Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura
Friday Sermon
26 September 2025 / 4 Rabiulakhir 1447H
Resilience Amid Hardship
Zumratal mukminin rahimakumullah,
Let us increase our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. Let every joy and every trial be a means to draw closer to Him. May Allah grant us the strength to remain steadfast upon His path. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Dear blessed congregation,
Have we ever faced a heavy trial, or witnessed the hardship of others, and a thought arises in our hearts, questioning: “Why does Allah allow this to happen?”.
As believers, we affirm that every trial comes from Allah. Trials are part of the nature of life, and every human being will surely be tested. Allah s.w.t. says in Surah al-Baqarah, verse 155:
Which means: “We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in wealth or lives or the fruits (of your toil), and give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.”
Dear brothers,
Indeed, at times, a trial serves as kaffarah – a form of expiation of sins from Allah s.w.t. However, this does not mean that every trial we face is a punishment, nor should it be seen as a form of humiliation.
The proof lies within the fact that the Prophets themselves were tested and endured great hardships in life. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was oppressed and driven out by his own people in Makkah. Prophet Ya‘qub a.s. was tested with the loss of his beloved child. While Prophet Ayyub a.s. was afflicted with illness for many years, in addition to the loss of his wealth and family.
But how did they respond? The Prophets – whom we should take as our role models – faced those trials with صَبْ ر جَمِيل (sobrun jamil); a beautiful patience; one without complaint, and filled with hope in Allah s.w.t.
From these examples, we can conclude that a believer (Mukmin) does not fall into despair when faced with crises and life’s challenges. A believer holds firmly to the faith he has professed, and once again refines his understanding of the essence of patience.
Dear blessed congregation,
How can our faith help shape a better perspective when facing life’s trials?
Firstly: Perceiving trials as a means to draw closer to Allah
For a believer, a trial is a sign of Allah’s love for His servant. Imam Al-‘Izz ibn Abdussalam in his book Al-Fitan wal Balaya, explains that there are many wisdoms behind every calamity or affliction, including:
• To remind us of our weakness as humans
• To cultivate our dependence on Allah
• To shape a heart that is sincere, humble, and free from arrogance
• To make us grateful for our well-being which Allah has long granted
Thus, a trial is not a sign that Allah despises us. Rather, it is a reminder and an invitation to return and draw nearer to Him.
Secondly: Seeing everything that happens as good for the believer
This is the essence of the words of Rasulullah s.a.w. in a hadith narrated by Muslim, which means:
“How amazing is the condition of a believer. All of his affairs are good, and this applies only to the believer. If he receives a blessing and he is grateful, then there is good for him in it. If he is afflicted with a trial and he is patient, then there is also good for him in it.”
How beautiful is the Islamic perspective — whether in hardship or ease, both bring goodness as long as we face them with gratitude and patience.
Respected Friday congregants,
Even today, humanity continues to face crises and challenges — whether in matters of health, income, family, or social pressures. These trials remind us of how weak humans are without the help of Allah.
However, if we face them with faith, patience, and tawakal, these trials can transform into opportunities: opportunities to strengthen the heart, ignite the light of faith, and spread compassion and support to others. May Allah s.w.t. make us His servants whose faith remains steadfast in both hardship and ease.
Ya Allah Ya Rahmān, grant us certainty that makes the trials of this world feel light upon us. Ya Rahīm, do not place any trial upon our matters of faith. Ya Mujīb, improve our affairs and accept our supplications. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Second Sermon
Dear blessed congregation,
In life, whether at the individual, family, or community level, we will surely face trials that are at times bitter and difficult to bear – sometimes so severe that emotions may overwhelm the guidance of faith. These trials may come in the form of insults or injustices, whether spoken or acted upon. They may be done deliberately, out of stubborn hearts, or out of ignorance. Such was the case faced by several of our mosques recently, when they received items that violated the sanctity of Allah’s House.
Whatever the intent or reason behind such actions, only Allah s.w.t. knows. As Muslims who remain steadfast and principled upon the teachings of the Prophet s.a.w., we hold firmly to the conviction that our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. brought forth a message of mercy and well-being in all matters.
The Prophet s.a.w. taught us to continue embodying noble conduct even when confronted by those who seek to harm us – by forgiveness and spreading goodness.
This is the mission of the ummah of Muhammad s.a.w.: that if such acts are intended to undermine the peace and harmony of our community and nation, know that they will only strengthen our spirit and resolve to uphold peace and harmony, in line with Prophetic guidance. And if there are those who seek to damage relations between religions and people, let it be clear that we must never equate the deeds of one person, or a small group, with an entire race or religion.
Therefore, my dear brothers, let us close our ranks and strengthen our unity. Let such incidents serve as reminders for us to safeguard our cohesion. Let us preserve harmony between one another. Let them be proof that the teachings of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. remain firmly rooted in our hearts, even though we have never met him in person. And refrain from sharing information which are uncertain, so that we do not worsen the situation and fall to the deception of Shaytan, who constantly awaits our downfall.
