Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

Friday Sermon

2 October 2026 / 20 Rabiulakhir 1448H

Family and Community: Sanctuaries of Love for Our Children

 

Zumratal mukminin rahimakumullah,

Let us have taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands and refraining from all His prohibitions. May Allah s.w.t. bless our families, protect our children and descendants, and gather us all together in His Paradise. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

 

Dear blessed congregation,

Children are a precious blessing and a trust bestowed upon us by Allah s.w.t. Their presence brings joy into our lives, continues our lineage, and, we hope, carries forward our legacy of goodness. This is why we are encouraged to offer the supplication recorded in Surah Al-Furqan, verse 74. Allah says:

Which means: “And those who pray, ‘Our Lord! Bless us with spouses and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us good examples for the righteous.’”

 

Dear brothers,

Indeed, children are a blessing from Allah. Yet raising and nurturing them is also a heavy responsibility. Did not Rasulullah s.a.w. remind us, that every one of us is a guardian, and that every one of us will be held accountable for those under our care? This responsibility is even more significant in a time of rapid change, intense competition, and the boundless influence of the online world.

My brothers, a father’s responsibility is not merely to build walls that isolate his children from the influences of the outside world. Rather, it is to develop in them a strong sense of identity and character so that they can face these influences with resilience. Like a growing tree, we must ensure that it is firmly rooted so that it does not easily fall when faced with storms.

In short, our responsibility is to prepare our children to live in their time, to face the challenges of their era, rather than merely the challenges we ourselves faced when we were growing up. Today’s sermon would like to share two suggestions for supporting the development of our children:

 

First: Make our presence felt

Amid the demands of daily life, there may be times when we do not give our children the attention they deserve. Yet they deeply yearn for our presence, both physically and emotionally. If they do not experience warmth, affection and attention at home, we worry that they may become more vulnerable to unhealthy external influences.

Indeed, they may already be attending school, going to a childcare centre, or attending religious classes. Nevertheless, the responsibility of educating and nurturing them, and providing them with a safe space, remains first and foremost the responsibility of parents.

 

Second: Build a trusted support system

At times, the responsibility of raising children can feel difficult when carried alone. We need a safe and reliable support network, whether through close family members, trusted friends and contacts, or childcare providers.

In fact, this responsibility extends to every member of society. Rasulullah s.a.w. reminded us, which means: “He is not one of us who does not show compassion to the young and honour the elderly.” (At-Tirmizi)

Our communities and institutions must be safe spaces for children – places that welcome them with kindness and patience, and guide them with compassion. We must strive to provide them with the best possible support system, while ultimately placing our trust and reliance upon Allah s.w.t., as we reflected upon last Friday.

 

Dear congregation,

Together, let us build a network that educates, nurtures, protects and supports our children. May Allah s.w.t. bless every effort we make, protect our children and descendants from harm and moral vices, and make them the joy of our hearts in this world and the Hereafter. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

 

 

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