Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
15 April 2022 / 13 Ramadan 1443H
Charity: A Beloved Deed to Allah
Blessed brothers and sisters,
Let us increase our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May we be placed among His noble servants. Amin.
Brothers and sisters,
Among the practices encouraged in the month of Ramadan is to increase the acts of charity. It is a practice observed by the Prophet (s.a.w.) as mentioned in a hadith reported by Imam Al-Bukhari:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most generous of all people, and he was even more generous in Ramadan.”
In another hadith reported by Imam Muslim, The Prophet (s.a.w) said:
Which means: “Charity is a proof.”
This means that charity is a proof of a servant’s faith in the promises of Allah (s.w.t) regarding the Hereafter, as he is willing to give up the wealth that he had tirelessly acquired, with hopes of getting the reward and pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.).
There are many other benefits in doing acts of charity, as Allah (s.w.t.) describes the requests made by those who ask for their death to be postponed just so that they are given the opportunity to do acts of charity. Allah (s.w.t.) says in Surah Al-Munafiqun verse 10:
“And donate from what We have provided for you before death comes to one of you, and you cry out, “My Lord! If only You delayed me for a short while, I would give in charity and be one of the righteous.”
Brothers and sisters,
The best of charity is one that is hidden from human knowledge and sight. The charity that is done secretly will bring about two benefits:
Firstly, it can help maintain the sincerity of the donor because his act of giving is done solely for Allah and not for other purposes.
Secondly, it is a deed that will be the means for a person to get the protection of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
The Prophet (s.a.w) said:
“Seven kinds of people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His: A man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.” (Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim)
Brothers and sisters,
In this blessed month of Ramadan, we are required to pay Zakat Fitrah as well as Zakat on our wealth.
Although the rate of these Zakat is minimal, especially compared to the amount that Allah (s.w.t) has bestowed upon us, the reward that we will receive from Allah (s.w.t) will be so great. This is because paying zakat is a practice that has been made obligatory upon us, and every obligatory deed is highly favoured by Allah (s.w.t.) and will be greatly rewarded.
So let us strive to fulfil our religious obligations as soon as possible, because doing so will provide the required help for those in need.
Brothers and sisters,
Let us all seize the opportunities we are blessed with, throughout this month of mercy. Let us make donations based on our capabilities and help those in need. We must not let this month go by without doing acts of charity.
May Allah accept all the good deeds that we perform this month. And may all of us be placed among those servants whom Allah (s.w.t) grants His blessings. Aamin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي ولَكُمْ، 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.
Blessed brothers and sisters,
Yayasan Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin (RLAF) is collecting donations until April 25 to provide essential items to thousands of needy families and individuals, regardless of their race, religion and background.
Your contribution will help bring joy and spread the blessings of Ramadan to those in need. The details and information on how to donate can be found on the Yayasan Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin (RLAF) website.
Let us together extend a helping hand and contribute to help those in need.
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.
