Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon
20 January 2023 / 27 Jamadilakhir 1444H

The Virtue of Ihsan: The Path that Leads to Goodness

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. Verily, the virtue of kindness or Ihsan towards
those surrounding us is a manifestation of our piety or taqwa.

Brothers and sisters,

Kindness is a virtue that is highly commendable and valued in

Islam. Islam teaches us to be kind in all our dealings, our
actions, and in the decisions that we make every day. Just as
Allah (s.w.t) is kind towards his servants, so should a servant

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be kind to the people around him. As such, we ask, what is the
true meaning of kindness or Ihsan as taught by Islam?

My brothers and sisters, in order to understand the essence, the

very nature of ihsan, I would like to invite everyone to reflect on
the word of Allah (s.w.t.) in Surah al-Qasas verse 77. Allah
(s.w.t.) says:

Which means: “But seek, through the wealth that Allah has given
you, the home of the Hereafter; and yet, do not neglect your
share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to
you. And do not seek to make mischief on Earth. Indeed,
Allah does not like the mischief-makers."

Brothers and sisters,

This verse emphasises the prohibition of doing any form of harm

on this Earth. This prohibition comes right after the command of
Allah (s.w.t) to do good and to exercise kindness in our dealings
with others.

According to Imam Ibn 'Ashur, if a command in the Quran is

followed by a prohibition, it serves as a warning to humankind,
so that we do not mix those two matters together.

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In the previous verse, there is a command to do good, followed
by a prohibition against doing harm. In other words, the essence
and characteristics of ihsan or kindness are the opposite of
harm. The essence of goodness should lead to greater good and
greater benefits, and it will prevent all and any forms of harm.

From that, it is clear that every decision or action that we take

should be viewed through the lens of kindness. This is the
essence of our religion. This is because believers who act in
accordance with the virtue of kindness in all of their affairs will
prioritise the benefit of others in every situation. They will ask:
What do they need? How can we help them?

This is clearly demonstrated by the Prophet (s.a.w) in a hadith

regarding a companion named Abu Dzar (r.a.) who requested to
be appointed as a leader. The Prophet (s.a.w) declined his
request as he knew that Abu Dzar was not in the best position to
uphold the heavy responsibility as a leader. The Prophet (s.a.w)
said in a hadith:

‫ي َوﻧَ َﺪ َاﻣﺔٌ إِﱠﻻ َﻣ ْﻦ‬ ِ ‫ﻴﻒ وإِ ﱠ�َﺎ أَﻣﺎﻧَﺔٌ وإِ ﱠ�َﺎ ﻳـﻮم اﻟ ِْﻘﻴﺎﻣ ِﺔ‬ َِ ‫ﻚ‬
َ ‫) َ� أ ََﺎﺑ َذ ٍّر إِﻧﱠ‬
ٌ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ٌ ‫ﺿﻌ‬
‫ﺰ‬‫ﺧ‬

(‫ﻴﻬﺎ‬ ِ ‫أَ َﺧ َﺬ َﻫﺎ ِﲝَ ِّﻘ َﻬﺎ َوأَدﱠى اﻟﱠ ِﺬي َﻋﻠَْﻴ ِﻪ‬
َ‫ﻓ‬

Which means: “O Abu Dhar, you are weak and this is a position
of public trust. Verily, on the Day of Resurrection it will only result

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in regret, except for one who takes it by right and fulfills its
duties.” [Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim]

From this hadith, we learn that the Prophet (s.a.w) turned down
his request as it will bring more harm than good to him or to the
Muslim community at large.

Such is the essence of kindness or Ihsan - it brings with it greater

benefits for us as well as others, and it rejects all forms of harm.

Brothers and sisters,

In life, we will certainly face situations that require us to make

difficult decisions. But when a decision is made while taking into
account the aspect of ihsan, the result will surely bring goodness.

For example, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, all

mosques had to be closed. Friday prayers and congregational
activities at the mosques were also suspended for a while.
Definitely, there were challenges to this decision back then.
However, the decision taken was for the benefit of all individuals
and the whole society, by prioritising the prevention of the
epidemic. This is the essence of kindness in that situation.

There were those who mocked the decision because they

believed that undergoing hardship is necessary in the religion,
and that it would not matter if contagion occurred in places of
worship. Those who think that way showcased their lack of

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understanding towards the concept of ihsan, or goodness, as
taught in our religion.

Islam is a religion of ease and flexible to be practised at any time,

place or situation. And in every situation, there are decisions and
rulings that take into account specific needs and contexts.

