Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

27 May 2022 / 25 Syawal 1443H

Service to Persons with Disabilities

 

My beloved brothers and sisters,

Let us have taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May we all be placed among the righteous in Jannah. Amin.

Brothers and sisters,

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was a Messenger of Allah (s.w.t.) and an exemplar of a praiseworthy leader. There is no other figure nor leader that can compare to the excellence of character that the Prophet (s.a.w.) displayed as a leader.

Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Qur’an:

 

Which means: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah do you have an excellent example, for whomsoever has hope in Allah and the Day of Judgment, and who remembers Allah often.” [Al-Ahzab:21]

History has shown that the Prophet (s.a.w.) constantly demonstrated excellent character and a strong moral compass in his social life.

Our Prophet (s.a.w.) was a leader who interacted with people from all walks of life, every stratum of society. He was always attentive and care for everyone, listening to what everyone had to say, and adjudicating conflicts with fairness and impartiality – whether between the rich and the poor, the old and the young, female and male, the strong as well as those who are weak and with disabilities.

Our Prophet (s.a.w.) modelled for his companions the best way to engage with people from all walks of life. He encouraged his companions to be compassionate, empathetic, and caring to all, while remaining within the limits of their relationships. In a hadith, our Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ، حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ

"None of you will have (complete) faith until he desires for his fellow Muslim what he desires for himself.” [Hadith narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari]

 

This hadith teaches us to deal with, behave, and interact with others in the way that we ourselves would like to be treated. Surely the heart and soul of the human desire goodness and beauty for themselves. Hence, our Prophet (s.a.w.) reminds us to desire goodness for others as well.

Brothers and sisters,

Among us, there are persons with disabilities – a group of people which may be seen as being less capable. Even though they may be perceived as such, nevertheless it does not mean that they are weak.

 

In our efforts to help each other, let us not marginalise them, simply because of their physical limitations. We must understand that they too are capable of contributing, if only they are given the opportunity to do so. Their contributions that, should be recognised and appreciated, not the person.

 

Take for example how our Prophet (s.a.w.) gave the opportunity to a companion named Abdullah Bin Ummi Maktum (r.a.), who, while blind, was still able to become a muezzin. He was also given the responsibility of being the imam and temporary leader of Madinah when the Prophet (s.a.w.) was away travelling.

 

In this spirit, let us look at how various well-known figures and ulama’ of the past, despite having physical limitations, were still able to contribute to the depth and wealth of Islamic knowledge that we have today. Imam Qalun, was an expert in the field of Qiraat despite having lost his hearing. Similarly, al-‘A’mash who was a scholar of hadith who had narrated three hundred thousand hadiths despite his weak vision, and among many others.

 

From here, we learn that each individual deserves to be given the opportunity and space to contribute. This is because someone whom we may regard as less capable is still valuable in the sight of Allah (s.w.t.), with the ability to contribute to the wellbeing of the country and religion.

 

May we be able to emulate the noble character of our Prophet (s.a.w.) and persevere in learning as well as implementing his teachings. May we become people who are always attentive to others, caring for and helping each other, heading towards goodness, and the pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.). Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

 

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

 

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.