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Knowing One of Allah’s Names: Al-‘Adl

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

18 September 2020 / 30 Muharram 1442H

Knowing One of Allah’s Names: Al-‘Adl

 

My dearest brothers,

Let us continue to have taqwa towards Allah by obeying His commands and leaving His prohibitions. May our taqwa help us in achieving balance in our lives, as well as in fulfilling our commitments to our religion. Amin.

The previous sermons discussed two of Allah’s names: “ar-Razzaq” and “al-Latif”. Today, let us observe another noble name of Allah, which is al-‘Adl, which means: the Most Just.

My brothers, justice is about putting something in its rightful place. On the other hand, putting something in an inappropriate place is an act of injustice. Therefore, the name al-‘Adl signifies that Allah is truly perfect in all of His decrees, because Allah puts every single thing in its most suitable place, at the most suitable time, and for His most deserving creations. Allah’s justice exists in all His creations, in His decree, in the sustenance that He provides, and in His laws and commands.   

When we observe the creation of this world, including the creation of man, we will notice the meticulousness and orderliness of Allah’s creation. The same applies to what Allah s.w.t. has set for His servants. Those who strive will be rewarded accordingly. Those who neglect will face disappointments due to their neglectfulness. Although there may be situations where a person might still fail despite his efforts, a believer continues to have complete faith in Allah’s justice – that Allah will grant him something better than what he asked for. Such is Allah’s justice.

Allah is also the Most Just in His laws and commands. Everything that has been decreed by Allah in His religion is balanced, valid and suitable throughout the ages, and fulfills the needs and demands of human life. Allah says in surah al-An’am verse 115:

Which means: “The word of your Lord is complete in its truth and justice. No one can change His words: He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.”

Scholars explained that the verse, “the word of your Lord is complete in its truth” is referring to the events and Allah’s promises in the Quran, whereas “the word of your Lord is complete in its justice” refers to the laws and commands of Allah.

Blessed brothers,

Our faith in Allah’s justice should inspire us to act justly in our daily lives. In a hadith qudsi reported by Imam Muslim, Rasulullah s.a.w. conveyed Allah’s words which mean, “O My servants, indeed I have made injustice unlawful upon Myself, and I have made injustice unlawful among you as well.”

Therefore, a person who believes in Allah al-‘Adl will appreciate, love and be content in Allah’s decrees in the creation of this world, including anything that befalls upon him. He will also strive to achieve his goals in this life and the hereafter, while being grateful for whatever that Allah has decreed for him. He holds to the principle that there is no ‘ifrat’ (إفراط) – which is exaggeration in his deeds – and there is no ‘tafrit’, (تفريط) – which is neglectfulness and carelessness.

In facing any challenges, he does not exaggerate or overreact until he causes inconvenience to himself or others. In addition, he is also not dismissive about it. For example, when he is ill, he continues to act justly towards himself and towards the people around him. He continues to pray to Allah, while he strives to find medicine and treatment for his illness. He also takes necessary steps to ensure that he does not infect others, as much as he ensures he does not get infected himself.

Such is how Allah’s justice shapes the character of a believer, who believes in Allah, the Most Just. May Allah strengthen our faith so that we can appreciate and take care of all the blessings He bestowed upon us: our religion, our souls, our bodies, our families and our society. May we succeed in becoming people who are able to strike a balance between our rights and responsibilities, and let us radiate the beauty within our hearts, through our words and actions. 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.