Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

7 April 2023 / 16 Ramadan 1444H

Optimising Our Time and Opportunity to Do Good

My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam,

Let us increase our remembrance and gratitude towards Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying all His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. May we be of those who are granted the blessings and mercy of Allah (s.w.t.) in this holy month of Ramadan. Amin.

Brothers and sisters,

Allah (s.w.t) said in the noble Qur’an:

Which means: “Indeed, We revealed [the Qur’an] on the Night of Power.” [Al-Qadr:1]

This verse tells us that the Qur'an was revealed from Lauh al-Mahfuz (the Book of Decrees), and that the descent of the noble Qur'an happened on the night of Laylatul Qadr, or the Night of Power. This verse, along with several other verses related to Ramadan, usually contain various messages about the Qur’an as well.

This helps us realise the close relationship between Qur’an and the holy month of Ramadan, which then encourages us to increase our recitation and appreciation of the Qur’an in this blessed month. We are reaching the last 10 days of Ramadan soon, in which the glorious night of Laylatul Qadr will take place. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said:

Which means: "Whoever prays on the night of Laylatul Qadr in a state of faith and in the hope of a reward, his past sins will be forgiven." (Hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari)

My fellow Muslims,

It is during the blessed night of Laylatul Qadar when Muslims should strive to pray to Allah (s.w.t) with utmost sincerity, more than any other time of the year. Let us strive to connect ourselves to the Qur’an, hoping that the words of Allah will enlighten our minds and guide our hearts. Laylatul Qadr is the night in which you ask Allah the Almighty to place you amongst those who receive His guidance, and whom He showers with His mercy. Laylatul Qadr is the night in which when you pray to Allah (s.w.t), the angels who are present on Earth will reply - "Amin" - to every prayer that you make. 

To attain the blessings of the night of Laylatul Qadr, we should all work hard to fill the nights of Ramadan with worship, prayer, reading the Qur’an, dhikr, giving alms, and asking for forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t), among many others. Due to the uncertainty of tomorrow or the future, the opportunity and time that Allah (s.w.t) as given us today matters the most. In fact, we may not be given the chance to witness and experience next year’s Ramadan.

What if this Ramadan is destined to be our last? Our last tarawih? Our last tahajjud, our last prayer, even our last Laylatul Qadr? What then can we present to our Lord from our Book of Good Deeds, when our two feet stand in front of Allah?

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, let us strive to continuously seek forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t.). Let us not miss the golden opportunity in this holy month to obtain the mercy and forgiveness of Allah (s.w.t.). It is important that we develop the determination and the will to pursue Laylatul Qadr, so that you may reap its immense benefits.

My brothers and sisters,

Let us instil the hope to receive the blessings of Laylatul Qadr, as we are often reminded by the scholars that Laylatul Qadr is a gift from Allah (s.w.t.) to anyone who truly deserves it. Let us perform the act of fasting during the day, and increase our good deeds. This is not only done through our acts of worship, but in how we emulate our beloved, Rasulullah (s.a.w.), who used to give from whatever he owned, and who also gave alms and extended help to many, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.

As these are all common practices in the month of Ramadan, which we are encouraged to do. Such as to increase our acts of worship, to do more good deeds, as well as to give charity and extend help to those who are less fortunate.

However, my brothers and sisters, allow me to remind each and every one of us, that a believer should be wise in making decisions. For example, when giving aid, ensure the legitimacy of the project or organisation to which we will be giving alms and aid to. Do not be deceived by deceitful claims and be tricked into extending help to those who do not deserve the help.

Brothers and sisters,

May Allah (s.w.t) grant us His guidance and assistance for us to increase our good deeds in this holy month. And may He accept all our acts of worship, inshaAllah. Amin Ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

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

 

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.