Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
Friday Sermon
14 June 2024 / 7 Zulhijjah 1445H
Nurturing Taqwa Within the Family
Dear blessed Friday congregants,
Let us express our gratitude to Allah s.w.t. for granting us the opportunity to witness the month of Zulhijjah, one of the blessed months by Allah – a month filled with blessings. In this noble month, let us strive to increase our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. and commit to guiding our families in obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May our families become pious and blessed Muslim families. Amin.
Dear congregants,
Last week’s sermon touched on the loving relationship between husband and wife, as reflected in the Khutbah Wada’, or the Farewell Sermon of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Today's sermon will continue with another lesson from the Khutbah Wada’. Let us reflect on the Prophet's words:
أَيُّهَا النَّاس، إِنَّ لِنِسَائِكُم عَلَيْكُم حَقًّا، وَلَكُم عَلَيْهِنَّ حَقٌّ
Which means: "O people, indeed your wives have rights upon you, and you have rights upon them..." (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).
Dear brothers, the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. emphasised the importance of trustworthiness in fulfilling the rights and responsibilities between husband and wife, as well as within the family. This reminder is relevant for both newlyweds and those who have been married for a long time.
For young and newly married couples, continue to seek expertise and advice that can foster harmony in marriage. For couples who have been married for a long time, make effort in strengthening the relationship by spending quality time together, so that the joy of being a couple endures, even in old age.
This positive attitude requires sincerity built on taqwa and faith, adorned with kindness and compassion. Each couple needs to cooperate and be willing to make sacrifices to fulfill their respective responsibilities, rights, and duties.
Let us take a moment to reflect. When did we last remind ourselves of the responsibility to nurture taqwa in ourselves and our spouses? Are we living up to this responsibility as guided by Islam? Do we actively seek to create a harmonious atmosphere in our marriage whenever the opportunity arises?
Dear brothers,
Allow me to share three main principles in forming a taqwa Muslim family:
Firstly, taqwa as the main pillar, beginning with ourselves. For example, we can start by fulfilling the responsibility of performing the five daily prayers to the best of our ability. If time permits, let us make it a routine to pray together with our spouses. Let us be courteous and respectful in our interactions with our parents. These noble values set an example for our family members. We are the embodiment of instilling taqwa in the family. May these efforts lead us to earn the pleasure of Allah and experience the tranquillity of life, as Allah s.w.t. says:
Which means: "And those who say, 'Our Lord, bless us with spouses and offspring who will be the joy of our heart, and make us an example for the righteous.'" (Surah al-Furqan, verse 74).
Secondly, openness to receiving opinions. Embracing differing opinions is a noble value, especially within our marriages. Let us embody the conduct exemplified by the Prophet s.a.w. He consistently engaged in discussions with his wives, seeking their input in family matters or community affairs. In fact, the Prophet welcomed and acted upon certain opinions from his wives. If the Prophet could be open to hearing his wife's opinion, why can't we?
Third, cooperation in building a harmonious family. Both husbands and wives play essential roles in this collective effort. Fairness and compromise in meeting daily needs, along with fostering mutual understanding and trust, are key factors in creating marital harmony.
It is also important to balance responsibilities between one’s own family and one’s parents, if they are still alive, without neglecting the well-being of anyone, including oneself. Let us remember the guidance of the Quran which urges us to uphold justice, for being just is very close to taqwa.
Ya Latiff, facilitate our affairs in nurturing a family rooted in taqwa, living in harmony and loving one another until the end of our lives. Ya Wahhab, bless our efforts to lead a family of taqwa and righteousness. Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, grant us success in this world and the hereafter. Amin, Ya Mujibas Sa’ileen.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
SECOND KHUTBAH
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 وَالسَّلاَم وَاْلأَمْنَ وَاْلأَمَانَ لِلْعَالَمِ أَجْمَع يَا لَطِيْف. 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.
