Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
31 January 2025 / 1 Syaaban 1446H
Syaaban: Doing Good Deeds in Oft-Overlooked Times
Dear blessed congregation,
Let us increase our taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. by heeding His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. Use every breath that we take to increase our deeds and the quality of our worship, so that we can attain Allah’s pleasure. May Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla guide us and ease all our affairs. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
Dear blessed congregation,
Today marks the first day of Syaaban, which means that Ramadan is only a month away. Subconsciously, many of us may be more eager to prepare for Ramadan, than to utilise the opportunities presented to us in the month of Syaaban.
In a hadith narrated by Imam An-Nasa’i, a companion named Usamah Bin Zaid r.a. once asked Rasulullah s.a.w. regarding his practice of fasting during the month of Syaaban. The Prophet s.a.w. explained:
"Syaaban is a month that is often overlooked by many. It is between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which our deeds are presented to Allah, and I wish for my deeds to be presented while I am fasting."
Dear brothers, Rasulullah s.a.w. reminded us that the month of Syaaban holds its own virtue, although unfortunately, it is often overlooked. It is not merely a period of transition between Rajab and Ramadan, but an ideal time for us to prepare, both spiritually and physically, to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan.
My dear brothers,
Rasulullah s.a.w. encouraged us to seize every opportunity to do good deeds without delay. While we always hope for the chance to do good in the future, let us not overlook the opportunities that we have today. For if death arrives sooner than we expect, we lose both the opportunities we are yearning for and those already within our reach.
Allah s.w.t. also reminds us to perform good deeds without procrastination. In Surah Ali-’Imran, verse 133, Allah says:
“And hurry towards your Lord’s forgiveness, and a Garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous,.”
Dear brothers in faith,
The month of Syaaban should be utilised to make early preparations for the coming of Ramadan.
The scholars of the past viewed Syaaban as the month of preparation for those who are devoted to the Quran. They would begin increasing their recitation of the Quran in Syaaban, to make it easier for them to practise it when Ramadan comes.
Similarly, fasting during Syaaban serves as training to strengthen ourselves, spiritually and physically, for the challenges of Ramadan. Use each day of Syaaban as an opportunity to build positive and consistent habits in our worship.
Dear blessed congregation,
In this light, the sermon today suggests two meaningful steps for us to consider:
First: Make the most of Syaaban by increasing our acts of worship, such as fasting, reading the Quran, making supplications, performing additional prayers, and giving charity. Yes, these are all deeds which we plan to do later in Ramadan, but let us not delay them, lest we miss the opportunities we have now.
This also helps us prepare and devote ourselves fully during Ramadan, allowing us to appreciate its blessings further. This also aligns with the Prophet’s reminder to not overlook the month of Syaaban.
Second: Seek opportunities to perform worship during often-overlooked times. For example, the last third of the night, the period between Maghrib and Isyak prayers, and this month of Syaaban itself. Brothers, this significance may be one of the reasons why Qiyamullail, that is standing up for worship at night when others are fast asleep, is so beloved by Allah and His Messenger.
Rasulullah s.a.w. said in a hadith which means: “The time when a servant is closest to his Lord is during the last part of the night. If you are able to be among those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)
Imam Ibn Rajab provided three reasons why we, as Muslims, are encouraged to perform deeds when others are not attentive:
First: The deeds are usually not seen by other human beings, proving one’s sincerity.
Secondly: It is more challenging to the soul, and therefore promises a greater reward.
Thirdly: It diverts and protects mankind from Allah’s displeasure.
My dear brothers,
Let us use the gift of life wisely. Sieze every opportunity to increase our provisions for the Hereafter. Do not delay any good deed. Leave behind our heedlessness, and seek Allah’s mercy and pleasure.
May Allah bless us all in the month of Syaaban, and grant us the opportunity to meet Ramadan once again. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، 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 تَسْلِيمًا. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتِ، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنَا وَارْحَمْ وَالِدِينَـا وَارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَجْمَعِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ وُلَاةَ أُمُوْرِنَا، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا فِيْهِ صَلَاحُ الأُمَّةِ أَجْمَعِينَ. اللَّهُمَّ وَلِّ أُمُوْرَنَا خِيَارَنَا، وَلَا تُوَلِّ أُمُوْرَنَا شِرَارَنَا، وَارْفَعْ مَقْتَكَ وَغَضَبَكَ عَنَّا، وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا مَنْ لَا يَخَافُكَ وَلَا يَرْحَمُنَا، وَحَوِّلْ حَالَنَا إِلَى أَحْسَنِ الْأَحْوَالِ، وَفَرِّجْ مَا نَزَلَ بِنَا مِنَ الْأَهْوَالِ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا البَلَدَ وَسَائِرَ البِلَادِ عَامَّةً آمِناً مُطْمَئِناًّ سَخَاءً رَخَاءً بِقُدْرَتِكَ يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّةَ وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ، وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ 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 يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُم، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.
