Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

5 February 2021 / 23 Jamadilakhir 1442H

Returning to Allah

 

Beloved brothers,

Let us increase our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t) by obeying all His commands and leaving all His prohibitions. May we become those who constantly remember Allah and are close to Him in every type of situation.

Brothers,

Allah will never forsake His servants as long as we strive to get closer to Him. Let us observe a hadith qudsi which means: The Prophet (s.a.w.) said that Allah (s.w.t.) declared, which means: “If a servant of mine comes near to Me an arm's length, I come near to him a cubit, and if he comes near to Me a cubit, I come near to him a distance of two outstretched arms, and if he comes to me walking, I go to him at speed.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari).

Look at how vast the mercy and the aid of Allah (s.w.t.) towards His servant who strives to worship Him! This is the ideal mindset required by every Muslim; that Allah is always on his mind. Hence, he needs to put in constant effort to achieve taqwa of Allah, in times of ease and hardship.

Brothers,

As human beings, we are full of flaws. Hence it is part of our nature to seek help from others when trying to fulfil some of our needs, or to complete certain tasks. However, at times, we are so focused on seeking help from others, we forget that being closely connected to Allah (s.w.t.) is also something that we need to strive for. This happens when we forget that whatever that we hope to achieve is actually a blessing from Allah (s.w.t.) and requires His permission.  

Brothers,

Our state of being distant from Allah (s.w.t.) is sometimes tied to our daily lifestyle. We might be busy with our work commitments and multiple other responsibilities. Nevertheless, we should never neglect our acts of worship. We should never abandon our relationship with our Creator.

A description of the most ideal servant who constantly remembers Allah is mentioned in Surah an-Nisa’ verse 103:

Which means: “Remember Allah while standing, sitting and lying on your sides.”

Brothers,

Allow me to share with you a few ways that can help us to constantly remember Allah and strive to be closer to Him.

First: Applying the sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.) in our daily routine.

When we practise the sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and make it part of our daily lives, our hearts become more attached to Allah (s.w.t.). Allah says in surah Ali Imran verse 31:

Which means: “Say (O Muhammad), ‘If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.’”

We should start by practising the Prophetic sunnah that are easy and practical to be included as part of our daily activities. For example, beginning each task with basmalah, reciting istighfar or other supplications wherever we are, and even greeting our family and friends with a smile and kind words.

Indeed, when we include the sunnah of our Prophet (s.a.w.) in our daily routine, our relationship with Allah (s.w.t.) will become stronger, hence increasing our level of taqwa.

Second: Being grateful for all the blessings and make supplication to Allah (s.w.t.).

The blessings that we receive from Allah are countless. Therefore, it is important for us to say ‘Alhamdulillah’ as sincerely and as often as possible. When we are thankful towards Allah for even the simplest blessing during our times of ease, we will find it easier to remember Him during our times of difficulty. And make supplication to Allah (s.w.t.). Ask Him to make us and our family amongst those who constantly remember Him and do good. Let us ponder upon the following supplication that our Prophet (s.a.w.) taught us:

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكرِكَ وَشُكرِكَ وَحُسنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

Which means: O Allah, help me to remember You, to be grateful to You and to worship You well.” [Hadith reported by Imam Abu Dawud].

May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us everlasting taqwa and success in this life and the next. Amin. Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

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

 

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.