Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
1 April 2022 / 29 Syaaban 1443H
Ramadan and Taqwa
My dear brothers and sisters
Let us continue our efforts to elevate our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May all our good deeds be rewarded by Allah (s.w.t.) Amin.
Brothers and sisters,
We are approaching the blessed month of Ramadan. A month that every believer seeks to meet, so they would be able to fulfil the obligation of fasting and increase their good deeds in this blessed period.
Ramadan is a month full of mercy and forgiveness from Allah(s.w.t.). We are granted with countless opportunities to increase our Taqwa towards Him, beginning with the act of fasting. Allah (s.w.t.) decrees in Surah al-Baqarah, verse 183:
Which means: “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah.”
Brothers and sisters,
I would like to share with you on ways we can instill taqwa in ourselves:
First: Ramadan trains us to perform our deeds with sincerity.
Our religion teaches us to perform our deeds sincerely to the best of our abilities. When giving, to give with a sincere heart. When speaking, to speak with kind and good words. It is a trait that Islam seeks to nurture in every deed we perform. Similarly, in performing our religious obligations such as praying and fasting.
How then can we ensure that the deeds we perform for the sake of Allah are of the highest quality? What if the prayer that we are going to perform later is our last prayer? Surely, we will strive to pray sincerely with complete presence of our heart in the hope of seeking His pleasure.
Now, what if this is our last Ramadhan? What if this is our last opportunity to perform Terawih? What if this is our last chance to seek Lailatul Qadar? Therefore, we must strive to make the most of it and perform our acts of worship as best as we can.
Second: Ramadan trains us to instill a sense of mercy
A believer who hopes for the mercy and love of Allah, would surely possess a heart that is filled with mercy towards the creations of Allah.
Thus, fasting trains us to restrain from doing purposeless actions, such as saying vile words, gossiping and other similar actions. Let us also observe our conduct when interacting in social media. Let us avoid from making allegations or unnecessary comments or instigating conflict.
Let us take the opportunities in this month to spread goodness and compassion. This is because those who are merciful will be shown mercy by Allah (s.w.t.) As our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Be merciful upon those on earth, and you will have the mercy of the One in the Heavens.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Al-Tirmizi)
May this Ramadan increase our Taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.), and may we be among those who are loved by Allah (s.w.t.). Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
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.
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.
