al-firaushah

Importance in Living the Attributes of an Excellent Muslim Community

July 20, 2006 on 2:16 pm | In MUIS Khutbahs |

Khutbah from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
14 July 2006 / 18 Jamadilakhir 1427

Dear brothers,

Fear Allah (swt) truly. Return to Islam. Return to the true teachings of Islam. Be a true Muslim, who is proud of his religion and practices Islam fully. Allah (swt) reminds us in Surah Al-Baqarah, 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.”

Maasyiral Muslimin wa zumratal Mukminin rahimakumullah,

In leading our lives as practicing Muslims, we must realize that our true objective, our actual vision in life, is to gain Allah’s Pleasure, so as to be freed from the torment of hellfire, and so that we may gain entrance to paradise. This is our first, utmost vision.

And to achieve this vision, we need to know that it cannot be achieved by isolating ourselves from the community, and by praying on the prayer mat only. Islam is not an individualistic religion. Islam is not a religion that emphasizes on the hereafter only, such that its followers are those who are isolated from this world.

Instead, Allah (swt) sends Islam to mankind as rahmatan lil ‘alamin, as guidelines for an excellent life in this world and in this hereafter. Hence, Allah makes Islam a religion which is Syamil and Kamil. That is, complete and encompassing everything. That motivates its followers to excel in this world and in the hereafter. This is clear from the prayer which Allah (swt) teaches us in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 201 :

“And of them there are some who say: ‘Our Lord!  Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!’”

This is the best dua for Muslims. That contains the philosophy of Islam, which is goodness in this world and in the hereafter.

Maasyiral Muslimin rahimakumullah,

The previous sermons have explained to us the basis for developing an excellent Muslim community. Not excellent in this world only, but excellent in the hereafter too, insyaAllah.

Today’s sermon will conclude those principles so we can easily remember them.

Two very basic things and very important for every Muslim. Two things that must be possessed by every Muslim. They are, firstly: KNOWLEDGE. And secondly, GOOD CHARACTER.

Without knowledge, a Muslim can be easily influenced by misleading schools of thought, such that it may cause him to lead a path away from Islam. Knowledge is very important. It is obligatory upon every Muslim to seek knowledge, both worldly and religious knowledge. Islam does not segregate between the two. In Islam’s tradition, knowledge is divided to two categories only; fardhu ‘ain and fardhu kifayah. All the knowledge required by a Muslim is fardhu ‘ain for him. He must learn it. Whether it is religious knowledge or knowledge required to live in this world. So, fardhu ‘ain for Muslims is to learn about prayers, and it is fardhu ‘ain for Muslims to learn how to read and write, so that he may live well in this world.

Knowledge which is required by the community is called fardhu kifayah.  It is compulsory for the Muslim community to have a scholar or an expert in every field of knowledge. If not, all of us will be sinful.

So we can see here how Islam prioritizes knowledge. We cannot simply say that worldly knowledge is more important than religious knowledge, or the other way round. All knowledge is from Allah (swt). The obligation is to learn fardhu ‘ain first. And, later, to be followed by fardhu kifayah.

However, my respected brothers, knowledge alone is not enough. A knowledgeable man without good character will be looked down upon. It is pointless to have a sea of knowledge when his poor character will cause people to resent him. Islam emphasizes on good character. There are many examples in the Qur’an that guide us on how to have good character. Rasulullah (saw) himself possessed a very high level of good character. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Qalam, verse 4:

“And Verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard of) character.”

We need to learn what is considered good character in Islam. Manners which do not go against values that are highly prized by mankind. And to learn it, we must possess knowledge. This is why knowledge and good character are closely linked, and is the first step for us to achieve the vision of an excellent Muslim community in this world and in the hereafter.

Dear brothers,

With these two principles, knowledge and good character, we will be more confident and able to interact better with other communities, Muslim or non-Muslim. We will know the boundaries that are allowed, and reject politely those that are against our religion. We will not be as described in the idiom, a frog under its own husk, isolating one’s self from his surrounding environment. But we will be the captain, the one to steer the flow of the community around us toward success together. We will not fight the flow. We will also not follow the flow. But we will be the one to direct the flow toward excellence together. Excellence together with our multi-racial community. And the excellence of individuals together with our Muslim brothers in this life and in this hereafter.

This is the peak of knowledge and good character, two main principles. To be a model and an example to other communities. To show clear evidence to others, that Islam is a complete and all-encompassing religion. A religion that makes its followers excel. A religion that should be studied and practised by every person in this world.

And to whom should this responsibility be given to? The responsibility to show the beauty and completeness of Islam? None other than us Muslims. We are responsible for this explanation. And this explanation is what is meant by dakwah. Not just to call people toward goodness, but to practice and internalize the meaning of Islam itself. Allah (swt) says in surah An-Nahl, verse 125:

“Invite (mankind, O Muhammad) to the Way of your Lord (i.e., Islam) with wisdom (i.e., with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.”

Hopefully with this explanation, we will be more conscious of our role in this world, our objective, and how we can play our role and achieve the objective. And we pray to Allah, may our efforts be blessed, be given taufiq and ‘inayah, so as to elevate Islam.

Islam is exalted, and there is none that is more exalted than it.

Glossary:
Dakwah: The call to Islam. Also known as Da’wah.
Dua:  Term designating personal prayer, supplication, and communication with God, as distinct from salah (formal worship). Muslims make du’as for many reasons and at various times, such as after salah, before eating a meal, before retiring to sleep, or to commemorate an auspicious occasion such as the birth of a child. Personal du’as can be made in any language, whereas salah is performed in Arabic.
Fardhu ‘ain:   An action which is obligatory on every Muslim.
Fardhu kifayah.:  Collective duty. A duty on the whole community. However, if the duty has been fulfilled by a part of that community then the rest are not obliged to fulfill it.
‘inayah:  Care, concern.
InsyaAllah: The Bahasa Melayu spelling of Insha’Allah, meaning, “If God wills” or “God willing.”
Kamil:  Perfect, complete.
Rahmatan lil ‘alamin:  The blessing bestowed by Allah on the entire universe.
Rasulullah:  The Prophet of God, Muhammad (saw).
(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.
Shaitan:  Shaitan (Satan) is the source of evil in the world. He always tries to misguide and mislead people. The Qur’an states that Satan is not an angel but a member of the Jinn. His other name is Iblis.
(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.
Syamil:  The Bahasa Melayu spelling of Shamil, meaning, “All comprehensive; encompasses everything.”
Taufiq:  Prosperity, success, reconciliation.