Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
17 November 2023 / 3 Jamadil Awal 1445H
The Virtue of Ihsan in the Life of a Muslim
Dear Friday congregants,
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. May we be able to embody the virtue of kindness and be of benefit to all humankind. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
My brothers and sisters,
Ihsan is often expressed and translated as "doing good", or "demonstrating kindness in performing good deeds". Ihsan can also refer to performing our responsibilities or tasks with excellence. Ihsan is not only demonstrated through ritual acts of worship, but it also encompasses all forms of goodness, and that goodness is to be extended to all of Allah’s creations, including animals, the environment, and all of humankind. It is an all-encompassing virtue that permeates various aspects of our lives.
For today’s sermon, I would like to invite all of you here to reflect upon a particular hadith Qudsi, which was narrated by Imam Muslim. Allah (s.w.t.) will say on the Day of Judgment:
يا ابْنَ آدَمَ، مَرِضْتُ فَلَمْ تَعُدْنِي، قالَ: يا رَبِّ، كيفَ أعُودُكَ وأَنْتَ رَبُّ العالَمِينَ؟ قالَ: أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أنَّ عَبْدِي فُلانًا مَرِضَ فَلَمْ تَعُدْهُ؟ أمَا عَلِمْتَ أنَّكَ لو عُدْتَهُ لَوَجَدْتَنِي عِنْدَهُ؟
Which means: “‘O son of Adam, I fell ill, but you did not visit Me.’ He (the servant) will say: ‘O my Lord, how could I have visited You, when You are the Lord of all the worlds?’ Allah will say: ‘Did you not know that My servant so-and-so had fallen ill, and you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him, you would have found Me (that is, My reward) with him?’”
This hadith shows the exceptional nature of the values of compassion, concern, and kindness towards others. Constantly performing good deeds, having compassion, and showing concern for the suffering and misery of other people are virtues that are very pleasing and loved by Allah (s.w.t.). Indeed, Allah (s.w.t.) will bestow a special reward upon His servants who possess these virtues.
My brothers and sisters,
We are currently witnessing a severe humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. As a global community, we do not condone any inhumane actions against anyone. We are thus grieved and saddened to witness this ongoing crisis. We sympathise deeply with the plight of the individuals, the families, and especially the children who have been affected by this conflict.
On this occasion, allow me to share with all of you gathered here today, two aspects of ihsan that we can put into practice.
Firstly: Although there are limitations on our ability to effect change in this conflict, as people of faith, we should never give up on raising our hands in prayer, asking sincerely for Allah’s help and protection. As Allah (s.w.t.) said in surah Ghafir, verse 60:
Which means: “And Your Lord has proclaimed: ‘Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Surely those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, fully humbled.’”
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, continue to pray to Allah (s.w.t.) during good or difficult times, whether alone or in congregation. This is because Allah (s.w.t.) will surely grant His servants’ requests, as long as they do not give up praying and believing in His help. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
لاَ يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، ارْزُقْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، وَلْيَعْزِمْ مَسْأَلَتَهُ، إِنَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ، لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ
Which means: "None of you should say: 'O Allah, forgive me if You wish; O Allah, be merciful to me if You wish.' But he should always appeal to Allah earnestly and with determination, because Allah does what He wills, and nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will." (Hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari)
My beloved brothers and sisters,
The second aspect of ihsan can be demonstrated by donating to the RLAF Fund for Humanitarian Relief in Gaza. Donations can be made online through the RLAF website. The deadline for us to contribute is today before midnight. Let us all take advantage of the opportunity to donate as much as we can for this humanitarian relief fund.
Remember, my brothers and sisters, there is no small or large contribution in the sight of Allah (s.w.t.), but that it will be rewarded and recompensed manifold. We pray to Allah (s.w.t.) that He restores security, peace, and prosperity to Palestine. Amin Ya Rabbal ’Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
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. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّة وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ عَامَّةً، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين. اللَّهُمَّ 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 يَذْكُركُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضلِهِ يُعطِكُم، وَلَذِكرُ اللهِ أَكبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعلَمُ مَا تَصنَعُونَ.
