al-firaushah

Toward An Excellent Society

June 10, 2006 on 11:19 am | In MUIS Khutbahs |

Khutbah from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
2 June 2006 / 5 Jamadil Awal 1427

Maasyiral Muslimin rahimakumullah,

Let us fear Allah (swt) by doing all that He commands, and abstaining from all that He forbids. Let us be faithful and obedient Muslims, who realize our position as His Servants, who are obligated to perform all the teachings of Islam. With this, hopefully we will succeed in this world and in the hereafter.

Success in the Hereafter by gaining entrance to paradise. And success in this world as a happy and excellent individual, and an excellent and developed society.

My beloved brothers rahimakumullah,

Saidina Umar (ra) was narrated once to have said as translated: “Allah (swt) has honoured us with Islam. Hence, if we find something else besides Islam, we will be disgraced by Allah (swt).”

We can see it here, that Saidina Umar (ra) was very conscious and aware of the key towards an excellent ummah. It is the steadfast hold on the teachings of Islam, and at the same time, being able to move together with the changing times. Saidina Umar (ra) was a person who understood deeply the essence of Islam. Islam does not focus only on ritualistic worshipping, but Islam is a religion of entirety and completeness. Islam touches on all aspects of human life. Islam does not focus on any group of people or at any age. Islam is suitable for all people and for all ages.

Islam does not remain stagnant for a certain people or at a certain time. Instead, Islam is flexible. Islam remains relevant to be practised by any people, and at any time.

However, when it is said that Islam is flexible, it does not mean that the principles in Islam can be changed in accordance with the needs of time and the needs of the people. The principles in Islam remain unchanged. They cannot be changed by anyone at all. No creation of Allah (swt) has the right to change the principles of Islam. These principles remain as the rights of Allah (swt). So there is no place for anyone to modify these principles.

But mankind is created in nations and races. There is a variety of traditions and customs. And civilizations change through the times. Because of this, with Allah’s (swt) Knowledge which is most vast, Islam is created as a religion in which the principles do not change, but the implementations of these principles can change in accordance with the times.

For example, the principle of giving alms remains unchanged. It does not change with time. However, the implementation of this principle may change. From the procedure of giving alms directly to the poor, to the set-up of a center for zakat administration. Everything may change with time. This is what is meant when it is said that Islam is unchangeable, and its principles remain unchanged, but it is flexible in its implementations.

Blessed Friday congregation,

If we understand this, as how Saidina Umar (ra) understood this, then we can be confident of building an excellent ummah; it is not something that is impossible.

There is one key. To be proud of Islam. To be proud that this religion that we believe in is a complete and all-encompassing religion. It is all-inclusive. And if we feel proud of this religion that we love, it will be followed by a desire and need to practise all the teachings of Islam. To not adopt anything out of Islam which contradicts the principles of Islam.

Allah (swt) says in Surah Ali Imran (3), verse 85:

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.”

That is why, to be an excellent ummah, we must return to Islam. Let us practise all the teachings of Islam, and not just a part of Islam. Some of us focus only on the rulings of the rituals, without thinking about the spiritualistic aspects of the ritual itself. Some of us are concerned only about the physical aspects, such as attire and clothing. But they forget about the aspects of akhlaq or good mannerism, which is something of great importance in Islam. There is also a group of Muslims who think too much of the hereafter, that they forget their responsibilities to develop and contribute to this world.

Allah (swt) does not teach us to remember this and to forget that. Because everything comes from Islam. All the rulings of rituals, the essence and spiritualistic aspects, the physical characteristics of Muslims, and also the psychological characteristics of Muslims. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2), verse 208:

“O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.”

Therefore, to achieve excellence in our life, and for our society, we must practise Islam in its entirety. We need to be particular in performing all the rituals that have been ordained upon us. But we must also ensure that our worshipping ritual fulfills its objectives, by performing it sincerely and meticulously.

We must also ensure that our physical self goes together with the demands of Islam, by covering our awrah. At the same time, we need to be conscious of our mannerism and our character, so that they are in line with the teachings of Islam.

We should not forget our objective, which is the life in the hereafter. But we cannot forget our responsibilities in this world as the vicegerant of Allah (swt), to develop the world, to ensure its progress, and to make it a safe abode for all the creations of Allah.

Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Qasas (28), verse 77:

“But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters).”

Blessed Friday congregation,

We must be an excellent ummah. This is the demand of Islam on us. And this will happen naturally as a result of complete obedience to the teachings of Islam. Let us all return to the teachings of Islam and practise them. Insya-Allah, we will be an excellent ummah in this world and in the hereafter.

Glossary:
Akhlaq: The practice of virtue. Morals.
Awrah: The part of a person’s body that must be covered before everybody but a spouse. It may also be used to refer to what must be concealed of a woman before non-related men.
Insya-Allah: The Bahasa Melayu spelling of Insha’Allah, meaning, “If God wills” or “God willing.”
(ra): Short for Radhiallahu ‘anhu. This is an expression to be used by Muslims whenever a name of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is mentioned or used in writing. The meaning of this statement is: “May Allah be pleased with him.”
(saw): These letters are abbreviations for the words “Salla Allahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam,” which means, “may the blessing and the peace of Allah be upon him.” When the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, a Muslim is to respect him and invoke this statement of peace upon him.
(swt): These letters are abbreviations for the words of “Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.” When the name of Almighty Allah is pronounced, a Muslim is to show his respect to Him by reciting this. The meaning of this statement is that Allah is purified of having partners or a son.
Ummah: The global community of all Muslim believers; international personhood of Islam.
Zakat: Alms, tithe as a Muslim duty; Sunnis regard this as the fourth Pillar of Islam. Neither charity nor derived from Islamic economics, but a religious duty and social obligation.