Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

16 April 2021 / 4 Ramadan 1442H

Sharing the Blessing of Ramadan

 

الحَمدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي فَتَحَ فِي رَمَضَانَ أَبْوَابَ جَنَّتِهِ وَأَغْلَقَ أَبْوَابَ نَارِهِ. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا محمدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. أَمَّا بَعدُ، فَيَا أَيُّهَا الـمُسلِمُونَ، أُوصِيكُم وَنَفسِي بِتَقوَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَقَد فَازَ الـمُتَّقُونَ.

My brothers,

I pray that this Ramadan has so far been able to enliven and increase our taqwa of Allah. Let us strive to nourish our taqwa throughout this blessed month and maintain it even after Ramadan.

Brothers,

Last week, we were reminded of a hadith reported by Imam Muslim, about how Rasulullah (s.a.w.) – who was the most generous of all the people – would become even more generous especially during Ramadan. Such is the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.) in the month of Ramadan. It teaches us that this month should be the month of sharing between the fortunate and the less fortunate, between those who have been bestowed with more blessings and those who have not yet received as much.

Letting go of something that we cherish and value to share it with others is proof of our willingness to present our very best for Allah. Allah says in Surah Ali Imran, verse 92:

Meaning: “None of you [believers] will attain true piety unless you give out of what you cherish. And whatever you give - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”

This verse emphasized our willingness to sacrifice what we love for others. It is also one of the wisdoms behind fasting.

As human beings, we surely love to have delicious food. We often plan what we want to eat. However, during the daytime of Ramadan, we are commanded to leave and abstain from our daily routine such as eating and drinking, for the sake of Allah (s.w.t.). Not only that, but we are also encouraged to share food especially with those who fast – so much so that we will attain the same rewards of one who is fasting. This is based on a hadith by our Prophet (s.a.w.) which means: “Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person.” (Hadith reported by Imam Ahmad).

Therefore, my brothers, as we are still in the beginning of Ramadan, I believe that this is a golden opportunity for us to train ourselves to give and share what we have been blessed with. We are often reminded that, for all the blessings and chances that Allah has given us, we must make the most out of them, not just for ourselves, but for all whom we love.

Brothers,

This Ramadan, let us bring to life the culture of sharing joy and hope with the people around us. There are numerous welfare organizations, mosques across the country, and individuals in need of help – they all await our support and contributions through zakat and charity. No contribution is too small in the sight of Allah (s.w.t.). because He does not look at the quantity, but rather our sincerity.

In fact, this Ramadan gives us the opportunity to share more than just our money and wealth. As we are aware, the slots for tarawih prayers at the mosques are rather limited, as there are safety measures in place to control the number of congregants in mosques. Nevertheless, we are still grateful that our mosques are open this year.  

Therefore, brothers, if we have gotten one or two chances to perform tarawih prayers in the mosque, let us also allow other congregants the same opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of performing acts of worship in the mosque this Ramadan. This is in line with the verse that I shared earlier. Although we prefer praying in the mosque, we sacrifice what we love in order to give way to others. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) once said in a hadith that means, “The best of deeds is giving happiness to a Muslim.” (Hadith reported by Ibnu Abi Dunya).

Whenever we make the decision to not book a slot to perform tarawih at the mosque, let us set our intention that it is a sacrifice on our part so that others can also take pleasure in performing acts of worship at the mosque. This intention will result in us getting rewards for several deeds at one time, such as: helping and making others happy as well as sacrificing what we love for the good of others.

Remember what Allah mentions in Surah An-Nisa’ verse 122:

Meaning: “But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allah, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allah in statement?”

Brothers,

What we crave for each Ramadan is Allah’s love and mercy. What we yearn for is His forgiveness. Hence, let us set our intention that whatever we do is to earn His pleasure. May all our sacrifices for the happiness and the safety of others be our keys to paradise. We pray that by allowing others the chances to perform acts of worship in the mosque, Allah will grant us eternal happiness in His paradise in the hereafter. 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.