collections khutbah The Role of Faith in Navigating the Modern World
The Role of Faith in Navigating the Modern World

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

6 January 2023 / 13 Jamadilakhir 1444H

  
The Role of Faith in Navigating the Modern World

Brothers and sisters blessed by Allah,

Let us strengthen our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.) by observing all His commandments and abstaining from all His prohibitions. May Allah grant us strength to remain steadfast in facing life’s trials and tribulations. Amin.

My blessed Friday congregants,

Life is full of challenges and all of us will surely be tested. No matter good or bad, everything has been decreed by Allah (s.w.t.).

  
Allah (s.w.t.) mentioned in Surah Al-Hadid, verse 22:

Which means: “No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah.”

Brothers and sisters,

The verse that I have just read is not an excuse for us to lose hope. Instead, it serves as a lesson and guidance for us to remain patient and courageous in facing our challenges. It is also a reminder for us to not take for granted the blessings that He has bestowed upon us. We should always be grateful in all situations. That is the meaning of the sixth pillar of Faith, which is belief in the decree of Allah, good or bad.

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) was asked about Faith. The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, “Faith is believing in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, the Day of Judgement, and belief in the decree of Allah that brings goodness and misfortune.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim)

Faith in the decree of Allah (s.w.t.) teaches us to not doubt the mercy and love of Allah (s.w.t.) to us. Let us remain firm and optimistic in Allah, we must believe that each trial comes with a hidden wisdom and valuables lessons for us.

When we are tested with hardships, it teaches us the meaning of patience. And when we are tested with blessings, it teaches us the meaning of gratitude. There’s a test for us both in good times and bad.

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لأَحَدٍ إِلاَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَه

Which means: “Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim)

Brothers and sisters,

In recent years, we have been tested with many challenges, especially due to the Covid-19. Some of us have been tested with health challenges, while some have been tested by the loss of jobs. However, Alhamdulillah, all praises to Allah (s.w.t.), when we acknowledge our weaknesses and place complete trust and reliance on Him, Allah will surely provide us ease. Allah (s.w.t.) lightens our burden and opens our hearts to face the trials which we do not know when they will end.

At the same time, we must continue to put in our best effort. For example, if we are tested with difficulty in finding employment, let us strive to upgrade our skills, increase our knowledge and take every opportunity that comes. And if we are tested with health issues, we must make effort to seek proper help and the right treatment. That is our effort, which must be accompanied with complete faith in Allah (s.w.t.)

Let us remember the advice of our Prophet (s.a.w.): “If Allah loves a community, He will test them.” (Hadith narrated by At-Tabrani)

Let us strive to practice patience when facing trials and tribulations as well as gratitude in all situations. Let us pair our efforts with unwavering faith in Him. Hopefully, we will attain the pleasure of Ar-Rahman.

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.