Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
Friday Sermon
2 May 2025 / 4 Zulkaedah 1446H
Belief in Recompense: Living with Awareness of the Hereafter
Dear blessed congregation,
Let us strengthen our consciousness of Allah s.w.t and His presence, and demonstrate accountability in our temporary life in this world, by obeying all His commands and abstaining from all His prohibition. May Allah s.w.t shape us into servant of his who are amongst the muhsinin - righteous. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
My beloved brothers in Islam,
Regardless of the experiences or journeys we go through in this world, we firmly believe in the Day of Recompense and Judgement, based on the creed of our religion. It is a day when all judgement and accountability for human actions belong solely to Allah s.w.t. To Him belongs all power and absolute sovereignty which never diminishes.
Allah says in Surah Ghafir, verse 17:
Which means: “Today (the Day of Judgement), everyone will be recompensed for what one earned. There is no injustice today. Surely, Allah is swift in reckoning.”
All that is good will be rewarded by Allah with goodness, and all that is evil will be recompensed appropriately, except for those whom Allah s.w.t forgives and shows mercy to.
Allah s.w.t says in Surah Al-Zalzalah, verses 7-8:
Which means: “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
Dear respected brothers,
The Day of Judgement and Recompense is not a trivial or ordinary day. It is immensely monumental. It is deeply terrifying, for every soul which once lived in this world will stand before the King of all worlds, awaiting His final judgement. At that moment, humankind will realise that nothing more can be done to change their fate. The world that they left behind will bear witness as to whether their lives were one where they sowed goodness, or one that brought about corruption and destruction.
Allah s.w.t says in Surah Taha, verses 108 - 111:
Which means: “On that Day all will follow the caller (for assembly) and none will dare to deviate. All voices will be hushed before the Most Compassionate. Only whispers will be heard. On that Day no intercession will be of any benefit, except by those granted permission by the Most Compassionate and whose words are agreeable to Him. He (Allah) knows what is before them and what will be after them, but they do not encompass it (what He knows) in knowledge. And all faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. And those burdened with wrongdoing will be in loss.”
My dear brothers,
Amidst the hecticness of managing and striving for stability in this worldly life, remember the effects and consequences of our actions, words, and deeds. Do not allow heedlessness and neglect to lead us into doing something which will only bring about loss and regret on the Day of Recompense.
Imam Al-Hasan Al-Basri said:
Which means: “Indeed, the reckoning on the Day of Judgment will be easy for those who reflected (and held themselves accountable) in this world, and it will be difficult for those who did not reflect (nor held themselves accountable).”
Distance yourselves from all forms of corruption: In our relationship with Allah s.w.t, by adorning it with taqwa, and in our relationship with fellow human beings, by adorning it with mercy and goodness, and in our relationship with the world, by adorning it with moderation and accountability.
Remember the advice of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w in the hadith of Abu Zarr r.a. narrated by Imam At-Tirmizi:
Which means: “Have taqwa (fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave with goodness towards the people.”
Dear respected congregation,
By living with steadfast belief in recompense and a constant consciousness of the hereafter, we are motivated to live a life of piety, attain Allah’s mercy and pleasure, and carry out the necessary obligations in order to be amongst the dwellers of paradise.
Let us be steadfast in praying that Allah s.w.t. grants us the consciousness and wisdom to be amongst those who are diligent in safeguarding the trusts that He has bestowed upon us, and those who are deserving of His mercy and pleasure in this world and the hereafter. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
SECOND KHUTBAH
