Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

Friday Sermon

24 Jul 2020 / 3 Zulhijjah 1441H

Striving To Be Positive

 

Blessed Friday congregants,

Let us together increase our taqwa in Allah s.w.t. by obeying all His commands and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May Allah s.w.t. grant us the strength to remain positive throughout our life journeys. Amin.

On this blessed day, let us observe some lessons from a verse in the Quran which not only discusses on trials and tribulations, but also reminds us to remain optimistic and positive. Allah s.w.t. mentioned in the Quran:

Which means: “Those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return.’” [Surah al-Baqarah: verse 156]

My brothers,

We are taught by our religion to recite “innalillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun” when we are stricken by a calamity. One may wonder why are we encouraged to do so? The wisdom and secret are within the recitation itself. It means, “Verily, we belong to Allah, and to Allah we will return.”   

Allah s.w.t. reminds us in the verse that we belong to Him, The Almighty. However, does Allah s.w.t. intentionally inflict harm to a person whose right to life ultimately belongs to Him?

This is similar to some of us who have been granted ownership of different things in life, such as a house, a car, a family, and so on. Do you intentionally inflict harm on those under your care?

Such is the grace of Allah s.w.t. He reminds us to be aware, acknowledge and accept that we are His servants. We belong to Him, and He will never put us in harm’s way. Hence, this blessed recitation of “innalillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun” is a form of guidance for us to always have a positive mindset, especially in times of trouble and difficulty.

My Brothers,

Striving to develop a positive mindset and attitude can have a good impact in our lives. Firstly: A positive person can accept any change with an open mind and heart. He is content with what Allah has decreed for him. He also believes that everything happens for a reason. 

Secondly: A positive person will show concern for others and strive to help those who are in need. Let us observe the hadith of Rasulullah s.a.w. which means: “If anyone relieves a believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah s.w.t. will relieve him of one of his hardships in the Day of Resurrection. If anyone eases one’s difficulty, Allah s.w.t. will ease his life in this world and in the Hereafter.” [Hadith reported by Imam Muslim].

My Brothers,

We are currently in the blessed month of Zulhijjah. Hence, let us increase our acts of worship in Allah s.w.t. and hopefully, through these acts, Allah s.w.t. will bless us with His mercy and relieves us from this test. Let us also express our gratitude in Allah s.w.t. for giving us the opportunity to continue to perform acts of worship to Him, although there are several measures that we need to adapt to.  These are our efforts, our struggles and our sacrifices to prevent further spread of the virus. Let us also give our support and encouragement to those in need, whether it is through moral or material support. It is crucial for us to support and help one another, as we are facing this trial together.

May Allah s.w.t. bless us with hearts that are firm and constantly believe in His help. May Allah s.w.t. accept all our efforts. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

 

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

 

Second Khutbah

 

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، وَلِذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ  يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.