Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

22 January 2021 / 9 Jamadilakhir 1442H

Today’s Hardships Will Yield a Better Future 

Dear brothers,

Let us increase our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t.) make us among His virtuous servants. Amin.

Dear brothers,

At times Allah (s.w.t.) will grant us facility and ease. However, there are also times when we are being tested with various challenges and obstacles. Such is the part and parcel of life.

Thus, let us ponder upon a hadith qudsi, as a form of guidance in navigating our lives.

Observe the hadith which means: “The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: Allah the Almighty said: ‘I am as My servant thinks of Me, so let him think of Me what he wishes.’” (Hadith narrated by Imam at-Tabrani).

This hadith teaches us the importance of having good assumptions of Allah, and being positive in accepting all His decrees. It does not matter whether we are granted ease, or we are tested with challenges.

Despite that, when a believer is faced with hardship and adversity, he does not think ill of Allah, and doubt that Allah (s.w.t.) is with him. This is because his heart is full of conviction that Allah is Al-Wakil (The Guardian), and that He will not forsake His servants as long as they remember and think well of Him.

This is the conviction that needs to be instilled in ourselves. Whatever the circumstances, we must have faith in Allah (s.w.t.) and think of Him positively. Let us observe what Allah (s.w.t.) tells us in Surah at-Taubah, verse 59:

Which means: “If only they had been satisfied with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and said, ‘Sufficient for us is Allah’ Allah will give us His bounty, and [so will] His Messenger. Indeed, we are desirous toward Allah.”

My dear brothers,

Know that every hardship we go through will eventually yield its reward. It will also build our character, make us stronger and more resilient.

Just look at the situation today. It taught us to strive and seek solutions for all the challenges. For example, we are more appreciative of the opportunity to perform prayers at the mosques. We realise the importance of taking care our physical and mental health. We remain united in adapting to change, in order to preserve the wellbeing of our community. We have also come to appreciate the efforts put forth by our frontliners, among many others.

Therefore, my brothers, it is of utmost importance that we maintain a positive attitude in dealing with any obstacles that we may encounter. We should see them as an opportunity to improve ourselves and our relationship with Allah.

Furthermore, the Prophet (s.a.w.) also reminded us that when Allah (s.w.t.) wishes goodness for a servant, He will test him. (Hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari).

Let us all think positively of Allah (s.w.t.) and continue making supplications to Him. Be assured that He will grant His assistance and mercy to those who have faith in Him.

May Allah (s.w.t.) ease all our worldly affairs and grant us the strength to go through them with an open heart and mind. We ask Allah (s.w.t.) to shower us with His blessings and place us among those who are worthy of His paradise. Amin. Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

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

 

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.