Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
14 March 2025 / 13 Ramadan 1446H
Reviving The Heart and Soul with The Quran (Part 1)
الحمْدُ هَلِلّ الهذَي وَهَبَ لَنا شَهْرَ رمَضَانَ، وَفَ تحَ لَنا فَيهَ أَبْ وَابَ الهرحْْةَ وَالغفْرانَ، وَأَنْ زَلَ فيهَ آياَ تهَ يَ هْدَي بَِا الَإنسَ وَالجا هن، وَأَشْهَدُ أنْ لََ إَلٰهَ إهلَ ا هلِلُّ وَحْدَهُ لََ شَريكَ لهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَ هن سَيَ دَنََ مُُهمدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولهُ. اللههُهم صَ لَ وَسَل مْ عَلى سَي دَنََ مُُهمدٍ وَعَلى آلهَ وَمَنْ تبعَهُمْ بَِحْ سَانٍ. أهما بَ عْدُ، فَ يا عَبادَ الهرحْْٰنَ، اته قُوا ا هلِلَّ وَاذكُ رُوْهُ فِ كُ لَ آنٍ. قالَ ا هلِلُّ عَهز وَجَ هل: ﴿شَهْرُ رمَضَانَ الهذَي أنزلَ فيهَ القُرْآنُ هُدًى للنهاسَ وَبَ يَ ناتٍ مَنَ الْْدَىٰ وَالفُرْقا نَ﴾
Dear blessed Congregation,
Let us cultivate taqwa within ourselves and be conscious of Allah s.w.t. always. Let taqwa be the moral compass that guides us to obey His commands and distances us from His prohibitions. Let us make the Quran our most intimate companion, in our prayers and hopes that Allah s.w.t. makes it the spring of our hearts, the remover of our sorrows, and the reliever of our worries and distress. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
My dear brothers,
We often hear Ramadan being referred to as Shahrul Quran; the Month of the Quran. Have we reflected on why this sacred month is given such an honourable title?
Indeed, Ramadan is known as the month of the Quran because it was during this blessed month that Allah s.w.t. first sent down
His divine words from Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz, to As-Sama’udDunya; the universe.
Additionally, it was also in this very month that the best of mankind, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., received the first revelation through Jibril, forever transforming the course of human history.
Subhanallah, how then can we let this blessed month pass, without deepening our connection with the Quran, and making use of this opportunity to revive our hearts and souls with the Quran?
My dear brothers,
Allah s.w.t says in Surah Ibrahim, verse 1:
Which means: “Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad), so that you may lead people out of darkness and into light, by the permission of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy”
Remember my dear brothers, the Noble Quran is the key to purifying our hearts and souls. We should unlock the doors of revival for our hearts and souls, by engaging and enlivening the Quran. Allow me to share a few steps we can take, and aspects we can focus on to enliven the Quran.
First: The Recitation of the Quran
The first step to enlivening the Quran is through its recitation.
Allah s.w.t says in Surah Al-Muzzammil, verse 20:
Which means: “So recite what is easy for you from the Quran.”
We must strive to recite the Quran as much as possible even if it means reciting simple verses such as Surah An-Nas or AlFalaq. Additionally, these two surahs were part of the daily zikir practised by our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Hence, these surahs may sound easy and simple yet it holds great significance in the sight of Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla.
As for those who struggle with the recitation of the Quran, do not feel discouraged from reciting it. The Prophet s.a.w. said that which means, “The one who is proficient in reciting the Quran is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who recites the Quran and falters and finds it challenging (yet tries his best to recite it), will have two rewards.” (Narrated by Muslim)
This means that even if one finds it difficult to read, the effort itself is deeply valued by Allah s.w.t.
Second: The Memorisation of the Quran
To those blessed with strong memory, dedicate your effort to memorising as much from the Quran as possible, for it is a means of preserving the words of Allah s.w.t. and elevating one’s spiritual rank.
However, even those who find memorisation difficult should not be discouraged. Instead, we may begin with shorter surahs and try to make its recitation a practice in our daily prayers. As for those of us with children, let us prioritise encouraging our children to memorise the Quran regardless of their age. In doing so, we cultivate the culture of religious preservation and devotion within our respective households.
Third: Learning and Sharing the Teachings of the Quran
Every Mukmin has a role to play in sharing the wisdom of the Quran. However, we should only discuss and comment on matters within our understanding, which we obtained from credible sources. We may want to consider starting with the simplest effort such as sharing the stories of the prophets and their nations, or sharing some verses that can be used as a daily supplication or zikir.
