Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

24 September 2021 / 17 Safar 1443H

Fulfilling Caregiving Responsibilities for Children

 

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Let us together continue our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.) by carrying out His obligations and abstaining from His prohibitions.

My dear brothers and sisters,

What if I share with you a practice that will help us attain a wonderful reward in paradise, that is being close to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Are we going to strive to put it into practice?

Let us ponder upon the following hadith narrated by Imam Muslim:

 كَافِلُ الْيَتِيْمِ لَهُ أَوْ لِغَيْرِهِ، أَنَا وَهُوَ كَهَاتَيْنِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ

Which means: "He who sponsors and takes care of orphans under his care or someone else’s, (Verily) I and him (will be) like these two in heaven (while the Prophet (s.a.w.) signals with his two fingers)."

Imam an-Nawawi explained that what is meant by "orphans under his care" is someone who has immediate family ties such as grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and so on. And what it means to "take care of orphans under someone else’s care" is to look after the children who do not have any family ties with us.

Brothers and Sisters,

Our religion emphasizes the importance of providing care for children in general, which includes caring for orphans and abandoned children. In fact, any book of fiqh will mostly include a specific chapter discussing the rulings related to the care of abandoned children (al-manbuz or al-laqit). This is to ensure that we obey Allah’s commands to exercise the rights of every child and to preserve their safety and security. 

These children need to be cared for, but that becomes impossible when they no longer have biological parents to play the required caregiving roles and responsibilities. Therefore, those who willingly sacrifice their energy, time, or resources to provide for the basic needs of these children are highly regarded in Islam, due to their acts of mercy and kindness. In fact, he will attain a place close to the Prophet (s.a.w.) in paradise. Wasn’t the Prophet (s.a.w.) an orphan himself? He was raised by his grandfather (Abdul Muttalib), then his uncle (Abu Talib), after the passing of his grandfather.  

Allah (s.w.t.) mentioned in surah al-Baqarah verse 220: Which means: “To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, ‘Improvement for them is best.’ And if you mix your affairs with theirs - (know that) they are your brothers. And Allah knows who intends harm and who intends good. Had Allah willed, He could have made it difficult for you. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”

Brothers and Sisters,

Allow me to take this opportunity to urge everyone who has the means and willingness to either adopt or provide foster care for children, to contact the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) for further information.

It is important to remember that even if they are not our own children, the efforts we make to provide them with the required attention and love in their lives will surely be rewarded. In addition, the care and affection these children receive in a healthy family environment will help to ensure that their futures will be more stable and secure. 

For those who are not ready to adopt children or provide foster care, let us spread this news to relatives and friends in order to raise more awareness. Hopefully by encouraging this noble effort, we will be rewarded accordingly.

May Allah (s.w.t.) make us amongst those who always seek opportunities to help one another, in order to nurture generations that will continue to benefit others, with the hopes of attaining goodness in this world and the hereafter. Amin. Ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ

 

Second Sermon

الْحَمْدُ 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 الْعَزِيزِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَـا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا. 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 لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالْأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا الْبَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالْمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ الْبُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.

عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.