collections khutbah The Prayer of Prophet Zakaria: Never Lose Hope
The Prayer of Prophet Zakaria: Never Lose Hope

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

18 November 2022 / 23 Rabiulakhir 1444H

  
The Prayer of Prophet Zakaria: Never Lose Hope

My beloved fellow Muslims,

Let us continue in our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), by obeying all of His commands, and by abstaining from all of His prohibitions. May we be placed amongst His righteous servants. Amin.

Brothers and Sisters,

As human beings, we are not spared from facing trials and tribulations from Allah (s.w.t). Regardless of our backgrounds, our titles, our jobs, or wherever we may be, we will still be tested in this life. The level to which we are tested also varies, such that sometimes it pushes us to the verge of giving up. We believe that the higher the rank of a person in the eyes of Allah (s.w.t.), the greater his tests, like the tests faced by our Prophets.

Brothers and Sisters,
Prophet Zakaria (a.s) was also tested. He was consumed with worry and anxiety as he had not been blessed with a child. Prophet Zakaria (a.s.) not only wanted a child who would be the apple of his family’s eyes, but he also wanted a child who would grow up to be a good person. That is what Allah (s.w.t.) mentioned in Surah Maryam, verses 4 to 5:
    

Which means: “He expressed his sadness and said: ‘My Lord! My bones have weakened, and my hair has become grey, but I have never prayed to you in vain. I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren. So grant me, by Your grace, a successor.’”

In this prayer, we observe two manners that Prophet Zakaria (a.s) demonstrated when making a prayer and asking Allah (s.w.t.) for a blessing.

The first: Admitting our weaknesses to Allah (s.w.t). When making a prayer, we must acknowledge that we are dependent beings, and that only Allah (s.w.t.) is the Most Able and Strong. Observe how Prophet Zakaria (a.s) mentions one by one his physical limitations, being an old man with certain physical difficulties. This shows that humbling oneself during prayer is amongst the etiquettes of a servant when conversing with his Lord.

The second: Strive to show our sincerity in performing good deeds to Allah (s.w.t). We should consider our good deeds as means through which we bring ourselves closer to Allah (s.w.t). This is what Prophet Zakaria (a.s) did when he declared that he never became tired of praying to Allah (s.w.t).

My beloved brothers and sisters,

Allah (s.w.t) then answered the prayers and hopes of Prophet Zakaria (a.s) just as he was praying to Allah (s.w.t).

Prophet Zakaria (a.s) was then blessed with a son who was also a Prophet, that is Prophet Yahya (a.s). Our lives are that much more beautiful when we constantly strive to remember that Allah (s.w.t.) is All Living and All Hearing. We will not feel alone, because we believe that Allah (s.w.t) takes our prayers into great consideration, and therefore we do not give up hoping for Allah's mercy.

It was narrated by Abu Hurairah (r.a), that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said:

يُسْتَجَابُ لأَحَدِكُمْ مَا لَمْ يَعْجَلْ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ دَعَوْتُ فَلاَ أَوْ

 فَلَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لِي

Which means: "The prayer of one among you will surely be answered, as long as he does not rush by saying: ‘I have prayed, but my prayer has not been answered.’" (Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Let us not assume that Prophet Zakaria (a.s) was granted this miracle simply because he was a Prophet. Rather, we need to study his manner of making prayer and the efforts that he made, as mentioned in detail in the Qur’an. We need to understand that the miracles of the Prophets are the result of a series of consistent efforts. Our focus should be on achieving this consistency, actively looking for solutions, combined with an attitude of never giving up that Prophet Zakaria (a.s) displayed as he untiringly prayed to Allah (s.w.t).

May we become servants of Ar-Rahman who have faith in His provision for us, be of those who receive His help and grace, as well as reaping the rewards of patience, and in this process. 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.