Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

15 January 2021 / 2 Jamadilakhir 1442H

Steadfastness: The Key To Success In Life

My dearest brothers,

Let us achieve taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His commands and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May our taqwa continue to help us elevate our faith towards Allah (s.w.t.) and obtain His mercy and love.

Brothers,

The past sermons emphasized on two principles that are important in the life of a believer. Which are, i) to place our hopes in Allah and ii) to remain calm and have faith in Allah when tested with challenges. Therefore, we should strive to apply them in our daily lives.

In relation to this, the hadith qudsi that I will share today consists a lesson about facing challenges in our lives. Let us observe this hadith: “Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said, Allah says: ‘I am always with My servant as long as I am in his remembrance and his lips are in movement for Me.’”  (Hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari).

Brothers,

This hadith teaches us the importance for a believer to remain steadfast (istiqamah) in remembrance of Allah. Istiqamah also means: To be consistent in our actions.

The importance of being steadfast is highly regarded, as our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) had said that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.

Doing good deeds consistently is a quality that every believer should possess. Although the deed is small, let it be consistent. For example, if you are accustomed to donating to the mosques, then you should be consistent in carrying it out. If you are consistent in performing your voluntary prayers, visiting your elders, assisting those in need, then you should continue doing these good deeds. 

However my brothers, a believer will not stop and assume that his deeds are sufficient. A believer will constantly strive to be better in performing his good deeds and acts of worship. For example, he would strive to perform his obligatory prayers in congregation rather than individually and practice more of the sunnah of our Prophet (s.a.w.) in his daily life, among many others.

All these efforts are in the hope that our faith will be strengthened, and that Allah will protect us from every kind of harm and tribulations in this world. Let us observe the following words of Allah (s.w.t) in Surah al-Ahqaf verse 13:

Which means: “Verily those who say: “Our Lord is Allah”, and they are consistent upon the true path (in admission of their faith and creed), there will be no fear concerning them, nor they will grieve”

Brothers,

In today’s digital era, we can easily obtain something at our fingertips. For example, getting food delivery service, getting the latest news, staying connected with our loved ones despite the physical distance, and many others. At times, due to being accustomed to having our needs fulfilled immediately, we expect the same thing in our relationship with Allah.

However, a servant cannot expect the same outcome when it comes to his requests towards Allah. There is no quick way to obtain the blessings of Allah. At times, Allah will grant our requests and prayers immediately. However, there will also be times when Allah withholds what his servant has asked for and grant it in the hereafter. This is a sign of Allah’s love towards His servant. He will never disappoint us, as He only wants the best for us.

This is because Allah is All-Knowing. He knows what is good for us, as well as the best timing of when we should be given His blessings. Allah says in surah al-Baqarah verse 216 which means: “... And Allah knows, while you do not know.”

Do not ever lose hope in Allah. Let us remember and be thankful for the blessings that Allah has granted us in our lives. Let us continue to do good deeds and bring ourselves closer to Allah, so that we will not feel as though we are alone. Remember that being steadfast is the key to success in life.

May Allah make us among His believers who are always grateful for His blessings. And may Allah continue to protect us from all that is bad in this world. 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.