collections khutbah Hoping for Guidance from Allah
Hoping for Guidance from Allah

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

4 December 2020 / 19 Rabiulakhir 1442H

Hoping for Guidance from Allah

 My dear brothers,

Let us increase our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by performing all His commands and refraining from His prohibitions. May Allah answer all our prayers. Amin.

My dear brothers,

There is no easier act of worship that we can do in order to bring ourselves closer to our Creator, than to supplicate or make du’a. In fact, the Prophet (s.a.w.) once mentioned that there is no deed more noble than to supplicate to Allah (s.w.t.). (Hadith narrated by Imam at-Tirmidhi).

Making supplications is a way to express our servitude to Allah. As His servants, we beg and ask Allah to grant us His assistance and guidance. Making supplications is a source of guidance and it gives us spiritual strength and resilience. It provides us with self-will and persistence in going through times of ease and hardship in life. Therefore, the upcoming sermons throughout the month will share some of the supplications from the Quran and the hadith. Let us hope that through our supplications, Allah (s.w.t.) will bless our lives and bestow His mercy upon us.

My dear brothers,

One of the supplications that were taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.) is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى

Which means: “O Allah, I ask from You guidance, piety, chastity and sufficiency.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Ibn Majah).

Among the content of this supplication is the hope of a believer to be granted and blessed with guidance from Allah (s.w.t.). Some may ask, if one has already been blessed with guidance, is there a need to supplicate for guidance?

Based on this supplication, we can see how the Prophet (s.a.w.) has taught us not to stop asking and hoping for Allah’s guidance. This is because, even for those who already believe in Him, Allah (s.w.t.) will increase His guidance for them. Allah (s.w.t.) says in Surah Maryam verse 76:

Which means: “And Allah increases in guidance those who are rightly guided. And the everlasting good deeds are far better with your Lord in reward and in outcome.”

Such is the vastness of the mercy and love that Allah has been giving to His servants. When Allah (s.w.t.) increases His guidance, the believer will find himself at peace, his faith will be deepened, and his understanding of the religion will be strengthened. This is the meaning of increase in guidance for those who believe.

However, my dear brothers, in addition to supplicating for guidance, Allah also instructs every individual to strive and make effort in seeking His guidance. If one wishes to attain knowledge, one must put in due effort to seek knowledge. If one wishes for spiritual or inner peace, what are the steps we can take to increase the quality of our acts of worship?

My dear brothers,

In these challenging times of facing an ongoing pandemic, we should be more determined in making supplications to Allah (s.w.t.). Our religion requires us to make effort, hence we should continue to abide by the prescribed safety measures. We should also heed the religious guidance given by scholars, to avoid the spread of the pandemic at places of worship.

For instance, some adjustments have been made pertaining to religious practices in order to preserve the safety of mosque congregants and the well-being of the community at large.

All the efforts made are based on the principles and values of the religion. Starting from next week, in line with the decision of the Singapore Fatwa Committee, mosques in Singapore will make the prayer call, at 12:50pm for Friday prayer only, just before the sun passes its zenith. This is to ensure that the prayer spaces can continue to maximize the number of congregants allowed to perform the Friday prayer safely, while observing safety measures.

This fatwa decision is not something new. In fact, it is based upon the practice of the Prophet (s.a.w.), as there was a time when he brought forward the Friday prayer due to a specific need. (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).

Therefore, with this religious guidance, it is hoped that we can continue to practise our religion in Singapore, despite several adjustments. May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us His guidance and mercy, and ease all our affairs. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ

 

 

Second Sermon

 

الْحَمْدُ 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 الْعَزِيزِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَـا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَ بَارِكْ 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 لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالْأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا الْبَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالْمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ الْبُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.

عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ  يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.