Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

9 June 2023 / 20 Zulkaedah 1444H

A Father’s Role: Encouraging Goodness is the Key to Happiness

My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam,

Let us continue in our efforts to increase our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), by obeying His orders, and by abstaining from all of His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t.) keep us steadfast in our faith. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

My beloved fellow Muslims, 

Each and every one of us seeks happiness. We seek to be happy in our work, in our daily lives, and in various other aspects. Among the most precious sources of happiness that we have is our family - our spouses, our parents, and our children. 

True happiness within a family is achieved when it is built upon the foundation of piety. That is the recipe for a family's success. This was the example demonstrated by Prophet Ismail (a.s.), as narrated in the Qur’an.
Allah (s.w.t.) said in surah Maryam verse 55:

Which means: “And he (Prophet Ismail) used to enjoin on his family and his people the prayers and the paying of alms, and his Lord was pleased with him!”

 

The verse shows the care and concern that Prophet Ismail (a.s.) displayed towards his family members. By guiding and inviting his family to goodness, he gained the pleasure of Allah (s.w.t).

Brothers and sisters,

Imam Al-Sha'rawi explained that Allah (s.w.t) specifically used the word ‘family’ in the verse – ‘ahlahu’- because he wanted to emphasise the importance of taking care of our family members. A person who loves and cares for his family will be committed to enjoining them to goodness, and he will protect his family from anything that displeases Allah (s.w.t.). Surely, when we love someone, we want good for him or her, whether in this world or in the Hereafter.

There is no doubt that the duty of protecting the family from bad elements and influences is not an easy task. It requires a holistic and comprehensive effort. Parents should constantly remain committed in educating their children in any given situation. This was a clear teaching of our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) would divide his daily time into three parts. The firstpart was time for Allah (s.w.t.), which he spent by performing various acts of worship. Secondly, time for the family. And the third part, was time for himself. And so should we emulate his example.

Remember, my brothers and sisters, that our Prophet (s.a.w.) set aside a third of his daily time to spend with his family. He dedicated this time to serve them, to entertain them, and to look after their needs. This was reflected in a hadith whereby Sayyidah 'Aishah (r.a.) was asked about what the Prophet (s.a.w.) used to do when he was at home. Sayyidah 'Aisyah replied, "He used to keep himself busy serving his family, and when it was time for the prayer, he would go out to perform it." (Hadith of Imam Ahmad)

Such was Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) commitment to his family, and also to his religion, even though as the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), he carried an extremely heavy duty as the bearer of Allah's (s.w.t.) message. But our Prophet (s.a.w.) never once neglected his responsibility and commitment to his family. Remember that any time well spent with the family is also considered an act of worship by the religion.

Brothers and sisters,

A father's commitment to his children is demonstrated by spending quality time with them. We can benefit from the family programmes offered by mosques or other community agencies. Make the best use of that time. Seize the opportunity to get to know our family members better, and to strengthen family bonds. When family bonds are strong, children will feel comfortable and safe to share their thoughts and concerns to their parents. Similarly with all other challenges which they may face in their lives. This close bond and openness between parents and children will enable parents to educate their children more effectively.

As husbands, we should demonstrate our commitment to our wives as well. We should give them our undivided attention whenever we are with them. Sometimes, we can be too consumed with online developments, such as events on social media, to the extent that our daily lives are affected. When we are too busy with our mobile phones, we may end up overlooking some aspects of our partners’ rights.

Husbands and wives should aim to spend quality time together. Know that family matters are a shared responsibility between husband and wife. This is our investment in strengthening our family institution.

As a father to our children and also a husband to our wives, we have to fully commit to guiding them to the path of goodness. This is because we do not want our family to be happy only in this world, but we also want them to attain eternal happiness in the Hereafter.

May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us the strength and resolve to continue fulfilling our responsibilities to our families. May Allah (s.w.t.) continue to protect us and our families, and may He grant us happiness in this world and in the Hereafter as well. 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.