Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
17 June 2022 / 17 Zulkaedah 1443H
Being Gracious to Our Loved Ones
My brothers and sisters blessed by Allah,
Let us elevate our taqwa in Allah (s.w.t.) by observing His commandments and prohibitions. May we be among those placed with His honoured servants. Amin.
Brothers and sisters,
Islam is a religion that advocates us to be gracious to all. This is because the Creator of this universe is both Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim. As believers, it is important for us to emulate and manifest these values. This means being kind, gracious and empathetic to those around us.
Therefore, it is fitting that we relate to an individual chosen as the best example for us to follow. And that is our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) as Allah s.w.t. decreed in the Quran:
Which means: “And we have not sent you (O Muhammad), except to be as a mercy to the the universe.”
The Prophet (s.a.w.) is the epitome of mercy, as he is one who was always kind and gracious towards everyone around him. Regardless of whether they were his friends, relatives, or even enemies. Through the Prophet’s character, we see insults replied with kindness. Enmity is responded to with gentleness and good manners.
Brothers and sisters,
One aspect of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) character that we should emulate is his treatment towards those who were not his family members. He would be kind and gentle to them, and even more so to his family members.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) taught us that the fundamental aspect of families is communication. For example, every concern and issue should be conveyed respectfully. Unfortunately, today we see many conflicts happening in families partly due to the lack of good communication between family members.
Brothers and sisters,
I would like to take the opportunity to touch upon an important issue, which is regarding domestic violence that occurs within families.
Abuse is not always physical. It may come in different forms such as verbal. At times, words may hurt more than physical abuse as wounds of the heart are invisible and take a longer time to heal. It may linger in the mind for many years to come and affect the individual in many ways.
Brothers and sisters,
We should seek to emulate our Prophet (s.a.w.) in how he interacted with his household. It is narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) never hit a woman or a helper in his household. (Narrated by Ibn Majah)
In fact, there are many stories in the Quran which shows how all the prophets always treated their family members with kindness and mercy. In the story of Prophet Ibrahim, we see him saying kind and gentle words despite his father’s threats. In the story of Prophet Yusuf a.s., we see him acting honourably and mercifully towards his siblings who had harmed him.
All these are lessons for us as believers, in how we should treat our family members. I would like to emphasise that there is no teaching in this religion that allows domestic violence.
As how we would like to be treated respectfully and lovingly by our family members, they too hope to receive love and grace from us.
May Allah (s.w.t.) guide us to be family members who are kind and spread love and grace to those around us. May Allah protect us from becoming selfish and unkind to our family members. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ 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.
