collections khutbah Understanding Religion: The Right Knowledge Tradition
Understanding Religion: The Right Knowledge Tradition

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

20 November 2020 / 5 Rabiulakhir 1442H

Understanding Religion: The Right Knowledge Tradition

My Brothers,

Let us all have taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying His commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. May our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), guard us from all forms of misguidance and harm. Amin.

My Dear Brothers,

Indeed, the correct teachings of our religion are evident and clear. They do not have to be whispered about or taught in secrecy. This was how Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) taught his companions (r.a.) and followers. People knew about his teachings, because the way to Allah (s.w.t.) had been made known to everyone, not a secret that was kept between selected individuals.

My Brothers,

Studying and understanding our religion is very important as it is a means of receiving guidance and enlightenment from Allah. This is in line with what Allah (s.w.t.) mentions in Surah Muhammad, verse 17:

 

Which means: “And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.”

This becomes even more critical in today’s modern context, as there are times when we feel empty amidst being preoccupied with the challenges in our daily lives. An empty soul is easily filled. If it is filled with goodness, the outcome will be positive, and vice versa.

Therefore, we must strive to seek knowledge and have a deeper understanding of our religion, in order to fill that emptiness. In doing so, we must carefully ensure that the sources of our knowledge are valid and reliable.

My Brothers,

There are those who still believe in misguided or deviant teachings. This is due to many different reasons. It may be due to a person’s intellectual or mental state, or the ability of a preacher to attract followers through his personal character traits like having the charisma that easily attracts others. Such preachers may also be very convincing in their teachings.

Hence, the sermon today will highlight two different methods of seeking religious knowledge which will then guide us on how to discern right from wrong, and truth from falsehood.

Dearest brothers,

The first method is often used by those who seek shortcuts in their attempt to understand and practise the religion. They wish for the fastest way towards Allah, hence are quick to fall for the propaganda and promises that easily assure them paradise.

The second method is the path by the Prophet (s.a.w.) and his companions. This traditional scholastic approach includes verifying the religious information received, and seeking knowledge from qualified teachers. This is to ensure that those who are well versed in religious texts can explain the correct meaning of such texts.

Seeking knowledge is a gradual process. There are no shortcuts in one’s journey towards Allah. Those who wish to be granted paradise must be ready to put in continuous effort and sacrifices. The Prophet (s.a.w.) once said: “Paradise is surrounded by hardships and the hellfire is surrounded by temptations.” (Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim).

My brothers, the path to seek religious knowledge is a continuous journey. At times, it may consist of challenges and tribulations. However, a believer will continue to endure and strive throughout his life to become a better person than he used to be. He will strive to improve himself each day, even if it is deemed as a minor improvement. This is in line with what was mentioned by the Prophet (s.a.w.) in a hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari which means: “The most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.

May Allah (s.w.t.) bless us with His mercy and compassion, and grant us steadfastness in remaining on the true path that He is pleased with. Amin ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم

 

Second Sermon

 

الْحَمْدُ 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 الْعَزِيزِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَـا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا. 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 لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالْأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا الْبَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالْمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ الْبُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.

عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ  يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ.