collections khutbah Emulating the Character of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.): Having Trust in Allah
Emulating the Character of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.): Having Trust in Allah

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

28 October 2022 / 2 Rabiulakhir 1444H

Emulating the Character of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.): Having Trust in Allah

Blessed brothers and sisters, 

Let us increase our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t) by carrying out His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. May we be among those whom He is pleased.

Blessed congregants, 

Having tawakal or surrendering oneself to Allah (s.w.t) is indeed a great attribute in the sight of Allah as mentioned in the Quran. Allah (s.w.t) said:

     

Which means: “The true believers are those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.” (Surah Al-Anfal: verse 2)

Imam Ibnu Rajab (r.h) said: "Tawakal is entrusting the heart fully to Allah (s.w.t) in the affairs of this world and the hereafter to obtain all forms of goodness and avoid all forms of harm.”

Tawakal is one of the greatest acts of worship that is highly regarded in Islam. In fact, the perfection of faith cannot be achieved except through the perfection of trust in Allah (s.w.t).

However, there are some who think that making efforts can negate or weaken the trust of a servant towards Allah (s.w.t).

Dear blessed Friday congregants, 

Making efforts does not contradict the concept of tawakal. Imam al-Ghazali in his book 'Ihya Ulumuddin explained that tawakal in Islam is not an escapism attitude for those who refuse to make efforts or have failed in their efforts, but tawakal is the place of return of all efforts. Tawakal is not merely rely on fate without doing anything, but instead putting his best efforts and eventually surrendering to Allah (s.w.t) who will determine the outcome.

Rasulullah (s.a.w) emphasised that one cannot attain the perfection of tawakal without making the necessary efforts. He said:

لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا

Which means: “If you truly put your trust in Allah, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out with empty stomachs and return full.” (Hadith reported by al-Tirmizi)

Rasulullah (s.a.w) himself worked hard in his efforts to spread the religion. He did not immediately leave everything to Allah (s.w.t) without trying and making proper plans, because that is not the way to achieve success.

Blessed brothers and sisters, 

Surely, every person wishes for success in his life. Humans were created by Allah (s.w.t) with a tendency towards advancement and avoid regression. As vicegerents on this earth, we are unable to perform our responsibilities, neither towards Allah (s.w.t) nor to the creations, if our basic necessities are not met.

Therefore, let us take the appropriate measures to remain relevant in our career field especially in this uncertain and increasingly challenging world. This is to ensure that we can make progress for our family as well as community.

This is because tawakal drives a person to work and strive harder, to become more productive in producing maximum results while at the same time, surrendering the heart to Allah (s.w.t).

Therefore, let us be willing to adapt and equip ourselves with new skills and competencies through available courses. We should make full use of our abilities to succeed in every field we are in, followed by surrendering to Allah (s.w.t) to attain success in this world and in the hereafter. Let us also continue to make self-reflection and make du’a consistently. The righteous will never lose hope because they are confident that their prayers will be accepted by Allah the Almighty.

May we be placed among His servants who constantly believe in Him, act according to His commandments and have full trust in Him. 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 تَسلِيمًا. 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 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، يَارَبَّ 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 يَذْكُركُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضلِهِ يُعطِكُم، وَلَذِكرُ اللهِ أَكبَرُ، وَاللهُ  يَعلَمُ مَا تَصنَعُونَ.