Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
21 February 2025 / 22 Syaaban 1446H
Refining Our Etiquette in Prayer
Dear blessed congregation,
Fear Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. May we become successful believers in this world and the Hereafter. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Respected congregation,
Consider this question: What role does adab or etiquette play in every act of worship we perform? If every pillar and condition of worship has been fulfilled, must we still emphasise adab in performing good deeds?
To answer this, reflect on the words of Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubarak r.h. who said: "Whoever neglects adab or etiquette will be deprived of the sunnah, and whoever neglects the sunnah will be deprived of the obligatory acts of worship."
This clearly shows how the scholars of the past were deeply concerned with adab in worship. In summary, adab makes a person more mindful of the sunnah in his worship. Similarly, those who uphold the sunnah are more likely to perform their obligatory deeds with a higher degree of perfection.
Therefore, let us observe adab when we individually beseech Allah s.w.t. Let us also uphold good adab when performing acts of worship collectively or in congregation.
Honourable brothers,
With the return of the blessed month of Ramadan at the end of next week, our mosques will once again be filled with various activities. The nights of Ramadan will be enlivened with Tarawih prayers, recitation of the Quran, and qiyamullail. In preparation, the sermons this week and next will focus on equipping us with the necessary knowledge and adab for welcoming Ramadan.
Allow the sermon today to remind us of some etiquettes in performing congregational prayers:
First: Presenting Oneself Neatly and Cleanly
Ensure that we dress in clean, modest, and pleasant clothing. The Prophet s.a.w. greatly emphasised this, especially for Friday prayers. Scholars like Imam As-Syafie r.h. explained further that this encouragement includes all acts of worship, particularly those performed in congregation.
Using pleasant fragrances can enhance our khusyuk or focus in ṣalāh or prayer. Conversely, unpleasant odours – such as bad breath, the smell of cigarette, or perspiration – can distract oneself and others. Remember, this adab reflects not only respect for the house of Allah, but also consideration for fellow congregants.
Second: Praying with Calmness (ṭuma’nīnah) and Without Haste
In our eagerness to perform and increase our ṣalāh, we should not focus solely on the number of rak‘ahs performed. It is equally important to maintain concentration or khuysu’ and calmness or ṭuma’nīnah in ṣalāh.
The Prophet s.a.w. once instructed a man to repeat his ṣalāh three times. He then explained the proper manner of performing ṣalāh, emphasising the importance of ṭuma’nīnah in each ruku‘ and prostration (sujud). (Narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari)
Third: Not Causing Disruption to Other Congregants
Once, while the Prophet s.a.w. was doing i‘tikaf in a mosque, he heard the Quran being recited loudly. He then advised:
"Know that each of you is beseeching his Lord, so do not cause disruption to one another." (Narrated by Abu Dawud)
Reflect, dear brothers: The Prophet s.a.w. was not reprimanding idle talk or meaningless actions, but rather, a loud and rather disruptive recitation of the noble Quran.
Let us evaluate our own norms and practices in the prayer space. For example, using or playing with our phones, or failing to turn on silent mode. What about wallpaper images featuring famous personalities, or even our own family members, which might distract anyone who sees them, particularly during the ruku‘? Likewise, clothing with words, phrases or images that could divert others' attention from ṣalāh should be avoided.
Fourth: Not Rushing to Leave After the Ṣalāh
The Prophet s.a.w. encouraged seeking forgiveness and engaging in dhikr or remembrance of Allah after the ṣalāh instead of leaving immediately. This is in line with Allah’s words in Surah An-Nisa, verse 104:
Which means: "And when you have completed the ṣalāh, remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying down. And when you feel secure, establish the ṣalāh. Indeed, ṣalāh is a duty prescribed at appointed times for the believers."
As a mark of adab after ṣalāh, let us avoid immediately standing up and rushing out unless necessary. Likewise, resist the urge to reach for our phones immediately after the salam. Take a moment to lower our hearts with humility, seek forgiveness, and remember Allah, so that our faith remains steadfast within our hearts.
Respected Congregation,
Let us continue to enhance the quality of our worship, especially ṣalāh, in both its etiquette and execution. By observing these, may our worship become more complete, thus strengthening our faith and deepening our sense of servitude to Allah. 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.
