Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
7 February 2025 / 8 Syaaban 1446H
Characteristics of a True Believer:
Knowledge and Practice for Allah’s Sake
Dear blessed congregation,
Fear Allah s.w.t. with true taqwa. May our lives in this world and the Hereafter be granted success. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Esteemed congregation,
Pay attention to the following verse and reflect: What is the relation between knowledge and performing good deeds?
Allah s.w.t. says in Surah Muhammad, verse 19:
Which means: "So know (O Muhammad), that there is no deity except Allah, and ask forgiveness for your shortcomings and for the sins of believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movements and your resting place."
Allah s.w.t. begins this verse with the command "فَاعْلَمْ", which means "know", emphasising the need of sound knowledge, before resuming the verse with the testimony, that is "لَا اِلهَ إِلَّا الله", and the command to seek forgiveness.
According to scholars such as Sufyan Ibn Uyainah r.a., this verse clearly indicates that instruction to have knowledge precedes the command to perform good deeds. In other words, we must first seek and possess the right knowledge, to ensure that our deeds and acts of worship are performed with the right intention and in the correct manner.
Respected congregation,
As Ramadan draws closer, we feel more eager to increase our worship and good deeds. Let us maintain this positive spirit, whilst ensuring that our actions are rooted in sound knowledge, so they bring true benefit and add value to our worship.
Conversely, any religious practice that is not built upon a foundation of sound knowledge can lead to deviation. If such mistakes are not identified nor corrected, they may persist over time. For example, misusing religious texts to freely modify Islamic rulings, disregarding the obligation of the five daily prayers, claiming that there are hidden meanings behind certain alphabets in the Quran without following the established methodologies of tafsir (exegesis), or claiming to receive direct commands from Allah.
Such false conceptions have unfortunately surfaced within some segments of our community. Thus, any act of worship not grounded in sound knowledge may lead to deviations and violations of Islamic principles. This defeats the very purpose of worship, which is to seek Allah’s pleasure.
At the same time, once we have obtained a certain knowledge, we must put it into practice.
It is truly a loss, dear brothers, if we have already learnt knowledge that is beneficial in the lens of the Shariah, but do not promptly practise it. For example, we all know the virtue of giving charity, yet we continue to fall short despite having the means. We know that reciting the Quran promises great rewards, yet we still find it a challenge to consistently recite it, or to improve our recitation.
Respected congregation,
Consider the following points which emphasise the strong connection between knowledge and practice for a believer:
First: Seeking beneficial knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Majah which means: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim. All creatures seek forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge, even the whales in the ocean."
Let us take a moment to reflect: Has our knowledge increased over time? Or is our understanding of Islam today the same as it was many years ago, with no progress? How about our acts of worship – have we improved our understanding and devotion? For true devotion in worship can only be achieved through an increase in knowledge.
My brothers, do not neglect the instruction to pursue knowledge, or assume that it is limited to certain ages only. As believers, we are fortunate that every effort we put in to gain knowledge is considered an act of worship, and is accompanied by the supplications of Allah’s creations.
Second: Every beneficial knowledge must be put into practice.
The scholars of the past would say: "Practice is the true purpose of knowledge. If not for the purpose of practice, knowledge need not be sought."
Let us reflect on the knowledge we have already learnt, in comparison to what we put into practice. We might have learned much, especially regarding our faith, but for various reasons, we may have yet to practise some of this knowledge consistently.
Third: Avoid ignorance and religious practice that is not based on sound knowledge.
Ensure that every deed we perform is based on knowledge that is correct and authentic. Aim to continue seeking knowledge while we increase our good deeds. Only through knowledge can we ensure that our worship aligns with Allah’s commands.
Fellow brothers in faith,
In conclusion, let us seek knowledge that is beneficial, strive to practise what we have learned, and ensure that our deeds and acts of worship are based on true knowledge.
May Allah s.w.t. guide us all to worship Him with sincerity and improvement. May He accept all our deeds and efforts.
Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، 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 تَسْلِيمًا. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتِ، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنَا وَارْحَمْ وَالِدِينَـا وَارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَجْمَعِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ وُلَاةَ أُمُوْرِنَا، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا فِيْهِ صَلَاحُ الأُمَّةِ أَجْمَعِينَ. اللَّهُمَّ وَلِّ أُمُوْرَنَا خِيَارَنَا، وَلَا تُوَلِّ أُمُوْرَنَا شِرَارَنَا، وَارْفَعْ مَقْتَكَ وَغَضَبَكَ عَنَّا، وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا مَنْ لَا يَخَافُكَ وَلَا يَرْحَمُنَا، وَحَوِّلْ حَالَنَا إِلَى أَحْسَنِ الْأَحْوَالِ، وَفَرِّجْ مَا نَزَلَ بِنَا مِنَ الْأَهْوَالِ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا البَلَدَ وَسَائِرَ البِلَادِ عَامَّةً آمِناً مُطْمَئِناًّ سَخَاءً رَخَاءً بِقُدْرَتِكَ يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّةَ وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ، وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ 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 يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُم، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.
