Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
30 December 2022 / 6 Jamadilakhir 1444H
The Etiquette of Expressing on Social Media
My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam,
Let us continue in our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), by obeying all His orders, and by abstaining from all His prohibitions. We pray that with all our efforts, Allah (s.w.t.) will continue to bestow upon us His abundant mercy and love. Amin.
Brothers and sisters,
Our lives have changed drastically over the years. In this age, many things are now easily within our reach. For example, it is now more convenient to communicate and maintain relationships with family members and relatives who live overseas.
With the advancement of technology, the world of social media was created and sought after globally. It is a platform that offer anyone to express their views and opinions on anything, at any time.
Therefore, this week’s sermon invites all who are present to reflect on a very important religious principle that serves as a guide in our lives. The principle is: to speak good and benefit all.
Allah (s.w.t.) decrees in Surah Ibrahim verses 24-25:
Which means: “Do you not see (o Muhammad) how Allah compares a good word to a good tree? Its root is firm and its branches reach the sky, always yielding its fruit in every season by the Will of its Lord. This is how Allah sets forth examples for the people, so perhaps they will be mindful.”
Brothers and sisters,
If we observe the verse, we can imagine how Allah (s.w.t.) compares a good word to a good tree that continuously produces fruit. SubhanAllah! What a beautiful metaphor as shown by Allah (s.w.t).
This verse teaches us that as Muslims, we should always be careful with our speech, because what we say affects and has implications on the people around us. Every word we utter should bring benefit and happiness to the people around us, and not otherwise. However, if our words cannot bring benefit, then silence is better for us, as narrated in a hadith,
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ النَّاسُ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
“The (true) Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the others are safe.” (Narrated by Imam An-Nasai'i)
Brothers and sisters,
If we observe the conversation surrounding current issues that are often discussed online such as inflation, climate change, and so on, we can find that there are many opinions and views shared regarding these topics.
Keeping that in mind, we must remember that a coin has two sides. Some people use technology for good purposes by sharing relevant information, spreading good messages for the community, and so on. While there are some who use it for malicious and evil purposes.
Among the examples we find in social media is the "Cancel Culture" trend. “Cancel culture” is when someone makes negative and bad comments to condemn someone on social media, just because they disagree with the other person’s point(s) of view.
So herein lies the importance of a believer's attitude towards speaking or reprimanding someone in any situation. This is because sometimes we tend to forget and do not realise that when we make negative comments online, it may lead to heated arguments and disputes.
With that, a believer needs to make sure that every word expressed should have a positive and constructive effect, and that their words will not hurt and demeaning. This is the teaching and attitude of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).
May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us the strength and spirit to always speak with good and kind words, and may He grant us a place in His Heaven after Judgment Day. Amin. Ya Rabbal 'Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، 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 تَسلِيمًا. 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 لِلمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتِ، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا البَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ البُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَارَبَّ 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 يَذْكُركُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضلِهِ يُعطِكُم، وَلَذِكرُ اللهِ أَكبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعلَمُ مَا تَصنَعُونَ.
