Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
19 July 2024 / 13 Muharram 1446H
Hijrah Through Upholding Justice
الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَلَى إِحْسَانِهِ، وَالشُّكْرُ لَهُ عَلَى تَوْفِيقِهِ وَامْتِنَانِهِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَن لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ تَعْظِيمًا لِشَأْنِهِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ الدَّاعِي إِلَى رِضْوَانِهِ، اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّم عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَإِخْوَانِهِ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَيَا أَيُّهَا الـمُسْلِمُونَ، أُوصِيكُم وَنَفْسِي بِتَقوَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَقَد فَازَ الـمُتَّقُونَ.
My blessed Friday congregants,
Let us increase our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. Obey all His commands and abstain from all His prohibitions. Emulate the character and good virtues of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. May Allah be pleased with our lives. Amin.
Dear respected congregants,
In this noble month of Muharram, we reflect on the struggles of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. through the Hijrah. The Hijrah symbolises faith, sacrifice, renewal, and well-being. The Hijrah and the month of Muharram emphasise that Islam is a religion that opposes all forms of injustice. The first Muslim community was formed under the leadership of the Prophet s.a.w. with the aim of bringing mercy and rejecting all forms of injustice, persecution, and oppression. Reflect, dear brothers, how is the Hijrah related to rejecting injustice?
Earlier this week, some of us fasted on the Day of Ashura, the 10th of Muharram. In a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. fasted on the Day of Ashura, emulating Prophet Musa a.s. who had fast as a sign of gratitude to Allah s.w.t., for saving him and his people from the injustice and persecution of Pharaoh. Even before the Hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. from Mecca to Medina, he had permitted his companions to migrate to the land of Abyssinia. This occurred when they were oppressed and persecuted by their own relatives in Mecca for believing in the Prophet s.a.w. The Prophet s.a.w. chose Abyssinia because there was a just king, under whose rule no one was oppressed. Several companions, including Uthman Ibn Affan r.a., migrated there seeking safety and to avoid oppression.
Justice which overcomes oppression is fundamental in our religion, so much so that scholars view that Allah s.w.t. will certainly help and establish a just nation, even if it is not believing in Allah. In contrast, Allah will not prosper a nation that is unjust, even if its people are believing in Him. This underscores the importance of justice and rejecting oppression in Islam.
Dear congregants,
Today, we witness too much destruction and injustice at the hands of mankind. It brings harm to human lives, the well-being of society, the security of the nation, and even to the environment. Today, it is easier for us to hate than to love, to hurt than to comfort, to divide than to unite, to seek faults and mistakes in others rather than to show kindness.
The impact of such a negative atmosphere is deeply concerning, especially for the younger generation who desire for peace and well-being. They may become more confused and lost. Some might feel compelled to take action. Some begin to question their purpose and think that oppression and violence should be met with the same.
Therefore, the world society today must reflect with full consciousness. The violent and oppressive parties must gain a realisation and cease all forms of injustice and persecution. Let our children and the younger generation have the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful and secure world. Let them pursue the aspiration of building a brighter future, serving for prosperity and well-being.
Dear brothers,
This is the guidance of Islam, especially in the time of trials and confusion that we are experiencing today.
Firstly, we are not a community that responds to oppression with greater evil. Instead, we remain steadfast in goodness and manage challenges with wisdom and maturity. This is based on the words of Allah s.w.t. in Surah Fussilat, verse 34:
Which means: “Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better, and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity will become as though he is a valued friend.”
This verse encourages us to stop the cycle of oppression through good behaviour. This is in line with a hadith graded hasan and narrated by Imam At-Tirmizi, which means: “Do not be an easily swayed people by saying: 'If people treat us well, we will treat them well; and if they do wrong, we will do wrong,' but reinforce yourselves to do good if people do good, and to not behave unjustly even if they do evil.”
Secondly, do not let the injustice that persists become an excuse or barrier for us to do good and to be just to the community around us, a community that is striving for justice and desiring good for all. Allah s.w.t. says in Surah Al-Mumtahanah, verse 8:
Which means: “Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and justly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are just.”
Without doubt, the increasingly challenging developments in the world disrupt our emotions and conscience. Some of us require support and guidance to overcome this confusion and uncertainty. Let us offer each other our concern, emotional support, and sound religious reminders, so that we can continue to pursue maslahah or benefit and live in peace with society.
Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, grant us justice in every step we take. Keep us away from all forms of injustice and violence. Ya Mughith, Ya Jabbar, remove all forms of destruction and oppression that plague this world. Ya Salam, Ya Mu’min, grant us peace and well-being. Protect us from all forms of evil and danger. Make us a community that helps each other, loves one another, and lives in peace and tranquillity. Guide our children, and grant us wisdom and prudence in guiding them. Brighten our path with the light of your guidance, and make us a community that is blessed and worthy of Your mercy. Amin.
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.
