Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermons
10 March 2023 / 17 Syaaban 1444H
Declaration of Faith: Shaping the Identity
of a True Muslim
Muslimin and Muslimat blessed by Allah,
Let us increase our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t) in its truest essence; by obeying all his commands and abstaining from all his prohibitions.
Brothers and sisters,
As Muslims, we frequently declare our faith by professing that, “there is no God except Allah (s.w.t), and Muhammad (s.a.w) is the Allah’s messenger.” This declaration holds significant meaning to us.
In his explanation of the meaning behind the profession of faith, Imam Al-Mawardi highlighted that it involves a declaration made with the heart not just with the tongue. Matters of the heart require more than just words; they demand the alignment of our tongue, actions, and mindset to effectively express our beliefs and worship.
Therefore, the declaration of faith has a profound impact on our lives. It shapes our journey towards success in this world and the hereafter.
Blessed congregants,
Allah (s.w.t) says in surah Al-Bayyinah verse 5,
Which means: “even though they were only commanded to worship Allah ˹alone˺ with sincere devotion to Him in all uprightness, establish prayer, and pay zakat. That is the upright way.”
The first part of this declaration of faith is the profession of monotheism; there is no God worthy of worship other than Allah (s.w.t). This declaration reminds us to realize our responsibility to manifest our declaration by making our acts of worship towards Allah (s.w.t) with the utmost sincerity, seeking only His pleasure and mercy.
The second part of the declaration is bearing witness that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is the messenger of Allah. As Muslims, we must realise that we cannot disobey the teachings of Rasulullah (s.a.w) and still claim to be among the people of faith.
The Prophet (s.a.w) was chosen to convey the teachings of Islam, and everything he brought to us was guided by the revelations from Allah (s.w.t). Therefore, each and every one of our acts of worship must follow the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).
Brothers and sisters,
As humans, our daily lives consist of more than just rituals. However, our every action throughout the day can be an act of worship as long as we tie our intentions sincerely to seek the pleasure of Allah and in accordance with the teaching Rasulullah (s.a.w)
It was narrated in a Hadith that Prophet (s.a.w) said:
إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الأَخْلاقِ.
Which means: "I was sent to perfect good character."
Rasulullah was sent to us to perfect good character, and we need to take him as an example not only in our acts of worship but also in our everyday lives. The meaning behind ‘good character is vast and it encompasses the way we interact with each other, the way we show gratitude for the blessings from Allah (s.w.t) and how we make these blessings beneficial as well.
One aspect of good character is being thrifty, just as the Prophet (s.a.w) was. He did not condone extravagance nor did he like being wasteful. Even when using the blessing of water, he taught us to avoid wastage during ablution.
The Prophet (s.a.w) also taught us the importance of maintaining good relationships with other creations and protecting their rights. We must respect our seniors, show mercy to the young, be truthful when we speak, and take care of everyone’s well-being. We must not let our acts of worship justify our actions to disregard the rights of others, as this is not the Prophet’s teachings.
May we become the people that appreciate and enliven our proclamation of faith. One that embodies the noble characters and reap the rewards in the Hereafter. Amin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
