collections khutbah Success Requires Sacrifice
Success Requires Sacrifice

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

9 July 2021 / 28 Zulkaedah 1442H

Success Requires Sacrifice

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Have taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying all His commands and leaving all His prohibitions. A strong sense of taqwa will revive our spirit and enthusiasm to continue to perform good deeds. Amin.

Brothers and sisters,

Let us listen to a story about a sacrifice made by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) which was narrated by Imam al-Bukhari.

A woman once gave Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) a piece of cloth (burdah) because he needed it. However, a man then appeared and asked for the cloth that the Prophet (s.a.w.) was wearing because he wanted the blessing of the Prophet (s.a.w.). Although it was something that he needed, the Prophet gave the cloth to the man anyway. He sacrificed his own needs to please another person.

Subhanallah. Look at how the Prophet (s.a.w.) did not hesitate, not even for a second, in choosing to fulfill another person’s wish, even if it means sacrificing his own needs. Such is the character of those who are successful, as explained by Allah (s.w.t.) in Surah al-Hasyr, verse 9:

Meaning: “Those (the Ansar) who were already firmly established in their homes [in Medina], and firmly rooted in faith, show love for those who migrated to them for refuge and harbour no desire in their hearts for what has been given to them. They give them preference over themselves, even if they too are poor: those who are saved from their own souls’ greed are truly successful.”

We all know how difficult it is to make sacrifices. Putting others before ourselves is surely not easy. If letting go of our wants and giving up our desire for comfort are already hard, imagine how tough it is to sacrifice our needs for the sake of helping and making others happy and satisfied. Nevertheless, this is the path towards success.

The same can be said for the sacrifices made by our parents. They often put their children’s needs and desires above their own. They sacrifice their time and energy, day in and day out. No matter how tiring it may seem, parents never give up on their children. All for the sake of their children’s well-being and success.

My dear brothers and sisters,

This quality is heavily emphasized by Islam. Our religion does not focus on one’s individual success or personal happiness alone. In fact, it teaches us to encourage others to achieve communal success together, as a society, especially during challenging times. Many of us are currently in need – of support and advices, among many others. If we were to appreciate and observe the meaning of sacrifice and selflessness, we will strive to fill the gaps and empower one another to overcome our respective struggles and weaknesses. This is so that we will all rise to drive our society and religion forward.   

Let us remember an advice from the Prophet (s.a.w.) in a hadith which means: “No one of you shall become a true believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Hadith reported by Imam al-Bukhari).

This is a reminder for us – that the success of others is a form of our own success. And it needs a lot of work and sacrifice. Success does not come knocking on our doors without us putting in the required efforts and hard work.

Nurture within ourselves the intention and determination to always strive to look for the chance and opportunity for success. The Prophet (s.a.w.) once said in a hadith reported by Imam Muslim which means: “Be keen on what benefits you and seek help from Allah, and do not give up.”  

Let us all ask Allah (s.w.t.) to ease all our affairs and pray that He grants us success in this world and the next. Amin. Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

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

 

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.