Friday Sermon

15 August 2025 / 21 Safar 1447H

Attaining Divine Assistance Through Serving Others

,Blessed congregation

Be mindful of Allah s.w.t., the One who created us. Uphold His commands and avoid His prohibitions. Carry out every religious duty to our best ability. May Allah’s mercy and assistance always be with us. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

Dear congregation,

Indeed, a person can draw closer to Allah through acts of worship, such as prayer, reciting the Quran, and fasting. However, apart from these acts of worship, are there other ways for us to achieve the same goal? To answer this question, let us reflect on the message within Surah Al-Ma’un.

In this surah, there is criticism towards those who perform the prayers. The worship they do seems of no benefit to them. This is because, apart from being negligent in their prayers and being boastful, they also commit a serious mistake in the eyes of religion – they do not help others who are deserving of assistance.

Allah s.w.t. says in verse 7:

Which means: “And they refuse to give even the simplest aid (to those who deserve it).”

My dear brothers,

This verse clearly shows that maintaining our relationship with Allah, and with fellow human beings, are both religious obligations. Both must go hand in hand. A Muslim should not focus solely on ritual acts of worship, while neglecting opportunities to serve and help others. Rather, they believe that by extending help to others, they also draw nearer to Allah’s mercy and assistance.

The next question is: How can we help our fellow brothers and sisters? In this matter, let us consider three forms of assistance as mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., narrated by Imam Muslim:

First: Emotional support

The Prophet s.a.w. said, which means: “Whoever relieves a Muslim of a burden in this world, Allah will relieve them of a burden on the Day of Judgement.”

We are called to be attentive towards others who face sadness, anxiety, or emotional distress – whether it is a fellow adult at work, or a child at school. Consider too, the elderly who lives alone, spending their days in seclusion. We must reach out to them, treat them with kindness, so that we may bring a little joy into their lives.

Second: Material assistance

The Prophet s.a.w. said, which means: “Whoever eases the affairs of a person in difficulty in this world, Allah will ease their affairs in this world and the Hereafter.”

This refers to physical needs, including financial matters. We should be ready to help if we learn that someone has fallen ill, lost their income, or needs financial support to pay for their bills, school fees, and daily necessities. If we do not know anyone in particular, today, there are mosques that run “community pantry” initiatives, where we can serve by contributing. We can also be of help through the physical strength Allah has blessed us with, such as by offering our seat on the bus or MRT, or giving priority to take the lift to those in greater need.

Third: Preserving dignity

The Prophet s.a.w. said, which means: “Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim in this world, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter.”

This is extremely important today, with the emergence of various information channels and social media. Preserving a person’s dignity does not mean we allow wrongdoings to persist. Rather, our role is to advise and correct in the most suitable way, and abstain from publicising falsehoods or the mistakes of others.

Dear blessed congregation,

Let us work together to nurture a Muslim community that is steadfast in its worship and religious practice, yet vibrant in its culture of service for mankind. May Allah s.w.t. grant us His assistance in this world and the Hereafter. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.