Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
3 January 2025 / 3 Rejab 1446H
Increasing Our Spirituality in Rajab
Dear blessed congregation,
Let us together strengthen our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. Renew our intentions and determination to perform good deeds. Never stop seeking Allah’s guidance so that we may overcome temptations which lead to His displeasure. May Allah s.w.t. shower us all with His mercy and blessings. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
My dear brothers,
Alhamdulillah, as Muslims, we begin the new year by welcoming the arrival of the blessed month of Rajab. The khutbah today invites us to appreciate the sanctity of this noble month. At the same time, let us evaluate the quality of our faith and spirituality. Through this, we hope to become better servants of Allah, both spiritually and in conduct, in facing the days to come.
Dear blessed congregation,
The month of Rajab is one of four sacred months that Allah s.w.t. has honoured. In Surah At-Taubah, verse 36, Allah mentions:
Which means: "Indeed, Allah decrees that there are twelve months – ordained in His Book since the day He created the heavens and earth – four months of which are sacred. That is the right way, so do not wrong yourselves in these months..."
According to some scholars of Tafsir such as Ibn Kathir, these four months – Zulkaedah, Zuhijjah, Muharram, and Rajab – are considered sacred due to the special status and blessings which Allah s.w.t. has given them. Due to this, any sin or transgression committed during these months are considered more severe in Allah’s sight. On the other hand, Allah multiplies the reward for good deeds and acts of obedience performed in these months.
Therefore, my dear brothers, let’s not continue being unjust towards ourselves by committing sins and transgressions, including any disputes among ourselves. Instead, let us increase our good deeds as a form of gratitude for the blessings of life and sustenance that Allah has granted us, in line with the reminder from Surah At-Taubah, verse 36, that was recited earlier.
My dear brothers,
Scholars view Rajab as the opening chapter to a season of goodness and blessings. In the book Lataif Al-Maarif written by Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, he writes:
"The year is like a tree. Rajab is the time when its leaves sprout green, Syaaban is when its branches flourish, and Ramadan is when its fruits and harvest are reaped. And the believer is the one who reaps its benefits."
This quote suggests that Rajab is the perfect time for us to renew our resolution, purify ourselves, and prepare to welcome the blessings of Ramadan that will soon arrive.
As Muslims, the month of Rajab serves as a checkpoint, reminding us to mend our relationship with Allah and to prepare ourselves for greater acts of devotion. As humans who are not free from shortcomings, now is the time to start changing for the better.
Esteemed congregation,
To increase our spirituality in this blessed month, let us take the following steps:
First: Resolve not to repeat our past mistakes. As humans, we all make mistakes. At certain times, we may feel that our iman is strong, allowing us to overcome bad intentions and desires. Yet, at other times, we succumb to the whispers of the nafs and Shaytan. However, we must not give up or allow ourselves to remain trapped in the cycle of evil.
Rise again! Leave behind our past mistakes and seek Allah’s forgiveness. Allow ourselves to feel deep remorse and renew our intention to avoid repeating those sins. Follow them with good deeds that can erase the marks of bad deeds. Remember the advice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.:
اتَّقِ اللهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ، وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ
Which means: “Be mindful of Allah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good one to erase it, and deal with people with good character." (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi)
Secondly: Increase our good deeds. This increase is not merely in terms of quantity, although that is indeed encouraged. What matters most is the quality of our worship and deeds. Allah s.w.t. states in Surah Al-Mulk, verse 2:
Which means: "It is He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Forgiving."
The key phrase here is “to test you who is best in deed.” Let us humbly reflect: How sincere are we in our deeds? Do we perform our prayer with khusyuk or focus? How genuine is our intention when giving charity? Do we recite the Quran with deep contemplation? These reflective questions can guide us toward improving the quality of our deeds, with hope that this effort will invite the mercy and love of Allah s.w.t., which we desperately need to navigate our lives.
Dear blessed congregation,
Take the opportunity in this new chapter, with the gift of life that we continue to enjoy, to renew our determination to cultivate and nurture our spirituality. May it bear the fruits of lasting good deeds throughout the year. May Allah s.w.t. grant us the strength to become better servants who are eager to perform good deeds and draw closer to Him until the end of our lives. May Allah s.w.t. bless us in the months of Rajab and Shaaban, and allow us to meet the month of Ramadan.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
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 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 وَالسَّلاَمَ وَالأَمْنَ وَالأَمَانَ لِلْعَالَمِ كُلِّهِ وَلِلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ. 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
