and goodness, and being mindful of our actions, let us mind every word we say. Sayyiduna Umar Bin al-Khattab once said:
حَاسِبُوْا أَنْفُسَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَاسَبُوْا، وَزِنُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوْزَنُوا
Which means: "Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account and weigh your deeds before you are weighed for."
My beloved Friday congregants,
Self-reflection will encourage us to enhance our acts of kindness with the virtue of ihsan. Straightening our role as servants is essential, allowing us to truly believe in the existence of Allah in this life. This, in itself, is a form of ihsan towards ourselves.
Seize the opportunity to contribute to those in need. This can be done through charity, infaq, or endowments for our religious and community institutions. No contribution is small in the sight of Allah. The Prophet said: "Save yourselves from the Hell-fire, even with half a date in charity." (Hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Furthermore, consider the welfare of our closest relatives, neighbours, and friends. Do they have sufficient means to enter the Madrasah of Ramadan? Is there room for us to provide financial assistance or, at the very least, physical and moral support? This is truly a reflection of our kindness towards fellow human beings.
Brothers and Sisters,
As we uphold the virtue of ihsan, we can also express kindness through contributions for the sake of Allah. This includes incorporating charitable planning into our wealth management for the afterlife. One such plan to consider is leaving a formal and written will. This is in line with the advice of our beloved Prophet, Muhammad (s.a.w.):
مَا حَقُّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَهُ شَىْءٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُوصِيَ فِيهِ يَبِيتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ إِلاَّ وَوَصِيَّتُهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ عِنْدَهُ
Which means: "It is not right for a Muslim who has something which is to be given as a bequest not to have it for two nights without having his will written down regarding it." (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).
Let us self-reflect, evaluate, and improve our deeds. Let us enhance the virtue of ihsan in our preparations for the noble month of Ramadan. May Allah bless all our efforts. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، 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.
وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ المَهْدِيِّينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيِّ، وَعَن بَقِيَّةِ الصَّحَابَةِ وَالقَرَابَةِ وَالتَّابِعِينَ، وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ، وَعَنَّا مَعَهُم وَفِيهِم بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.
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. اللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. 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.
