Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

25 September 2020 / 7 Safar 1442H

Knowing One of Allah’s Names: Al-Fattah

 

My dearest brothers,

Let us instill taqwa towards Allah by fulfilling His commands and leaving His prohibitions. May Allah guide and protect us throughout our lives. Amin.

The Friday sermons given in the past few weeks have discussed the beautiful names of Allah, in particular: ar-Razzaq, al-Latif and al-'Adl, which means: Allah is the Provider of Sustenance, the Most Gracious and the Most Just. Allah graciously provides us with sustenance to fulfill our needs, and He plans everything with so much beauty and justice. When a person understands these names of Allah and holds on to them, he will take every step in his life with courage and faith. For him, success is not merely achieving his goals and targets, but what matters more is the ability to acquire Allah’s blessings for his efforts, as each of them is a form of worship that earns him rewards from Allah. He believes that Allah will grant him blessings that exceed his own expectations.

Although one might foresee the darkness of tomorrow or the days that follow, it will not affect his aspirations to succeed. He does not believe in the concept of giving up. When one door closes, he knows that there are many other doors that Allah has prepared for him. Indeed, among Allah’s names is also al-Fattah, the Opener, the Revealer. Allah mentions in the second verse of surah Fatir: 

Which means: “Whatever Allah grants to people of mercy – no one can withhold it; and whatever He withholds – no one can release it thereafter. And He is the Almighty, the All Wise.”

Subhanallah! Let us observe this verse, my brothers! Allah al-Fattah opens the doors to His mercy to anyone that He wills. Allah provides countless opportunities for His servants to ask for forgiveness, no matter the variety and quantity of their sins. Allah opens the doors to His sustenance for all, including those who disobey Him. Allah opens the doors to His heavens for all who believes in Him, even though their good deeds are far from perfect. Allah answers the prayers of His servants, by granting them more than what they ask for. Allah reveals to us the wisdom behind the challenges we face. Allah opens the doors to success, some of which we did not even expect nor dream of. Allah opens the doors to His blessings because of the efforts of His servants – these efforts might seem futile in this world, but they get rewarded in His paradise.

So, what does Allah ask of us, then?

Allah al-Fattah, the Opener, wants His servants to keep an open mind and heart. An open heart to the differences that exist, because this is the nature of Allah’s creations. We are also required to respect and appreciate one another, remain united, work together and remain cooperative. In addition, we must accept and be open to Allah’s decree, as well as the religious laws that He has set for us. Therefore, we should not give up easily and succumb to disappointment. On the contrary, we are commanded to always keep our hearts open by making supplications to Allah, admitting our weaknesses, yet believing in the vastness of His mercy. Rasulullah s.a.w. once said in a hadith which means, “Allah is Modest and Generous. Allah would be shy to return the hands of His servant empty when he raises them to Him (to not answer the prayers of His servant).”  [Hadith reported by Imam Ahmad, at-Tirmizi and Abu Daud].

If Allah Himself is shy to disappoint us when we make supplications to Him, should we even doubt His generosity, or become too proud to ask for His blessings? Indeed, Allah’s love and mercy are never kept behind locked doors, because Allah is al-Fattah, the Opener, the Revealer. Whatever trial that holds us down and any challenge that comes our way in the days ahead, let us face them with faith and courage. May Allah protect us all from the dangers and disasters that cause us to suffer in this world and in the hereafter. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

 أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم

 

 

 

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.