Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
12 March 2021 / 28 Rejab 1442H
Religion and Social Responsibility
My dear brothers,
Let us observe taqwa of Allah by performing all of His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May Allah (s.w.t.) grant us understanding of the religion. Amin.
My dear brothers,
We are now at the end of the blessed month of Rejab. This is the time when we remember and commemorate the miracle as well as the momentous incident Allah has granted to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), known as Israk and Mikraj.
Israk and Mikraj is among the great signs of divine decree, as well as an honour bestowed upon the Prophet (s.a.w.). It was meant to strengthen the Prophet (s.a.w.) and give him glad tidings and hope to continue his dakwah.
Observe the words of Allah (s.w.t.) in Surah Al-Isra’ verse 1:
Which means: “Glorious is He Who made His servant (Prophet Muhammad) travel by night from Masjidil-Haram to Masjidil Aqsa whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All- Seeing.”
On this noble occasion, there were many signs of Allah’s greatness that were shown to the Prophet (s.a.w.). Among them were the conditions of the dwellers of paradise and the dwellers of hell. In summary, those who abandon their responsibilities to Allah by neglecting their prayer, zakat (compulsory alms), among many others, and those who cause destruction or oppress others, will face their due retribution.
During the incident of Israk and Mikraj, Allah has made the daily prayers compulsory – from 50 times, Allah has reduced it to 5 times. Allah established this concession as the highest characteristic of the Islamic faith. This is the nature of the Shariah. Religion always emphasises on making concessions in accordance to the needs of individuals and the community.
My dear brothers,
From various teachings that we have studied in Islam, there is one that is truly important. It is related to religion and the reality of life, which are never separated from one another. Religion teaches us to observe our responsibilities to Allah, to ourselves, as well as to the community as a whole.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said (which means): “There was a man who was walking on a path. He then saw a thorny branch hindering the path of people, so he removed that branch. So Allah rewarded his deed, and placed him in His paradise.” (Hadith recorded by Imam Bukhari and Muslim).
My dear brothers,
Observe the good news brought by the Prophet (s.a.w.) for those who do good, even if it only consists of removing harm from befalling others. No matter how small our deed may be, it will be rewarded immensely by Allah which includes the reward of paradise.
Such is the generosity of Allah (s.w.t.). He constantly gives multifold rewards for every goodness. No matter how small the good deed is, Allah’s magnificence knows no boundaries. Allah says in Surah Al-Kahfi verse 30:
Which means: ”Verily those who believe and do good: We do not let the reward of anyone who does a good deed go to waste.”
My dear brothers,
If we observe the hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.) that was mentioned earlier, why was the individual’s deed deemed great in Allah’s sight?
That is simply because the deed performed was intended for the good of society. When an individual sees something amiss, he should do something about it. He does not wait for an instruction nor for the contribution of others. Rather, he strives to offer a solution and find a way out, out of sheer sincerity and not hoping for anyone to repay him. He carries out his social responsibility as a member of society.
The story that was just shared is one of the many examples of how Islam emphasises the importance of social responsibility that needs to be observed by every individual in society. Just take a look at the various hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.) concerning manners and social etiquettes, such as observing the rights of the neighbour, extending aid, giving food, spreading peace, and more.
This matter was well understood by the generation of the companions radiyallahu anhum. This can be seen through the stories of the companions and how they embodied social responsibility as part of their religious duty.
My brothers,
Although the situation is getting better today, we are still facing the threat of the pandemic. It has not ended, and we must continue making the necessary adjustments.
With the COVID-19 vaccine in circulation, this is our opportunity to carry out our social responsibility. By taking the vaccine, it is our choice to ensure that we, our families and the community remain protected.
What more when this vaccine has proven to be effective, as mentioned by medical experts. This is because it stimulates the immune system, such that if we are exposed to the virus, our bodies can have a counter-reaction to the infection. The vaccine circulating in Singapore has gotten the approval of the Health Science Authority. It has also fulfilled all the conditions of the strict compliance standards.
My brothers,
I call upon everyone who is eligible to take the vaccine to get yourselves vaccinated. It can help in protecting ourselves from the infection of this virus, as well as aid our community in overcoming this test efficiently. I am confident that we all truly want this pandemic to completely end, so that our activities can resume as per normal.
So let’s not be the reason this pandemic is prolonged, just because we are still uncertain or confused about the vaccine, as a result of fake news and false information that we hear on social media.
As a Muslim community, this is the time we strive and observe tawakkal. With sincere intentions and efforts, let us take this vaccine when our turn comes. May Allah continue to protect us and grant His aid in overcoming this pandemic. Amin. Ya Rabbal ’Alamin.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
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.
