Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

21 August 2020 / 2 Muharram 1442H

Allah Is With Those Who Embody Taqwa

Beloved brothers,

Let us together increase our faith and taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. Fulfill all His commands and abstain from all His prohibitions. We pray that through our taqwa and firm belief in Allah s.w.t., He will ease our affairs in this life and in the hereafter. Amin.

My Brothers,

Every week, the Friday sermon constantly remind us to increase our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t.  so that we will attain a high status in the sight of Allah s.w.t. as well as His protection and mercy. Allah s.w.t. mentioned in surah al-Baqarah, verse 194:

Which means: “… And be mindful of God and know that He is with those who have taqwa (are mindful) towards of Him”.

Brothers, taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. is an important value in our daily lives – so important that Allah s.w.t. mentioned it 259 times in the Qur’an. As taqwa also provides guidance in the life of a Muslim. 

Therefore, what is the true meaning of taqwa, and how do we practice it in our daily lives?

Taqwa in the Arabic language comes from the word ‘waqaya’ which means ‘to protect’. A person who has taqwa in his heart is capable of protecting himself from doing something that can cause spiritual or physical harm.

A person who embodies taqwa is one who always does good for himself as well as to those around him, whether it is his family, relatives or neighbours. This is because he acknowledges and is mindful that Allah s.w.t. is always with him and that Allah s.w.t. oversees all his actions.

A person who embodies taqwa also realizes that taqwa is like a compass of good – one that will lead him to contribute positively to the community and the individuals around him. And when a person of taqwa is tested, he affirms his faith and belief in God that behind each test, surely there is wisdom and goodness. He strongly believes in the words of Allah s.w.t. in surah al-Insyirah, verse 5:

Which means: “So (remember) truly where there is hardship there is also ease.”

Brothers,

The test that we are facing right now is not over yet. All our efforts in the past few months – such as maintaining a safe distance, taking care of our personal hygiene, and others – are part of our efforts as a Muslim to attain taqwa. They are part of our ongoing efforts to consistently increase our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. and to attain a high status in the sight of Allah s.w.t. This can be achieved through our efforts in ensuring the wellbeing of our community.

My brothers, know that those who embody taqwa will always strive to develop endurance that will enable them to face any situation and challenge gracefully. 

Additionally, in light of the new Hijri year (1442 Hijrah), let us together reflect upon our deeds which we have performed for the past year. Have we performed each of those deeds with a heart full of taqwa towards Allah? Have we put in our best effort in becoming a better Muslim than we were last year?

May Allah s.w.t. give us strength to always have taqwa in our hearts. And with it, may Allah s.w.t. grant us ease and peace in this worldly life, as well as in the hereafter too. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم

Second Khutbah

 

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.