Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

9 August 2024 / 4 Safar 1446H

  Innate Affection Towards One’s Homeland

Dear blessed Friday congregation,

I remind myself and all present to have taqwa or fear of Allah s.w.t. Follow His commands and avoid His prohibitions. Be grateful for the blessings of age and faith. May Allah bless our sincere efforts in fulfilling our responsibilities on this earth. Amin.

My dear brothers,

Today’s sermon will discuss one’s affection towards their homeland. My brothers, have we ever questioned, is it permissible for a Muslim to feel a connection or attachment towards their homeland? And before you say, “this must be a National Day sermon,” listen first to the following hadith which shows the Prophet’s love for his homeland.

The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. once stood at Hazwarah, a place at the edge of the city of Makkah. He expressed his love for his birthplace by saying: “By Allah, you (Makkah) are the best of Allah’s lands and the most beloved to me. If I had not been driven out from you (by your occupants), I would never have left you.” (Authentic hadith narrated by Imam at-Tirmizi).

Indeed, Makkah at that point of time was a city that was hostile and unaccepting towards the message of Islam. However, it is our innate nature or fitrah to have an emotional connection with one’s birthplace or homeland. Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was always grateful to Allah his place of origin and was determined to return. His eventual return to Makkah was not just a passive one, dear brothers. Instead, the Prophet s.a.w. manifested his love for the city of Makkah through positive contributions to its prosperity.

Dear blessed congregation,

The hadith of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. earlier highlighted our role and responsibility to ensure the welfare of our homeland. There are many aspects which we can discuss regarding this matter. However, given the limited time we have today, I emphasise that one of our responsibilities is to manage the various blessings given to us by Allah s.w.t. as best as possible to benefit fellow residents in this homeland. Speaking of managing responsibility or amanah, Allah describes believers who attain success in the Hereafter:

Which means: “(The successful believeres are) those who fulfil their responsibilities and pledges.” (Surah al-Mukminun, verse 8)

For example, fulfilling our responsibility means that if Allah entrusts us with wealth, we donate or contribute wakaf to organisations such as mosques, madrasahs, welfare homes, associations, and many others. If Allah grants us the blessing of health, what do we do to preserve that trust? Have we ever encouraged others to adopt a healthy way of life to maintain their worship and well-being? Thus, we form a community that aligns with the hadith of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. which means: “A strong (healthy) believer is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).

Dear blessed congregation,

Islam urges us to be grateful and responsible individuals. True, we must be grateful when receiving any goodness. However, we should not be satisfied with merely receiving. Instead, following the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., we should strive to be catalysts of goodness and contribute to general well-being.

My brothers, we do not need to be in a perfect environment to contribute. Many of our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world have successfully made a significant and positive impact, even as they live as minority communities. For example, the Muslim community in Brazil comprises less than 1% of the population, yet they have made a name for themselves as the largest exporters of halal meat in the world. Similarly, the minority Muslim community in South Africa collaborated with local residents to end the system of apartheid. Now, they work hand in hand, contributing to the leadership and development of their homeland.

Dear blessed congregation,

Our earlier generations have also demonstrated their love for this homeland through meaningful contributions in various fields. Now, it is our turn to continue this journey, becoming members of a community that upholds the Singaporean Muslim identity through positive and proactive efforts. Let us raise our hands to seek guidance from Allah s.w.t.

Ya Allah, Ya Rashid, guide us and our future generations to the path You are pleased with. Grant us wisdom in facing the challenges of life. Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, make us those who love and care for one another just as You love and care for Your servants. Ya Allah, Ya Ghafur, forgive our sins when we forget to be grateful for Your blessings. Ya Aziz, Ya Hakim, grant us the opportunity to honour Your religion through our righteous deeds. Bless our lives in this world and grant us success in the Hereafter. Amin. Amin ya Mujib as-Sa’ileen.

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

 

Khutbah Kedua

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.