Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
18 October 2024 / 15 Rabiul Akhir 1446H
Leadership Through Upholding Compassion and Justice
Dear blessed congregation,
Let us increase our taqwa of Allah s.w.t. with true piety. Fulfil all His commands and avoid all His prohibitions. Only through taqwa can we bear the trust and responsibilities that Allah has given to us. May Allah continue to guide us in every aspect of our lives. Amin.
Dear blessed congregation,
Today’s sermon will discuss leadership through the lens of compassion (rahmah) and justice (‘adl). Over 1,400 years ago, Rasulullah s.a.w. reminded us that life itself is an amanah or trust. In a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and Muslim, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. emphasised that each of us is a guardian and responsible for what is under our care.
My dear brothers, we are all leaders in our own domains. The way we lead and manage our lives on Allah's earth will be held accountable in front of Allah s.w.t. We have our own rights to fulfill, but we also must give attention to the rights of others. Allah s.w.t. says in Surah Al-Anfal, verse 27:
Which means: “O you who have believed! Do not betray Allah and the Messenger, nor betray your amanah or trusts while you know (its consequences).”
Dear blessed congregation,
Islam outlines that true leadership is not about power, status, or wealth. A good leader is one who leads objectively, prioritising the well-being of others over their own. Rasulullah s.a.w. said: in a beautiful hadith: "The leader who serves his people drinks last." (Hadith Sahih narrated by At-Tirmizi).
Leadership is a heavy responsibility. The message of Islam brought by Rasulullah s.a.w. marked a significant shift in how society understood and practiced leadership. To fulfil the responsibility of leadership with integrity, we must refer to the values which Islam advocates.
Today, the sermon will highlight two key values related to leadership as a reflection for all of us.
First: Showing Compassion (Rahmah)
Compassion is a trait that Allah has made obligatory upon Himself. In Surah Al-An’am, verse 12, Allah says:
Which means: “Allah has decreed upon Himself mercy.”
In another verse, Allah also refers to His servants as ‘Ibadur Rahman – the servants of the Most Merciful. As Allah’s servants, we must strive to instil compassion and kindness within ourselves, especially when fulfilling our responsibilities and interacting with others.
Let us reflect: How do we apply mercy or rahmah when we return home to our family? How do we apply mercy or rahmah when carrying out our duties at work? How do we apply mercy or rahmah when we see the shortcomings and mistakes of others? How do we apply mercy or rahmah when we witness our brothers and sisters in hardship and distress?
The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was referred to by Allah s.w.t. as rahmatan lil alamin – a mercy to all worlds. As a leader, he set the best example in manifesting compassion. Rasulullah s.a.w. always offered a smile. He did not show bias or favouritism in extending help, nor did he wait to be asked for help before he helped others. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was Rahmah because he was a vehicle for goodness to all those around him, including the oppressed and disadvantaged, without regard for status or skin colour. This is the true example of compassionate leadership which we should aim to emulate.
Second: Upholding Justice and Rejecting Oppression
Justice or ‘adl is a fundamental value in Islam. Islam teaches us to be just in all matters. To be just in our relationship with Allah by following His commands and teachings. To be just to ourselves by protecting abstaining from the darkness of sin and negative influences. Likewise, to be just towards other creatures and fellow human beings by giving them their due rights and not withholding or depriving them instead.
As leaders, if we fail to do so, we may have committed a grave injustice against those under our care. In a hadith qudsi narrated by Imam Muslim, Allah s.w.t. says: “O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not be unjust towards one another.”
This illustrates the greatness and perfection of Allah s.w.t. In His supreme justice, Allah has forbidden oppression for Himself, even though no one can prohibit or punish Him. If Allah, the All-Powerful, refrains from committing oppression, how do we, as His servants, dare misuse our power to oppress others? Or if we can do something or have the means to stop oppression, or to contribute towards it, should we allow injustice to continue and persist?
Dear blessed congregation,
We acknowledge and accept that there is still too much suffering and oppression happening in this world. We are saddened and disappointed by the seemingly endless grief and misery. However, let us never think that Allah does not see or will not deliver justice against those who continue to commit oppression. Allah s.w.t. says in Surah Ibrahim, verse 42:
Which means: “And do not think, [O Muhammad], that Allah is unaware of what the oppressors do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare in horror.”
Let us strive to fulfil our responsibilities as leaders by upholding compassion and justice, and doing our best to stop oppression. Do not let our hearts grow desensitised or used to seeing our brothers and sisters suffer without feeling any sense of remorse or anger. Continue to pray for help and guidance from the Almighty. May Allah s.w.t. grant us the strength to carry out this amanah with sincerity, humility, and determination. Amin, ya Rabbal Alamin.
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.
