Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

27 November 2020 / 12 Rabiulakhir 1442H

Protecting Ourselves from Deviant Teachings

 

My Brothers,

Let us all have taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying all His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. May Allah accept our efforts in seeking religious knowledge and bestow His blessings upon us. Amin.

Brothers,

Let us observe the following words of Allah (s.w.t.):

Which means: “And I did not create the jinn and humankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.” (Surah al-Dzariyat, verse 56-57)

These verses remind us about the meaning and the purpose of life. Brothers, as long as we are still alive and breathing in this world, it is an opportunity for us to be closer to Allah (s.w.t.), whether through acts of worship, good deeds, charity or any other means.

Our efforts in seeking religious knowledge should also bring us closer to Allah. Knowledge helps us to comprehend the religion, in line with what Allah and His Messenger ask of us. Knowledge provides us guidance to ensure that the acts of worship that we perform are in accordance with the teachings of our Prophet (s.a.w.).

Hence, the right knowledge will bring us closer to Allah. It will nurture us to be people who contribute to the well-being of the society. It will strengthen our relationships with friends, family and other people, instead of being someone who isolates himself from everyone else.

Brothers,

I would like to share with you several characteristics of deviant teachings that we need to be aware of, in addition to the other characteristics that have been discussed in the previous  sermons.

Brothers,

Amongst the characteristics that are usually identified in deviant teachings (as mentioned in a book titled “Noktah Hitam”), is when there are claims either by the teacher or the followers, that the individual received revelation or enlightenment from Allah. This person will then assert that the revelation has given him religious instructions. He will then change certain Islamic laws and religious rituals which we have inherited from the Prophet (s.a.w.), to what he deems to be easier and more appropriate, and to also start to control the lives of his followers.  

Some of them often make predictions, such as when the day of judgement will occur, or when a calamity or natural disaster will happen. All these predictions are made to attract the attention of people, and to increase the number of their followers.

Our faith has long established that no one has the knowledge of the unknown except Allah. And after the passing of our Prophet (s.a.w.), no human can claim that he received revelation from Allah (s.w.t.). Let us observe a hadith by our Prophet (s.a.w.), that we should hold onto firmly to protect ourselves from any misguidance. Which means: “I have left two matters with you. As long as you hold to them, you will not go the wrong way. They are the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Prophet.” (Hadith reported by Imam Malik).

Brothers,
The teachings of Islam are complete in terms of faith, acts of worship, good conduct as well as the Islamic principles. The Prophet (s.a.w.) left us clear guidance. Nothing is hidden or kept secret in this religion. The guidelines on how to be closer to Allah and attain His blessings – including acts of worship to increase our faith – have been provided. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every Muslim to ensure that the religious teachings that we receive are valid and correct.   

May our sincerity in seeking knowledge become the reason for Allah to bless us with beneficial knowledge. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ

 

Second Sermon

 

الْحَمْدُ 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 الْعَزِيزِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَـا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا. 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 لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالْأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا الْبَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالْمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ الْبُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.

عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ  يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.