Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
11 June 2021 / 30 Syawal 1442H
Islam and Values of Humanity
My dear brothers and sisters,
Let us be consistent in our faith towards Allah by following all His commands and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t.) always guide us and shower us with His blessings insha-Allah. Amin.
My fellow Muslims,
Our religion consists of moral values that guide us towards a happy and peaceful life. It nurtures the value of equality among us, ensuring that nobody is better than the other except in their piety. It advocates for the strong to help the weak, the rich to help the less fortunate, the healthy to help the sick. It plants the seeds of mercy and compassion in our soul, so that our words and actions do not hurt those around us. It extinguishes flames of hatred and enmity, and replace them with the light of brotherhood and unity of mankind.
In an environment where the lives, dignity and honour of people are constantly challenged by the tribulations of life, remember this advice from our religion. In an era where the superficial differences seen by the eye are used as an excuse to oppress and insult, take heed of this reminder by our religion.
My beloved brothers and sisters,
Let us reflect on how a companion of our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) voiced her concern on the position of women in the sight of God. As narrated by Imam al-Nasa’i, Ummu Salamah r.a. asked the Prophet (s.a.w.): Why is that we (women) are not mentioned in the Qur'an the way men are mentioned? At that moment, they heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) conveyed from his pulpit a verse that was sent down in surah al-Ahzab, verse 35:
إِنَّ الۡمُسۡلِمِيۡنَ وَالۡمُسۡلِمٰتِ وَالۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ وَالۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ وَالۡقٰنِتِيۡنَ وَالۡقٰنِتٰتِ وَالصّٰدِقِيۡنَ وَالصّٰدِقٰتِ وَالصّٰبِرِيۡنَ وَالصّٰبِرٰتِ وَالۡخٰشِعِيۡنَ وَالۡخٰشِعٰتِ وَالۡمُتَصَدِّقِيۡنَ وَالۡمُتَصَدِّقٰتِ وَالصَّآئِمِيۡنَ وَالصّٰٓـئِمٰتِ وَالۡحٰفِظِيۡنَ فُرُوۡجَهُمۡ وَالۡحٰـفِظٰتِ وَالذّٰكِرِيۡنَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيۡرًا وَالذّٰكِرٰتِ أَعَدَّ اللّٰهُ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةً وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيۡمًا
Which means: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
The message of Islam in this verse is clear. Allah (s.w.t.) mentioned the characteristics of people who will be forgiven and rewarded by Him. Among them are those who are patient, humble towards Allah (s.w.t.) and always in remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.).
Each of these characteristics can be found in both men and women, and Allah’s forgiveness and reward are also given to both genders, as long as they possess the abovementioned qualities. Why is this the case, my fellow Muslims?
This is so that it will not cross our minds, even for a second, that we are better because we are men, and women are inferior because they are women. This is not Islam. Allah (s.w.t.) does not differentiate the worth of a person because of his or her gender. Every person, man or woman, is deemed as superior or inferior by Allah because of their actions, not because of their outward qualities. The stronger the faith instilled in our hearts, the higher our standing is in the sight of Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Such is how the Quran has clearly outlined regarding the position of mankind in the sight of Allah (s.w.t.). The honour comes with strong faith and noble character.
This is an issue that we must take note of and further reflect on. This is especially given the context of our current times, where we are witnessing heightened awareness and increased religiosity among certain members of our community.
This realisation and religiosity, in accordance with the vision and guidance of the Quran, are not manifested in our religious deeds or outward appearances. It is connected with the integrity of our character and our spiritual purity.
Therefore, beware, my dear brothers and sisters, if our soul and heart are not stirred and remain at ease in spreading falsehood, gossip and backbiting.
Dear brothers and sisters,
A complete religiosity is when, in addition to observing our religious obligations, we are also successful in projecting the best character and behaviour in our daily interactions. A complete religiosity is when we are able to appreciate the worth of every person in the sight of Allah and respect them, without looking at the differences in position and occupation, or in race and religion.
And remember, there is nothing more valuable in the sight of Allah and on the scales of judgement, than good character. (Hadith narrated by Abu Dawud).
Let us pray to Allah (s.w.t.) so that He will grant us true understanding of our religion, as well as protect us from any confusion and bad character. And may Allah protect our country and our community that we all love. Amin. Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ 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.
