Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
11 November 2022 / 16 Rabiulakhir 1444H
Blessed brothers and sisters,
Let us have taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.) by doing all His commands and staying away from all His prohibitions. May we be placed among His noble servants. Amin.
Brothers and sisters,
There are many stories of the Prophets that are full of wisdom and lessons narrated in the Quran. In this week’s khutbah, we will look into the story of Prophet Musa (a.s.) and reflect upon his supplication.
As a prophet who was known as "Kalimullah", which means the one who speaks directly with Allah (s.w.t.), there are many supplications made by Prophet Musa (a.s) that had been mentioned in the Qur'an. The following verse is one of his many supplications:
Which means: “So he watered their herd for them, then withdrew to the shade and prayed, “My Lord! I am truly in desperate need of whatever provision You may have in store for me.” [Al-Qasas:24]
Brothers and sisters,
There are several lessons that can be derived from the supplication that I have just read. Among them are:
First: The importance of demonstrating humility.
Despite being a Prophet, Prophet Musa (a.s.) humbled himself before Allah (s.w.t.) to ask and seek from Him.
Look at the word that Prophet Musa (a.s) chose to describe himself when making supplication, which is "fakir" that brings the meaning of "destitute". This is the essence of a servant who is pleading to his Lord. Prophet Musa (a.s) acknowledged himself as a helpless servant and recognised Allah (s.w.t.) as the All-Giving and All-Sufficing God. This is among the etiquettes of supplicating, which is to humble oneself.
Second: The importance of having gratitude.
A supplication made with humility will emanate the feeling of gratitude in a servant. To be grateful for all His favours bestowed upon us. This is because each favour is a gift and a responsibility from Allah (s.w.t.). As Prophet Musa (a.s.) mentioned in his supplication earlier, he is willing to accept whatever Allah (s.w.t.) will bestow upon him.
He was neither calculative nor complaining. A person who is in dire need will certainly appreciate every gift given to him, unlike an arrogant person who will never be satisfied but instead demand more. When a servant admits that he is helpless and incapable, then he will be grateful and appreciate every favour bestowed upon him. Moreover, coming from Allah who is the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate.
Brothers and sisters,
Let us observe the following hadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.):
مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَدْعُو بِدُعَاءٍ إِلاَّ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا سَأَلَ أَوْ كَفَّ عَنْهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ مِثْلَهُ مَا لَمْ يَدْعُ بِإِثْمٍ أَوْ قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ
Which means: “There is none who utters a supplication, except that Allah gives him what he asked, or prevents evil from him that is equal to it – provided he does not ask for something sinful or for breaking ties of relationship.” [Hadith narrated by Imam At-Tirmizi]
That is the nature of du’a, where not everything we ask for will be given and what is given may not necessarily be what we ask for. Allah (s.w.t.) alone knows the wisdom and reason behind every gift. As a believer, we believe that every favour bestowed is the best for us even though at times, we may not be able to comprehend the wisdom behind it.
For example, look at the favour Allah (s.w.t.) bestowed upon Prophet Musa (a.s.) after he made the supplication. He was invited to dine at the house of Prophet Shuaib (a.s.) although, at that moment, Prophet Musa (a.s.) needed more than just that. He was a fugitive from the land of Egypt, without a shelter nor any source of income. However, he did not complain and accepted the invitation. As a result, Allah (s.w.t.) granted him an opportunity to work for Prophet Shuaib (a.s.) and married his daughter.
Let us continue to pray to Allah (s.w.t.) with humility and sincerity. Let us strengthen our determination and trust, whilst striving with perseverance. May we be among His servants who are constantly grateful towards every favour bestowed upon us. 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.
