Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

23 April 2021 / 11 Ramadan 2021

The Quran: A Cure And Reminder For the Hearts

My brothers, 

All praise be to Allah (s.w.t.) by whose grace we have entered the second week of Ramadan. So let us elevate our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) and show our gratitude towards Him by obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May we attain the abundant bounties which Allah (s.w.t.) provides for us in this blessed month.

My dear brothers,

The Quran and Ramadan are inseparable from each another. Ramadan is the month where the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). As we anticipate the night of the Quran’s revelation next week, let us be reminded that the Quran is a source of guidance and enlightenment, as well as a sign of Allah’s love for the believers. Let us ponder upon verse 57 of Surah Yunus, where Allah (s.w.t.) says:

Which means: “O mankind, there has come to you an advice from your Lord and healing for what is in the chests and guidance and mercy for the believers.”

This verse tells us of the many virtues of the Quran. It not only provides humankind with guidance on how to live their lives, but it can also be a form of cure for the ailments of their hearts such as anxiety, doubt, jealousy, and arrogance. Indeed, reciting the Quran and internalising its content will purify our hearts. This is by no means an easy task, especially when our hearts have been tarnished over time by the sins we commit. So let us read as much of the Quran as possible in this blessed month, so that we may restore tranquillity and purity to our hearts.

On top of that, the Quran does not only bring us benefit in this world, but also the hereafter. It will be an intercessor for those who recite it constantly. The Prophet (s.a.w.) once said in a hadith which means: “Read the Quran, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.” (Narrated by Imam Muslim).

Brothers,

As a believer, it is of utmost importance to establish a close relationship with the Quran. Not only by reciting it, but also by reflecting and acting on its contents. The Prophet (s.a.w.) was the perfect example of this. When his wife Aisyah (r.a.) was asked of the Prophet’s character, she replied that his character was the Quran. (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).

Subhanallah! Every action and every word that emerged from him was guided by the Quran. As Muslims, we must therefore ensure that we are deeply connected to the Quran.

Thus, let us take the necessary steps to develop a connection with the Quran. For those who do not know how to recite the Quran, set a firm intention to learn how to recite. For those who know how to recite, make an effort to reflect upon and understand its meaning. It is, after all, a compass which helps us navigate through the challenges faced in our lives, and a reminder for us. Allah (s.w.t.) says in surah al-Anbiya’, verse 10:

Which means: “We have certainly sent down to you a Book (the Quran) in which is your reminder. Will you not then understand?”

Dear brothers,

While we work towards reciting and understanding the Quran, we must also acknowledge that this process - as with any other religious text – requires a trustworthy and credible teacher to guide us through. 

This is because when a person seeks to understand the Quran textually and without the guidance of a teacher who is well-versed in its sciences, he or she may get confused and tend to misinterpret and misunderstand its intended meaning. Failure to contextualise the Quran and other religious texts to current times will cast doubt and scepticism when adaptations are made.

For instance, the safety measures that have been put into place all these while are all in line with Islamic principles. In light of the current pandemic where the lives of many are affected, saving lives has become one of our biggest priorities as a community.

It is therefore critical to understand religious texts correctly, by referring to its experts.

Brothers,

In this blessed month of Ramadan, let us develop the intention to deepen our understanding of the Quran. Let us make the most out of Ramadan by spending time with our families worshipping Allah (s.w.t.) through tarawih prayers, reciting the Quran, and other forms of worship.

Seek motivation to continue studying the Quran and its teachings. May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us ease in reciting and reflecting upon the Quran as best as we can and guide us and our community towards goodness 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.