Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

Friday Sermon

10 July 2026 / 24 Muharram 1448H

Health: The Oft-neglected Trust and Blessing

Dear blessed congregation,

Observe taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. Obey all His commands and avoid all His prohibitions. May we be granted steadfastness in faith and continuous obedience so that we attain the pleasure of Allah s.w.t. Amin, ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

Beloved brothers,

Our lives are coloured with various blessings and amanah – trusts. The wealth we possess, the time lent to us, all of these are amanah we bear. However, there is one more amanah which, if compromised, will affect all our other responsibilities as well.

Dear congregation, we are entrusted with the duty of guarding our health. Yes, our health and the well-being bodies. This is an amanah, and this is also a blessing. Unfortunately, it is also a blessing that is often neglected by many people, and only mourned once it is lost. The Prophet s.a.w. said that which means: “There are two blessings which many people neglect: health and free time.” (Al-Bukhari)

Reflect on this: when we are healthy, we desire various things such as entertainment, pleasure, and so on. But when we fall ill, do we still desire all of that? The answer, of course, is no.

Instead, what a sick person longs for is just one thing, health.

Dear brothers,

Health is the key to living an Islamic life through worshipping Allah s.w.t. and serving His creation. Let us together reflect on three Islamic guidelines that can help us preserve our health.

Firstly: Practising moderation

Allah says in Surah Al-A’raf, verse 31:

Which means: “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.”

Allah's words “but do not be excessive” point to the value of moderation, that is, being moderate in every aspect of life. In matters of healthcare, adopting a moderate approach means we care for our bodies as a way of upholding Allah's amanah, without neglecting it, and without turning it into an obsession either. In eating, we choose food that is halal and nutritious. In caring for the rights of our bodies, we strive to get sufficient rest and seek treatment when needed.

Secondly: Taking preventive measures

Islam encourages us to be proactive rather than reactive in caring for our wellbeing. This includes undergoing regular or annual health check-ups, being attentive to our family's medical and health history, and not delaying treatment when facing health issues, even if they seem minor or trivial.

Besides medical check-ups, prevention is another proactive step. It is closely tied to the choices we make every day: what kind of food or drink do we consume today? How many hours are spent staring at a computer screen or smartphone, whether for work, school, or other reasons? Do we practise stretching exercises after sitting at an office desk for several hours? These things may seem small, but altogether, they become a shield that wards off illness, and represent a way of appreciating the trust of caring for the body that Allah has bestowed upon us.

Third: Viewing health as continuous worship

When we care for the amanah of bodily health with full awareness and sincerity, we hope to receive reward, just as with other acts of worship. Is it not this blessing of health that also enables us to perform our acts of worship perfectly?

This is because worship is not limited to the prayer mat. Enjoying meals while being mindful of long-term health and nutritional needs is worship. For students, having sufficient rest so that the body and mind remain fresh and energetic is also worship. For those who are married, the strength we have to hold the hands of our beloved family members when they are weak and in need of help is also worship.

Dear brothers,

Let us take health seriously and earnestly safeguard it, so that we may worship Allah more perfectly in its many forms.

For those who are still healthy and fit, preserve the trust of health as best you can. Do not neglect this amanah. For those who are being tested with illness, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Continue striving to seek treatment and to care for our health to the best of our ability. Adorn ourselves with patience and reliance on Allah. Believe that every hardship faced with patience will not be wasted by Allah, for indeed, it represents a means of elevating one's status and erasing one's sins.

May Allah s.w.t. continue to bless us and our loved ones with health, and protect us from all illness, calamity, and disaster. And for those being tested with sickness, may Allah s.w.t. grant healing and lift all suffering. Amin, ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

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