Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

9 February 2024 / 28 Rejab 1445H

The Role of Fatwa in Singapore

My blessed Friday congregants,

Let us continue our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), by obeying all His orders, and by abstaining from all His prohibitions. May we be among the servants with whom He is pleased. Amin.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam,

Every year, we commemorate the events of Isra' and Mi'raj: the miraculous night journey and ascension of our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). It was during Isra’ and Mi’raj that our Prophet (s.a.w.) received the decree from Allah (s.w.t.)  to perform the five daily prayers. Let us critically reflect upon this decree together.

Brothers and sisters,

Prayer provides us with the time and opportunity to interact with Allah (s.w.t.), and to supplicate to Him. Certainly, we all hope that Allah (s.w.t.) will grant our wishes. Therefore, it is crucial that we consistently invoke Allah (s.w.t.) and pray to him in good and bad times. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) advised us:

مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ وَالكَرْبِ فَلْيُكْثِرِ الدُّعَاءَ فِي الرَّخَاءِ

Which means: "Whoever would like for Allah (s.w.t.) to answer him during times of hardship and calamity, let him supplicate often during times of ease." [Hadith narrated by Imam Tirmizi] 

The act of prayer exemplifies the essence of Allah’s Shariah. Indeed, Allah (s.w.t.) is All-Aware of all the joys and sorrows experienced by His servants. Allah (s.w.t.) also perceives all, and He is Most Understanding of the situation, circumstances, and abilities of His servants in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities entrusted to them. As such, prayer becomes an outlet for us to plead to Allah (s.w.t.), and to express our inner feelings to Him. Remember the words of Allah (s.w.t.) in Surah al-Baqarah, verse 186:

 

Which means: “When My servants ask you (O Prophet) about Me, tell them I am truly near. I respond to the prayer of the one who calls upon Me. So let them respond with obedience to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided.” 

My beloved congregation,

The objective of the Shariah, through its laws such as that which pertains prayer, fasting, zakat, and so on, is none other but to preserve human wellbeing.

However, how do we uphold the objectives of the Shariah when faced with a new and unprecedented issue, with no mention or clear guidance fromthe Qur'an and Sunnah, nor any reference from the discussions of past scholars?

There may be some who believe that the opinions of past scholars are sufficient to address the problems of the present. Without doubt, our past scholars had effectively provided solutions to various issues that were raised during their time under prevailing circumstances. They achieved this by execising critical reasoning, thorough investigation, as well as deep research on the issues that were raised. For example, Imam Syafi'i issued two different fatwas on qada or fidyah for the fast of the deceased, at two different times and in two separate locations, namely when he was still in Baghdad, and subsequently when he moved to Egypt.

This is a clear reflection of the role of fatwa institutions. Fatawa are intended to provide legal solutions to contemporary problems that impact the lives of the Muslim community. We must understand that every fatwa issued in Singapore is achieved by our scholars collectively, or jama’i, and not individually, or fardi. All members of the Fatwa Committee must unanimously agree on the decision for the issues discussed. If this consensus cannot be achieved, the decision issued is called an irsyad (guidance), not a fatwa. This is one of the defining characteristics of the methodology of issuing fatawa in this country.

May Allah (s.w.t.) continue to guide us all in our affairs of this world, and the Hereafter. We pray that Allah (s.w.t.) grants us all a good understanding of the religion, and that He grants us the strength to practise the teachings of this religion in the best manner. 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. 

 

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.