Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

4 March 2022 / 1 Syaaban 1443H

Hardship and Patience

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Let us continue to increase our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by striving to be consistent in obeying His orders and abstaining from His prohibitions. May our taqwa make us among those who are resilient and are always ready to overcome various challenges with patience, reliance and trust in Allah (s.w.t.) and His decree. Let us also hope that our sense of taqwa will allow us to obtain Allah’s assistance and protection in this world and the next.

Brothers and sisters,

Let us reflect upon what Allah (s.w.t.) said in surah al-Baqarah, verse 153:

 

Which means: “O you who believe! Seek help (from Allah) with patience and prayer, for truly Allah is with those who are patient.”

In this verse, Allah (s.w.t.) calls upon the believers to be patient. This shows us that our life in this world will never be free from trials and tribulations. Remaining patient when facing hardships will strengthen our souls, as well as help us overcome challenges and hardships.

At the same time, we should also seek Allah’s help to grant us happiness in this world and the next, and strive to remain patient in obeying him and fulfilling our obligations, despite facing various unforeseen challenges.

Allah (s.w.t.) specifically mentions patience along with performing prayers because it is the main act of worship that is done multiple times a day. The need for patience is hence essential to maintain a strong connection between a servant with his Creator.

This verse means that Allah (s.w.t.) will always be with those who are patient, by sending down His help to them. Through patience and prayer, we will become amongst those whose souls are at peace, those who have the clarity of thought to view things positively, those who are able to live in comfort, and those who can overcome their destructive temptations and desires.

Brothers and sisters,

While Allah’s blessings are plenty, these blessings at times come with many hardships, challenges, calamities, illnesses, disasters, and so on. In order to find the way out of these hardships, we must draw ourselves closer to Allah, ask for His help, and strive to remain patient. Indeed, facing life challenges and hardships require a strong sense of determination and resilience.

As a servant of Allah, we should be grateful when granted with blessings and remain patient when tested with hardships. Allah (s.w.t.) mentioned in surah al-Baqarah, verse 155:

 

 

Which means: “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, and a loss of wealth, lives, and crops. Give glad tidings, then, to those who are patient.”

Such people will be blessed with happiness, will be forgiven of their sins, and will be showered with His mercy in their lives. They will also experience peace in their hearts and souls in the face of trials and tribulations. Having patience is easier said than done, especially when faced with various hardships and challenges. Before we can exercise patience, we must first truly understand and comprehend the real meaning behind this virtue.

For example, we can practice being patient by striving to become more conscious of our speech. No matter the severity of the hardships we face, we must maintain our relationship with Allah (s.w.t.) through constant remembrance of Him, as well as making supplications to Him, and seeking His forgiveness. Avoid using unpleasant words that may incur His wrath. Indeed, it is through the remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.) that the heart finds peace. Face your hardships with the firm belief that by overcoming these challenges, Allah (s.w.t.) will raise your rank to a higher level.

Let us strive to be patient and accept the divine will of Allah (s.w.t.), by increasing our acts of worship. The closer we are to Allah (s.w.t.) in good and bad times, the more He will fulfil our hopes and prayers, as well as forgive our sins.

Brothers and sisters,

The Covid-19 pandemic has cost millions of lives worldwide. These challenging times have taught us many different lessons, including the true meaning of unity, as well as the meaning of the sacrifices that we must make, to ensure public wellness. We must constantly appreciate and internalise the meaning of patience, especially when our family members are tested, whether with an illness or other types of hardship.

Patience teaches us to always have good thoughts of our Lord. Patience also cultivates resilience, as well as strengthens the tenacity of our hearts. Those who remain patient when being tested with hardships by accepting Allah’s decree, and being hopeful of His reward by not uttering anything unpleasant, Allah will reward them with abundant blessings in this world and the next. That is the special privilege that will be granted by Allah (s.w.t.) to those who are patient, and those who remain steadfast in their worship of Him.

May Allah (s.w.t.) strengthen our patience while facing His trials, and may we always be among those who acquire His love and mercy. Amin. Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

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

 

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.