Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
15 November 2024 / 13 Jamadil Awal 1446H
Preserving the Balance in Allah’s Creation
Dear blessed congregation,
Let us continue to deepen our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. Fulfil His commands and avoid His prohibitions. Refine our good deeds, so that we may be among those blessed and protected by Allah in this life and the hereafter. Amin.
Brothers in faith,
Today, let us continue our tadabbur and reflect on one of the signs of Allah's greatness: the balance within His creation. In Surah Ar-Rahman, which we often read and hear, Allah begins by speaking of the creation of humanity and the universe – mentioning the sun, moon, stars, and plants. Then, Allah mentions Al-Mizan, the scale of justice or balance. He repeats this not once, not twice, but three times. Refer to Surah Ar-Rahman, verses 7–9, where Allah says:
Which means: “(And Allah) has raised the heavens high and set the balance, so that you may not transgress that balance. And weigh with justice and do not fall short in the balance.”
Allah created the sky and heavens, vast and without pillars, the stars in their orbits without collision, and the universe functioning in harmony. This scale or balance is not merely a law of nature but a sign of Allah’s mercy towards His creation as Ar-Rahman, the Most Compassionate. It also serves as a reminder to us to maintain balance in all aspects of life, especially in caring for the Earth entrusted to us.
Congregation blessed by Allah,
The verses on the perfection and balance in creation invite us to reflect on the beauty and wisdom behind Allah's creation. Allah further highlights the magnificence of the sky in Surah Al-Mulk, verse 3:
Which means: “(He is) the One who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. (If you are in doubt,) then look again—do you see any flaws?”
This balance established by Allah shows that every part of nature has its role and relies on one another to sustain life. As humans with intellect, we are commanded to preserve this balance. Neglecting it leads to destruction, causing harm to all creatures and the world around us.
My brothers,
As Muslims, we must play our part in preserving the balance within Allah’s creation. Thus, the mimbar wishes to highlight two key aspects:
Firstly, acknowledging our natural resources as Allah’s blessings which must be valued. These include clean water, fertile land, and unpolluted air. Allah says in Surah Al-Mukminun, verse 18:
Which means: “And We sent down water from the sky in due measure, and We caused it to settle in the earth, and We are certainly able to take it all away.”
Allah provides rain to supply adequate water for His creatures, with a perfect balance. Not too little, nor too excessive. This water must be used wisely and not wasted, as it is a limited resource. Similarly, we are reminded to value the land from which we obtain sustenance. Islam teaches us to avoid wastefulness and protect the soil from pollution, especially due to our own greed. This consciousness is a form of tadabbur or reflection in preserving the balance of the environment.
Secondly, balance also involves our responsibility towards Allah's creatures. In Surah Al-An’am, verse 38, Allah says:
Which means: “And there is no creature on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its wings, but they are communities like you.”
Brothers, every creature, whether animals that crawl on the earth or birds that fly, has a right to a balanced and peaceful existence. We are urged not to disrupt their lives, pollute their habitats, or harm their ecosystems. We should be moderate in using Allah's provisions, ensuring that ecosystems are not destroyed due to our greed. By doing so, we uphold justice in our relationship with other beings on this Earth.
Brothers blessed by Allah,
Maintaining balance and justice in caring for the environment is a reflection of our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. By contemplating Allah’s creations and protecting the environment, we express our gratitude and uphold the trust given to us as khalifah or stewards on this Earth.
May we be among those who utilise nature with full awareness and responsibility for the well-being of present and future generations. And may our appreciation of the universe and all creations of Allah make us more mindful of the great responsibility we all bear. May Allah protect us and our world with His mercy and compassion, and grant us well-being in this life and the hereafter. Amin.
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
