Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
9 September 2022 / 12 Safar 1444H
A Father's Role in Child Development
Blessed brothers and sisters,
Let us strengthen our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying all His commands and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t) reward us for our continuous efforts to strengthen our sense of taqwa. Amin.
Brothers and sisters,
A father plays an important role in charting the direction of a family to achieve happiness, love and compassion. A father is not only responsible to provide for his family, but he also carries the role of making sure that his children receive holistic and comprehensive education. This includes nurturing the various developmental aspects namely physical, health, spiritual, and intellectual. Indeed, a father serves as a role model for his children to look up to and gain inspiration from.
Let us ponder upon the beautiful story as revealed by Allah (s.w.t.) in the Qur'an, which is the story of Prophet Nuh (a.s.) and his son.
Prophet Nuh (a.s.) preached to his people for a very long time but only a few of them accepted his message. Most of his people rejected his message, including his own son who clearly went against his calling.
Let us reflect on how Prophet Nuh (a.s.) continued to invite and advise his son towards goodness even up till the final moments before his son was engulfed by the flood. Allah (s.w.t) said:
Which means: “And so the Ark sailed with them through waves like mountains. Noah called out to his son, who stood apart, “O my dear son! Come aboard with us and do not be with the disbelievers.” (Surah Hud, verse 42)
Brothers and sisters,
What are the lessons and benefits that can be derived from the story of Prophet Nuh (a.s.) and his son?
His continuous dedication and patience in educating his child are indeed exemplary and should be followed.
Brothers and sisters,
Religious education requires nurturing noble values in our children, and this should start from an early age. Doing so would help our children to develop the required resilience to help them deal with various negative influences and unhealthy lifestyles that contradict our religious principles. As the Arab proverb says: "Learning at a young age is similar to carving on a stone".
As fathers, we must recognise and acknowledge the talents and strengths of our children. Our role is to provide support and guidance so that our children continue to develop their talents in pursuit of their ambitions, whilst shaping a meaningful future for the family, community, and society at large. This can only be achieved when a father is able to communicate well with his children and remain connected with their personal developments and interests.
Indeed, patience, positive advice, and a gentle approach are required to maintain a good and harmonious relationship between a father and his children, as shown by Prophet Nuh (a.s.).
Let us ponder on the words of the Prophet (s.a.w.) which means: “Verily anything decorated with kindness will add to its beauty, and without kindness will make it look defective.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).
Our children may at times make various mistakes throughout their lives but let us not rush to punish or exile them. Instead, we should invite them to have a respectful discussion while pointing out the impacts of making such errors or mistakes. We can also provide potential solutions for them to improve their situations and continue to make supplications for them to remain guided and not led astray.
While our children may not be ready to immediately accept the advice and guidance provided to them, this should not stop a father from making continuous efforts in advising them. Indeed, such efforts form a part of a father’s unconditional love and concern for his children.
Let us pray that Allah (s.w.t.) make our children the jewels of our hearts that bring us joy in this world and the hereafter. May Allah (s.w.t) make it easy for us in guiding our family towards a path that pleases 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.
Blessed brothers and sisters,
The Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin Foundation (RLAF) is conducting a donation drive to support humanitarian relief efforts in response to devastating floods in Pakistan, which has resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 lives and affected more than 33 million people.
Your contributions will support the immediate needs of those affected including food, emergency shelter, water and sanitation.
You may donate via the donation boxes in this mosque which indicate collection for Pakistan floods. More information can also be found on the Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin Foundation (RLAF) website.
May Allah s.w.t. eases the burden of those affected and grants them strength and patience to overcome this hardship. Amin.
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.
