Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
24 January 2025 / 24 Rajab 1446H
Lessons from Israk Mikraj
Dear blessed congregation,
Have taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by observing true piety. Fulfil all His commands and abstain from His prohibitions. Obtain strength as believers through patience and prayer. May Allah s.w.t. grant us true honour in this world and the hereafter. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Respected congregation,
Do you know which incident earned Sayyidina Abu Bakr r.a. the title "As-Siddiq"? Scholars explained that one of the key events that affirmed his status as "As-Siddiq," meaning "the one who accepts truth" or "the ever-believing," was the event of Israk and Mikraj. Why is this so?
My dear brothers,
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.’s miraculous night journey from Masjidil Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa and then beyond the seven heavens, all within one night, is not easily accepted by the human logic. So much so, that some people at that time renounced Islam, refusing to accept the truth of this event.
However, without a moment of hesitation, Sayyidina Abu Bakr r.a. expressed his unwavering belief in the truth of this miracle, affirming his faith in Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
Allah s.w.t. mentions in the first verse of Surah Al-Isra’:
Which means: "Exalted is He who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) to the Farthest Mosque (Masjid al-Aqsa), whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing."
Respected congregation,
The event of Israk and Mikraj is a testament to Allah’s infinite power and the miracle of His Messenger s.a.w. It also reflects Allah’s mercy and love for His beloved Prophet. This event occurred during a deeply challenging period for Rasulullah s.a.w., following the loss of two key figures in his life: his wife, Sayyidatina Khadijah r.a., and his uncle, Abu Talib, both of whom were vital pillars of support in his mission.
Without Abu Talib’s protection from the threats of the Quraysh, and Khadijah r.a.’s emotional support during times of hardship, the Prophet’s mission in Makkah became increasingly difficult. His attempt to call the people in Taif to Islam was also met with harsh rejection.
With each window of hope seemingly shut, Allah gifted Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. with the greatest honour, and elevated him through the event of Israk and Mikraj. From Makkah, Rasulullah s.a.w. was taken to Masjid al-Aqsa, the gathering place of the prophets, before ascending beyond the seven heavens, to speak directly with Allah. It was during this event that the commandment for the five daily prayers was bestowed upon the ummah of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
My dear brothers,
The lessons from Israk and Mikraj are numerous. Among them is the importance of patience, and the assurance that with every hardship comes ease, or wisdom which we may have not understood.
Today, the khutbah focuses on one key lesson from Israk and Mikraj: the significance of the five daily prayers in the life of a Muslim.
Respected congregation,
Israk and Mikraj informs us that the five daily prayers were the only act of worship prescribed in the highest heavens. Through Allah’s immense mercy and love for the ummah of the Prophet s.a.w., the initial command to perform 50 prayers each day was eventually reduced to five, with its reward remaining the same (as though fifty prayers were performed).
This gift from Allah s.w.t. came during one of the Prophet’s most difficult periods. It is an indication to us that prayer is meant to be a source of strength and solace for every believer in times of difficulty and ease.
My dear brothers,
Although we do not experience the miraculous journey of Israk Mikraj in person, Allah invites us to communicate with Him directly through our daily prayers. Each prayer is an opportunity to draw closer to Him, to seek His help, and to share our deepest thoughts and worries.
If the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was invited to converse with Allah in His presence during Israk and Mikraj, we, as Muslims, draw nearest to Allah and are closest to him during our prayers. The Prophet s.a.w. said: “The closest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is in prostration (sujud), so increase your supplications in it.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Respected Congregation,
As we commemorate Israk and Mikraj, let us reflect: Have our daily prayers truly strengthened us and nurtured our character as Muslims? Or is there still room to improve our focus and devotion when performing the prayer? Let us take this opportunity to reflect on our appreciation of this fundamental and significant act of worship in our lives as Muslims.
May Allah make us among those who find strength and solace in prayer, who perform it consistently regardless of our situation, and through it, may we be granted honour and success by Allah s.w.t. 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 ارْحَمْنَا وَارْحَمْ وَالِدِينَـا وَارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَجْمَعِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ وُلَاةَ أُمُوْرِنَا، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا فِيْهِ صَلَاحُ الأُمَّةِ أَجْمَعِينَ. اللَّهُمَّ وَلِّ أُمُوْرَنَا خِيَارَنَا، وَلَا تُوَلِّ أُمُوْرَنَا شِرَارَنَا، وَارْفَعْ مَقْتَكَ وَغَضَبَكَ عَنَّا، وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا مَنْ لَا يَخَافُكَ وَلَا يَرْحَمُنَا، وَحَوِّلْ حَالَنَا إِلَى أَحْسَنِ الْأَحْوَالِ، وَفَرِّجْ مَا نَزَلَ بِنَا مِنَ الْأَهْوَالِ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا البَلَدَ وَسَائِرَ البِلَادِ عَامَّةً آمِناً مُطْمَئِناًّ سَخَاءً رَخَاءً بِقُدْرَتِكَ يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّةَ وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ، وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ 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 يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُم، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.
