Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

8 April 2022 / 6 Ramadan 1443H

The Supplications of Those Who Fast

Brothers and sisters blessed by Allah,

With the presence of Ramadan, a month full of blessing, let us elevate our Taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), through observing His obligations and prohibitions. May we be among those who obtain His Mercy and Forgiveness. Amin.

Brothers and sisters,

Ramadan is a  priceless opportunity for a believer to be closer to Allah (s.w.t.) Because this blessed month is where Allah has opened wide the doors of His Mercy and Love.

One of the recommended deeds to do in Ramadan is supplication. This is because supplication is a deed that is of high value in the eyes of Allah (s.w.t.) It is a specific and personal act of worship, and helps to strengthen the belief and connection between a servant and his Creator. Allah (s.w.t.) decrees in the Quran:

Which means: “When My servants ask you about Me (tell them): I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond (with obedience) to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided to the Right Way.” (Al-Baqarah:186)

Brothers and sisters

Supplication and Ramadan cannot be separated. The proof lies in the placement of verse that was just recited – it comes immediately after the verse that speaks about the obligation of fasting. For Ramadan, we have numerous supplications taught by our Prophet (s.a.w.) that we can recite throughout this holy month. This is supported by the Hadith of our Prophet (s.a.w.) which  signifies the supplication of a person who fasts will not be rejected.  In other words, it will be accepted by Allah (s.w.t). ( Inferred from the hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad)

Brothers and sisters,

Such is the importance of supplication that the Prophet (s.a.w.) imparted a few to be practiced by the Companions. Amongst the supplications the Prophet (s.a.w.) passed down to a companion named Mu’adz bin Jabal (r.a.):

اللّهُـمَّ أَعِـنِّي عَلـى ذِكْـرِكَ وَشُكْـرِك، وَحُسْـنِ عِبـادَتِـك

Which means: “O Allah, assist me in remembering You, in being grateful towards You, and in worshipping You to the best of my ability.”

This supplication taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.) to the companion shows us the importance of a believer to seek Allah’s assistance in matters of faith and deeds. After all, guidance belongs to Allah. Seek help from Allah (s.w.t.) for us to be granted consistency in carrying out our religious deeds throughout Ramadan, and for us to be granted ease in doing good deeds and to be protected from all forms of evil and sins.

In addition to that, our Prophet (s.a.w.) also taught us to supplicate for others, which can be the reason for Allah to grant a person’s own supplications and needs.

Hence, let us extend a supplication, be it in general or specific, for those we know or do not know. Let us supplicate for those who are being tested by Allah (s.w.t.) with poverty so that they will be granted sustenance, those that are being tested with sickness to be granted health, and those that are tested with hardship to be granted reprieve and ease by Allah (s.w.t.).

May Allah (s.w.t.) accept all our deeds and forgive our sins and shortcomings. May we be with those who are granted happiness in the highest of heavens. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي ولَكُمْ، 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.