Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
14 April 2023 / 23 Ramadan 1444H
Reviving Our Noble Values
My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam,
Let us increase our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t) by carrying out all His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. May we be among the faithful who are successful in this world and the next. Amin.
My brothers and sisters,
Our religion emphasises goodness, whether it stems from religious guidance, or from the customs and culture that we have inherited. As long as the custom is righteous and does not contradict the Shariah and our Islamic beliefs, then it is considered good and acceptable by the religion.
Let us turn our attention to the hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w), as narrated by Imam Al-Baihaqi, regarding a peace agreement witnessed by the Prophet (s.a.w) before the birth of Islam. Rasulullah (s.a.w) said:
وَلَوْ أُدْعَى بِهِ فِي الإِسْلامِ لأَجَبْتُ
Which means: “…. If I had been invited to make this agreement when Islam was already in existence, I would have agreed to it.”
The context of this hadith is related to an event referred to as the Al-Fudul Agreement.
The good and righteous nature of the agreement was recognised by our Prophet (s.a.w) because it protected the rights of those who were oppressed. Although the agreement took place in the time before Islam, the Prophet (s.a.w) was very pleased with the terms of the agreement. This was because the agreement was bound by moral and ethical values that did not conflict Islam’s religious teachings.
My fellow Muslims,
We can conclude from this hadith that our religion does not reject different customs and cultures. Instead, Islam teaches us to do our research first, and to try to understand existing customs and cultures. If they do not conflict with the Shariah and there is good in them, then it is appropriate for us to respect them. Allah (s.w.t.)
said in Surah al-A'raf, verse 199:
Which means: "Accept what is easy for you to do, enjoin what is right, and turn away from those who are ignorant."
This verse contains some important guidelines and principles for us to consider when dealing with any issue or matter. They teach us to choose options that make things easier and less burdensome, as long as those options do not contradict our religion. This verse also motivates us to do good consistently. This is because everything we do should be good in itself, or encourage goodness.
My brothers and sisters,
Allow me to cite some examples from our own customs and culture which bring us benefit and goodness. We often practise these customs, but may overlook their importance and significance. Consider these customs. Every year when Aidulfitri comes, it has become our custom to ask others for forgiveness. The elders are shown respect by having their homes visited by the younger members of the families first, after which the elders will reciprocate by visiting their younger relatives. The very young are shown love by being given gifts to celebrate this joyful day.
When we reflect on these customs and practices, we understand that they are actually in line with religious teachings, and that they are not prohibited by our religion. In fact, the religion encourages us to keep alive customs and practices that bring family members closer together.
Such is the purpose and goal of the religion we love - a religion that is beneficial for us in this world and in the hereafter. A religion that avoids harm and difficulty for its believers. A religion that educates us to always be full of mercy and kindness, that loves goodness above all else for its believers.
As a result of sound religious understanding and responsible religious practice, we can all contribute towards the safety and well-being of mankind.
May we be among those who bring to life the noble values of Islamic teachings. And may Allah (s.w.t) accept our efforts in pursuing goodness, and place us together with the pious in His paradise. Amin Ya Rabbal 'Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، 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 تَسلِيمًا. 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 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، يَارَبَّ 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 يَذْكُركُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضلِهِ يُعطِكُم، وَلَذِكرُ اللهِ أَكبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعلَمُ مَا تَصنَعُونَ.
