Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
16 August 2024 / 11 Safar 1446H
Continuous Contributions
Dear blessed Friday congregants,
Have taqwa in Allah wherever we may be. Obey all His commands, and avoid all His prohibitions. Pray sincerely for us to be given the opportunity to do righteous deeds, and to be granted continuous rewards even when we are no longer here. Amin.
My beloved brothers and sisters,
Last week's sermon reminded us to be members of society who, firstly, are grateful for the blessings of Allah s.w.t. for making Singapore our homeland. Secondly, as vicegerents (khalifah) of Allah s.w.t., we uphold the responsibility of spreading goodness on earth. This week, the sermon will reflect upon the contributions of the early generations of the Muslim community in Singapore. May this inspire us to continue their legacy, and to contribute from the wealth that Allah s.w.t. has given to us, for the benefit of our community, especially contributions that bring benefits in the long-term.
My brothers, have you heard the names of these following mosques: Masjid Sultan, Masjid Kassim, Masjid Bencoolen? How about the names of full-time madrasahs like Madrasah Aljunied, Madrasah Alsagoff, Madrasah Al-Maarif? What is common between all these religious institutions? Yes, all these mosques and madrasahs are wakaf assets - the legacy left behind by earlier Muslim generations.
Zumratal Mukminin Rahimakumullah,
Wakaf refers to the practice of allocating a portion of our wealth or property for the benefit of society, with the intention of seeking Allah's pleasure. Wakaf guarantees ongoing rewards as long as the asset exists, even after the donor or 'wakif' has passed away.
For those of us who are still alive and benefiting from these mosques and madrasahs today, let us think about how much benefit our community is gaining from the existence of these institutions. Also, imagine the rewards the wakifs are entitled to, even though they passed away long ago.
My brothers,
Wakaf is a sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. In a hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari, it is said that when the Prophet s.a.w. passed away, he did not leave behind any (inheritance in the form of) dinars or dirhams, male or female slaves, nor anything else, except a white mule, his weapon, and a piece of land that he had given to charity (i.e., wakaf).
The practice of wakaf is in line with Islam's encouragement for us to contribute towards the long-term benefit of the community. The practice of contributing through our wealth also constitutes what is considered as righteousness. Let us reflect on Allah s.w.t.’s words in Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse 92:
Which means: "You will not attain (true) righteousness until you spend (in charity) from what you love; and whatever you spend, Allah knows it well."
Al-Imam Ibn Kathir explained that when a Companion of the Prophet s.a.w. named Abu Talhah r.a. heard this verse being recited, he immediately offered his most beloved property, a piece of land near Masjid Nabawi, to be turned into wakaf. Subsequently, many other Companions of the Prophet s.a.w. also contributed their properties as wakaf for the benefit of the ummah. Among them were the endowment or wakaf of land in Khaybar by Umar al-Khattab r.a., and the well of Raumah by Uthman bin Affan r.a.
Imagine, my brothers. The Companions of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. did not want to miss the opportunity to gain rewards, and rushed to leave behind goodness through the practice of wakaf. What about us? Surely, we are in greater need to secure ongoing rewards for ourselves, especially once our lives on this earth come to an end.
My beloved brothers,
Some may ask: Since we do not own land nor buildings, how can we dedicate a wakaf? Is there still a chance for us to contribute, keeping in mind the rising cost of property? How would making wakaf for future generations rank in our list of priorities, given that we struggle to make ends meet today?
Brothers, even though the public housing system today does not allow us to make wakaf of our homes, it does not mean that the opportunity to make wakaf or endowments has closed entirely. Today, we have other platforms through which we can collectively contribute to the welfare of our future generations. The Singapore Community Wakaf (“also known as Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura”, or WMS), which was recently launched on 3rd August, has been established to help us fulfil this noble intention.
The WMS can help ensure that our intention to perform continuous charity is achieved. This can be done through monthly or annual contributions, according to each individual's financial means. This platform has the potential to secure the economic and social welfare of our Muslim community. Moreover, we can strengthen the administration of our religious institutions in the future, including our mosques, madrasahs, and our social and community programmes. It is our hope that as long as Islamic institutions exist and operate on this land, our rewards will continue to flow and never end, even when we are no longer around.
May our contributions, however small it may be in the eyes of humans, be great in the sight of Allah s.w.t., in sya Allah, in line with the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., which means: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small." (Hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari).
Ya Allah, Ya Razzaq, bless the sustenance You have provided us. Ya Wahhab, make it easy for us to contribute in Your path. Ya Fattah, open the doors of goodness wide for us. Help us realise and make into reality all the good intentions hidden in our hearts. Make our small deeds great in Your sight. 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 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.
