Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
29 Apr 2022 / 27 Ramadan 1443H
The School of Ramadan
Blessed brothers and sisters,
Alhamdulillah, we are still given the opportunity to reap rewards and seek forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t) in this sacred month of Ramadan. Let us take the opportunity of these remaining days to increase our worship and be steadfast in our deeds.
Brothers and sisters,
Rasulullah (s.a.w) said in a hadith: “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven.” (Hadith reported by Imam al-Bukhari)
This hadith tells us that among the things we hope to achieve during Ramadan is forgiveness of our past sins. This is observed in the supplication taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) which is to be read on the last 10 nights of Ramadan:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّى
Which means: “O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.”
Brothers and sisters,
Which means: “Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Az-Zumar: 53)
Brothers and sisters,
Among the signs of a person's repentance being accepted is when he continues to be steadfast in performing good deeds and abstaining from the prohibitions of Allah (s.w.t.) outside the month of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan is a training ground for us to bring out the potential of ibadah or worship within ourselves. Let’s seize this opportunity and seek to implement what we have achieved in this month into our daily lives. If we are unable to do everything, let us not leave everything behind.
Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said: “The most pleasing deeds to Allah (s.w.t) are those which are done most continuously, even if the amount is little.” (Hadith reported by Imam Al-Bukhari)
Brothers and sisters,
Just as how we welcomed the arrival of Ramadan with joy and pure intentions, it is therefore similar when bidding goodbye to this blessed month.
If we did not have the time for ibadah and good deeds that we ought to do at the beginning of Ramadan, then we should not use this as an excuse for us not to strive in the last few days. We should be driven to end Ramadan in the best way possible as said by the Prophet (s.a.w.): “Verily, the reward for one’s deeds are decided by the last actions”. (Hadith reported by Imam Al-Bukhari)
May the upcoming days witness the increase of taqwa in our hearts. 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.
