Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
10 May 2024 / 1 Zulkaedah 1445H
Empowering Believers Through Beneficial Knowledge
My blessed Friday congregants,
Let us continue in our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t., by obeying all His commands, and by abstaining from all His prohibitions. Let us strive and pray for ourselves and our loved ones to become steadfast believers, guided by true knowledge. May Allah s.w.t. grant us beneficial knowledge for ourselves and those around us. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
My beloved brothers,
Let us ereflect upon the words of Allah s.w.t. in Surah Taha, verse 114:
Which means: "Exalted is Allah, the True Lord! And do not hasten with the recitation of the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.'"
Blessed Friday congregants,
This verse conveys three messages. Firstly, Allah s.w.t. commands us to seek and increase ourselves in beneficial knowledge. Secondly, we are urged to exercise patience in our pursuit of knowledge. Thirdly, we are encouraged to ask Allah (s.w.t) to increase us, as well as those around us, in beneficial knowledge.
My brothers, the journey to deepen beneficial knowledge is endless. A believer must strive to seize opportunities to increase his knowledge and improve his skills. As believers, we are the best of Allah's creation endowed with the ability to comprehend and act upon the knowledge bestowed upon us. Allah (s.w.t) records this in verse 31 of Surah Al-Baqarah, when the angels asked Him about the wisdom behind the creation of man, that is Prophet Adam a.s.:
Which means: "And He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He showed them to the angels and said, ‘Tell Me the names of these things, if you are of the truthful.’"
SubhanAllah! What a great blessing Allah (s.w.t) has bestowed upon human being. Should we not feel compelled to preserve this blessing from Allah (s.w.t)? Is it sufficient for us to merely be content with the knowledge we already possess, without feeling the urge to further enrich and increase upon it?
Furthermore, our drive and determination to seek knowledge should be accompanied by patience and humility. We must recognise that Allah's knowledge is vast, and that we cannot possibly hope to understand it all. We must readily acknowledge that it is only through the permission and mercy of Allah s.w.t. that we are able to increase ourselves in knowledge. A believer should ensure that acquiring greater knowledge does not lead him to arrogance or bad character.
My brothers, understand that knowledge blessed by Allah s.w.t. draws a believer closer to Him. Such knowledge shapes the characters of a believer, transforming them into individuals of noble conduct and strong morals. Beneficial knowledge empowers believers to address challenges and issues with intelligence, wisdom, and maturity.
My beloved fellow Muslims,
In line with our efforts to increase ourselves in beneficial knowledge, we should take pride of the achievements of our community. Alhamdulillah. The educational and career achievements of Muslims continue to rise, with the number of graduates doubling between 2010 and 2020. Additionally, more members of the Muslim community now hold PMET (Professional, Managerial, Executive, and Technical) positions in rapidly evolving sectors, like information technology and communication. This transformation underscores the significant impact of education and the relentless pursuit of knowledge in driving positive change.
The pursuit of knowledge does not end with formal education in schools. It is an ongoing journey that must be continued throughout life. Every field of knowledge and skill offers opportunities for the enrichment and advancement of knowledge, thereby enhancing the lives of believers. The more knowledge and skills we acquire, the more prepared we are to make positive contributions to our families and society at large.
Brothers,
In today’s era, beneficial knowledge plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public welfare through the integration of modern technology. Allow me to illustrate with some examples. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has expedited numerous tasks that were once time-consuming, such as summarising and translating texts. The development of smart applications, or apps, has simplified the process of determining the Qibla direction through mobile phones. Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) like wheelchairs or electric scooters facilitate the performance of Tawaf and Sa'i rituals for the elderly and persons with disabilities. These examples demonstrate how possessing beneficial knowledge and skills not only enhances the quality of life, but also facilitates our religious activities. The continuous effort to seek knowledge and apply it for the betterment of humanity can serve as a perpetual act of charity and a source of provision for us in the Hereafter.
My brothers, let us deepen our religious knowledge, and strive to enhance our skills, ensuring our relevance in this life. Let us increase ourselves in knowledge with sincerity, and use our skills to foster positive change, both within ourselves and in the lives of others. In conclusion, let us embody the supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., which means: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that does not humble itself, from a soul that is never satisfied, and from prayers that are not answered." (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).
May Allah s.w.t. protect us from all harm and grant us ease in our endeavours to deepen our understanding of His knowledge. May Allah s.w.t. continue to guide us along the path that is pleasing to Him. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
SECOND SERMON
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 ادْفَعْ عَنَّا البَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ البُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّة وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ عَامَّةً، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبِ السِّلْمَ وَالسَّلاَم وَاْلأَمْنَ وَاْلأَمَانَ لِلْعَالَمِ أَجْمَع يَا لَطِيْف. 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.