What matters most is consistency or istiqamah. This bite-size sharing facilitates continuous effort and makes it ‘digestible’ to the receiving party.
Dear blessed Congregation,
Having understood the virtues of reciting, memorising, learning, and sharing the teachings of the Quran, it is essential that we maintain an active and continuous connection with it. And we should continuously seek Allah’s assistance so we could be steadfast in this journey.
Ya Allah Ya Hādī, guide us in applying Quran in our daily lives. Ya Mannān, bestow upon us the honour of becoming the ambassadors of Quran. Ya Mujīb, accept our supplications and permit us to engage with the Qur'an with istiqamah, making it our most valuable companion. Ya Karīm, make us amongst those who give Your words the reverence, honour, and respect it deserves. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أقُ وْلُ قَ وْلِ هَذَا وَأسْتَ غفَرُ اللهَ العَظَيْمَ لِ وَلكُمْ، فاسْتَ غفَروهُ إنههُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الهرحَيْم.
Second Sermon
الحمْدُ للَه حَْدًا كَثيرا كَمَا أمَرَ، وَأشْهَدُ أن لََ إلهَ إهلَ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لََ شَريكَ لهُ، وََأشْهَدُ أ هن سَي دَنََ مَُُهمدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرسُولهُ. اللههُهم صَ لَ وَسَلَ مْ عَلى سَي دَنََ مَُُهمدٍ وَعَلى آلهَ وََأصْحَابهَ أجْْعَينَ. أهما بَ عْدُ، فَ يا عَبادَ الله، اته قُوا اللهَ تَ عَالََ فَيمَا أمَرَ، وَانتَ هُوا عَهما نََاكُ م عَنْهُ وَزجَرَ.
ألََ صَلوا وَسَلَ مُوا عَلى النه بَ المُصْطفَى، فَ قَدْ أمَرَنََ اللهُ بذَلكَ حَيْثُ قال فِ كتابهَ العَزيزَ: إ هن اللهَ وَمَلََئكَتهُ يصَلونَ عَلى النه بَ يَ ا أيُّ هَا الهذَينَ ءَامَنوا صَلوا عَليهَ وَسَلَ مُوا تسْلَيمًا. اللههُهم صَ لَ وَسَل مْ وَبََركْ عَلَى سَي دَنََ مُُهمدٍ وَعَلى آلَ سَيَ دَنََ مُُهمدٍ.
وَارْضَ اللههُهم عَنَ الخلفَاءَ الهراشَدَينَ المهْدَي ينَ سَادَاتنا أبِ بكْرٍ وَعمَرَ وَعثمَانَ وَعَلَ يَ، وَعَن بقَيهةَ ال هصحَابةَ وَالقَرابةَ وَالتهابعَينَ، وَتََبعَي التهابعَينَ، وَعَنها مَعَهُم وَفَيهَم برَحْْتكَ يَا أرْحَمَ الهراحََْينَ.
اللههُهم اغْفَرْ للمُؤْمَنينَ وَالمؤْمَناتَ، وَالمسْلَمَينَ وَالمسْلَمَاتَ، الأحْياءَ مَنهُم وَالأمْوَاتَ.
Ya Allah, we are grateful for the opportunity to witness this month of mercy and forgiveness. Ya Rahmān. Forgive our sins and mistakes, Ya Ghafūr. Prolong our lives, so that we may fulfil the obligations of Ramadan and perfect its observance, with acts of righteousness, devotion, sincerity, forgiveness, purification, and liberation from our desires and the whispers of Shaitan. So that we may become Your servants worthy of entering the Paradise, which You have promised to those who believe.
In this blessed month, we seek Your grace, Ya Laṭīf, that You open the doors of peace and security for the people of Palestine in these difficult times, and for all the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. who are afflicted with anxiety, fear, and oppression.
.Ya Allah, grant us goodness in this world and in the Hereafter, and protect us and our loved ones from the torment of Hellfire
.عَبادَ اللَه، إ هن اللهَ يََمُرُ بََلعَدْلَ وَالَإحْسَانَ وَإيتَاءَ ذَي القُرْبََ، وَيَ نْ هَى عَنَ الفَحْشَاءَ وَالمنكَرَ وَالبَ غيَ، يعَظكُمْ لعَلهكُمْ تذهكرُونَ، فاذكُرُوا اللهَ العَظَيمَ يذكُركُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلى نعَمَهَ يزدكُمْ، وَاسْألوهُ مَن فضْلَهَ يُ عْطَكُم، وَلذكْرُ اللَه أكْبََُ، وَاللهُ يَ عْلمُ مَا تصْنَ عونَ.
