Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

5 Aug 2022 / 7 Muharram 1444H

 

Wise Advice: A Passage to Goodness

My dear brothers and sisters,

Let us have taqwa in Allah (s.w.t) by obeying His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t.) make us among those who actively pursue excellence in this world and in the hereafter. Amin.

 

Brothers and sisters,

In a time when the world is facing various challenges such as the risk of infectious diseases and social issues within the community, it is encouraged for us to strive to improve the situation, beginning with ourselves and our families.

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said when he arrived in the city of Madinah:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصَلُّوا وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ

Which means: “O people, exchange the greetings of peace, feed the poor and needy, and be in prayer when others are asleep, you will enter paradise in peace.” (Hadith reported by Imam Al-Tirmizi)

Brothers and sisters,

In the hadith earlier, the Prophet (s.a.w.) emphasised an important factor in human relations. Exchanging greetings can further strengthen good relations between people by spreading peace, especially among family members. Our family members ought to be prioritised in receiving warmth and kind regards. These kind regards should not be limited to the words that we utter, but it also encompasses our behaviour.

In our pursuit of peace and tranquillity in our family lives, each family member should strive to do good and avoid misdeed. The new hijrah year encourages us to reflect on ourselves. Therefore, it is sensible for us to instil an eagerness to constantly spread peace and well-being through performing good actions and avoiding evil deeds.

Brothers and sisters,

Building a prosperous family in this rapidly changing world is truly challenging. We will always face tests and obstacles either through the many hardships of life, those arising from our own internal desires, or from family members or friends who experience wrongful inclinations.  

In our efforts to deal with these difficulties, we may face strong disapproval. Even though it may involve major sins such as having sex outside of marriage or outside the limits permitted by Shariah, we are taught by our religion to denounce and disagree with the wrongful actions.

At the same, we are not taught to vilify or condemn the offenders in ways that will result in them being pushed further away from the religion. Moreover, if they are members of our own family. Even worse, cutting family ties and making them feel unwelcomed within their own family.

 

Brothers and sisters,

If we look into the life of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), we will see that he always taught us to look at the goodness of others even if they have committed evil or a major sin.

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) once heard his companions cursing a person amongst them who had consumed alcohol, even though it had been made forbidden. The Prophet (s.a.w) then told them: "Do not insult him, because he still loves Allah and His Messenger" (Hadith reported by Imam al-Bukhari)

  
Subhanallah! How graceful is the Prophet’s (s.a.w) approach in his admonishment. This too is in line with the words of Allah (s.w.t.):

Which means: “It is out of Allah’s mercy that you O Prophet have been lenient with them. Had you been harsh in speech or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you. So, pardon them, and ask Allah’s forgiveness for them, and consult with them in conducting matters. And when you have decided, put your trust in Allah. Surely Allah loves those who trust in Him.” (Surah Ali-Imran, verse 159)

Therefore, every family member has an important role to create a safe and pleasant environment at home. Especially parents who are the heads of the family. A good role model will inspire all family members to constantly do good and avoid misdeeds.

May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us good morals and behaviour towards others, especially with our own family members. 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.