Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

11 December 2020 / 26 Rabiulakhir 1442H

Treating Our Families With Affection

Dearest brothers,

Let us continue to strengthen our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His orders and abstaining from His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t.) protect us with His love and tenderness.

Brothers,

We are constantly reminded to supplicate to Allah for His guidance and grace. As a continuation from last week’s sermon, let us reflect upon another supplication taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.):

Meaning: “O Allah, guide me to the best deeds and the best character, for no one guides to the best of them but you.” (Hadith narrated by Imam an-Nasa’i).

This supplication shows the hope of a believer to be granted with the strength to constantly do good and be of noble character – of which the Prophet (s.a.w.) was the best example. He (s.a.w) would strive to bring goodness to those around him and never acted harshly nor forcefully in his actions and speech.

Sayyidatina Aisyah (r.a.) once mentioned that the Prophet (s.a.w.) never scolded his family or raised his voice at them – much less raised his hand to hurt them. Was the Prophet (s.a.w.) powerless and weak in character?

Subhanallah, absolutely not! His strength was not in brute force or violence. Rather, his strength was in his heart, his qualities, his morals, his tender and forgiving nature. These qualities earned him the love and respect from his family and companions. We must therefore strive to cultivate such qualities in our home. Because home is where our true colours are revealed.

My dear brothers,

I acknowledge the challenges we are facing right now. Our social interactions are limited that we nowadays spend a lot of time at home. And this has left many of us on edge, and we sometimes feel the need to relieve ourselves of this anxiety. However, we should not do so by unnecessarily scolding or acting crudely towards our family. Rather, this is the time that we should support one another.

Let us take some time to listen to one another. Our spouses and family members are not perfect; neither are we. This is where the fortitude of our hearts and strength of our character are truly tested. Let us be forgiving and patient with one another, just like how we would like others to forgive and be patient with us.

My dear brothers,

Home is where we can truly find peace. It is at home where we are given the opportunity to nurture the love and compassion among ourselves. And home is where Allah (s.w.t.) sows the seeds of love and compassion for us to nourish them. Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Quran:

Meaning: “And of His signs is that He created spouses from among yourselves for you to live with in tranquillity; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for people who give thought.” (Surah ar-Rum, verse 21).

Let us sow the seeds of affection and mercy in our households and nourish them with patience and forgiveness. We will surely reap its harvest, that is tranquility and inner peace. Strength is not what our bodies can bear. Strength is the fortitude of our hearts. May Allah (s.w.t.) always protect us and our families from any form of violence and harm. 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.