Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon

1 September 2023 / 15 Safar 1445H

A Father’s Role in the Development of His Child

My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam,

Let us continue our efforts to elevate our taqwa towards Allah (s.w.t.), by obeying all His orders, and by abstaining from all His prohibitions. May Allah guide us to become trustworthy people in carrying out the responsibilities that have been given to us. Amin Ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

My fellow Muslims,

Rasulullah (s.a.w) said: 

لَأَنْ يُؤَدِّبَ الرَّجُلُ وَلَدَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ بِصَاعٍ  

Which means: "It is better for a man to educate his children than to give a mouthful in charity." [Hadith narrated by Imam Al-Tirmizi]

My brothers and sisters, this hadith does not only refer to the benefits and advantages of educating children on performing acts of charity. However, this hadith actually serves as a guidance directed specifically at fathers.

If we look at this hadith carefully, our Prophet (s.a.w) specifically places the responsibility of educating a child on his or her father. This hadith serves as a reminder that fathers also have a responsibility to educate their children, and it is not solely the mother's duty.

This can be done, not only by educating them, and spending time with them, but also by making the home the first school for their children. This is so that our children can be exposed to religious values ​​at an early age – the age when they are rapidly absorbing whatever they can learn, like sponges. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot!

My brothers and sisters, pay close attention to the story of Luqman Al-Hakim as told in the Qur’an. He was very concerned about his son's religiosity, and the development of his personality. As such, he made great efforts to educate his son, to advise him, and to teach him to guard his religion and his character. He also taught his son to be patient in weathering the storms of life.

Allah (s.w.t) said in the noble Qur’an, Surah Luqman, verse 17: 

Which means: “O my dear son! Establish prayer, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil, and endure patiently whatever befalls you. Indeed, those are the matters requiring determination.”

Let us learn from the story of Luqman. Look at how he cared deeply about the education and development of his child. He was gentle and loving while also being firm with him.

My fellow Muslims,

Our role as fathers is not just to work and earn money for the family. Rather, we should be actively involved in the upbringing of our children.

Even though our day may be filled with work-related activities, we should make it a point to spend time with our children after work. Our daily routine should include spending time with our family. It could be something as simple as having dinner with our family, or just sitting down together as a family, and talking about our day.

We must also make sure that distractions such as handphones and other devices are temporarily turned off during the time that we spend with our family members. This is because the time we spend with our families should be seen as sacred and precious to us, and thus we should dedicate all our attention to them during that time. We should also cherish the time that we have with our families, and we should grasp the opportunity to foster a closer relationship with them. When our children feel close and connected to us, it is easier for them to be receptive to our advice.

May Allah (s.w.t) bless the time that we have here on earth, so that we can spend it with our families, doing good together in seeking His Pleasure. 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.