Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
19 April 2024 / 10 Syawal 1445H
Nurturing Noble Values and Practices After Ramadan
My blessed Friday congregants,
Let us continue in our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May we remain steadfast in nurturing noble values, and in continuing the good deeds we performed last Ramadan. Amin.
Dear brothers,
Time passes swiftly, and today marks the second Friday of the month of Syawal. Among the customary practices observed during this month is the tradition of visiting one another to strengthen the bonds of kinship. This commendable practice reflects our dedication to the noble value of maintaining ties of kinship, which we should continue to uphold.
The scholars of the past always endeavoured to fill their lives with values and actions that led to obedience and goodness. They were concerned that their efforts might not suffice in the sight of Allah s.w.t. Let us reflect on the words of Allah s.w.t. in Surah Al-Mu'minun, verses 60-61:
Which means: “And those who do whatever good they do, with their hearts fearful, knowing that they will return to their Lord. It is they who race to do good deeds, always taking the lead.”
Such are the noble pursuits of those who have faith and perform righteous deeds. They persist in doing whatever good they can to attain the mercy of Allah s.w.t. They fear that the lives granted to them by Allah s.w.t. might be wasted if their deeds are not accepted by Him.
My beloved brothers,
I urge everyone gathered here today to reflect upon and remember the sweetness of worship and striving to do good deeds this past Ramadan. Did we not strive diligently from the beginning of that blessed month to earn the promised rewards of Allah s.w.t.? Did we not intensify our worship and increase our acts of goodness towards the end of Ramadan, seeking the blessings of Laylat al-Qadr? We also came together in large numbers, filling the prayer rows in the mosque or qaryah to pray in congregation, and to supplicate for our brothers and sisters facing humanitarian crises overseas.
Beyond the mosque activities and worship, did we not witness many members of our society rolling up their sleeves during Ramadan to assist the less fortunate? Many also donated to help those in need. Alhamdulillah, we thank Allah s.w.t. for granting us the ability to perform those deeds to the best of our abilities.
However, the question arises: Should these acts of goodness be performed only during Ramadan? Does Allah s.w.t. only bestow rewards during Ramadan? Certainly not. Allah s.w.t. wants us all to continue doing good deeds because He loves continuous acts of worship. The Prophet s.a.w. said:
إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ
Which means: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those performed regularly, even if they are few." [Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim].
Brothers,
If we sincerely desire the mercy and pleasure of Allah s.w.t., then we must continue to nurture and embody noble values and perform good deeds throughout our lives.
Therefore, let us all continue our efforts to maintain our worship and acts of goodness. Let us continue to pray for ourselves, our families, friends, acquaintances, and our brothers and sisters facing trials. Let us never cease nor lose hope in the help of Allah s.w.t., for He hears every plea, every sigh of the heart, and He knows our sincerity in prayer. Allah s.w.t. will surely grant our prayers and fulfil our wishes at the right time, and under suitable circumstances.
Furthermore, my brothers, let us continue to give charity and extend assistance to anyone in need. Let us fill our lives by striving to benefit others around us, for that is also the best and most commendable characteristic of a servant, as our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. reminded us in a hadith, which means: "The best among you are those who are most beneficial to others." [Hadith narrated by Imam al-Tabrani].
Dear congregants,
Every one of us desires success in this world and in the Hereafter. Therefore, let us all revive the pure and noble values and practices that we observed during the past Ramadan, and work on them consistently and continuously. Remember the words of Allah s.w.t.:
Which means: "Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah' and then remained steadfast - the angels will descend upon them, saying, 'Do not fear and do not grieve, but rejoice in the good tidings of Paradise, which you have been promised.'" [Surah Fussilat, verse 30].
May Allah s.w.t. accept all our good deeds, and place us among the righteous, whose deeds are accepted and blessed 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 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. اللَّهُمَّ 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.