May Allah (s.w.t) grant us wisdom and guidance and enable us

to enliven the essence of ihsan or kindness in all our actions.
Amin Ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

‫ﺎﺳﺘَـﻐْ ِﻔ ُﺮوﻩُ إِﻧﱠﻪُ ُﻫ َﻮ‬‫ﻓ‬

َ ، ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻜ‬
ُ ‫ﻟ‬
َ‫و‬ ‫ﱄ‬ِ ‫ﻢ‬ ‫ﻴ‬ ِ ‫أَﻗُـﻮ ُل ﻗَـﻮِﱄ ﻫ َﺬا وأَﺳﺘـﻐْ ِﻔﺮ ﷲ اﻟﻌ‬
‫ﻈ‬
ْ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ ُ َْ َ َ ْ ْ

‫اﻟﻐَ ُﻔ ْﻮُر اﻟ ﱠﺮِﺣ ْﻴﻢ‬

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 ‫‪Second Sermon‬‬

‫ﻳﻚ‬‫ﲑا َﻛ َﻤﺎ أ ََﻣ َﺮ‪َ ،‬وأَ ْﺷ َﻬ ُﺪ أَن َﻻ إِﻟَﻪَ إِﱠﻻ ﷲُ َو ْﺣ َﺪﻩُ َﻻ َﺷ ِﺮ َ‬ ‫اﳊﻤ ُﺪ ِ‬
‫ﻪﻠﻟ َﲪْ ًﺪا َﻛﺜِ‬
‫ً‬ ‫َْ‬
‫ﺻ ِّﻞ َو َﺳﻠِّ ْﻢ َﻋﻠَﻰ َﺳﻴِّ ِﺪ َ�‬
‫ﻟَﻪُ‪َ ،‬وأَ ْﺷ َﻬ ُﺪ أَ ﱠن َﺳﻴِّ َﺪ َ� ُﳏَ ﱠﻤ ًﺪا َﻋ ْﺒ ُﺪﻩُ َوَر ُﺳﻮﻟُﻪُ‪ .‬اﻟﻠﱠ ُﻬ ﱠﻢ َ‬
‫ﷲ‬ ‫ﻮا‬ ‫ﻘ‬
‫ُ‬ ‫ﱠ‬
‫ـ‬‫ﺗ‬‫َﲨ ِﻌﲔ‪ .‬أَ ﱠﻣﺎ ﺑـﻌﺪ‪ ،‬ﻓَـﻴﺎ ِﻋﺒﺎد ﷲ‪ ،‬اِ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫أ‬ ‫ُﳏَ ﱠﻤ ٍﺪ و َﻋﻠَﻰ آﻟِ ِﻪ وأَﺻﺤﺎﺑِ ِ‬
‫ﻪ‬
‫َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ َ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ َْ‬ ‫َ‬
‫ﻴﻤﺎ أ ََﻣ َﺮ‪َ ،‬واﻧﺘَـ ُﻬﻮا َﻋ ﱠﻤﺎ َ�َﺎ ُﻛﻢ َﻋ ْﻨﻪُ َوَز َﺟ َﺮ‪.‬‬ ‫ِ‬
‫ﺗَـ َﻌ َﺎﱃ ﻓ َ‬
‫ﺚ‬‫ﻚ َﺣ ْﻴ ُ‬ ‫ﺼﻄََﻔﻰ‪ ،‬ﻓَـ َﻘ ْﺪ أ ََﻣ َﺮَ� ﷲُ ﺑِ َﺬﻟِ َ‬ ‫ﺻﻠﱡﻮا َو َﺳﻠِّ ُﻤﻮا َﻋﻠَﻰ اﻟﻨِ ِّ‬
‫ﱠﱯ اﻟ ُْﻤ ْ‬ ‫أََﻻ َ‬
‫ﻳﻦ‬ ‫ﺬ‬‫ﱠﱯ ﻳـﺎ أَﻳﱡـﻬﺎ اﻟﱠ ِ‬
‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬‫ﻨ‬‫اﻟ‬ ‫ﻰ‬ ‫ﻠ‬
‫َ‬ ‫ﻋ‬
‫َ‬ ‫ن‬
‫َ‬ ‫ﻮ‬ ‫ﱡ‬
‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﺼ‬‫ﻳ‬ ‫ﻪ‬
‫ُ‬ ‫ﺘ‬
‫َ‬ ‫ﻜ‬
‫َ‬ ‫ِ‬
‫ﺋ‬ ‫ﻼ‬‫َ‬ ‫ﻣ‬‫و‬ ‫ﷲ‬ ‫ﱠ‬
‫ن‬ ‫ِ‬
‫إ‬ ‫‪:‬‬ ‫ِ‬
‫ﺰ‬ ‫ﻳ‬‫ِ‬
‫ﺰ‬ ‫اﻟﻌ‬ ‫ﻗَﺎل ِﰲ ﻛِﺘَﺎﺑِ ِ‬
‫ﻪ‬
‫َ‬ ‫َّ َ‬ ‫َُ‬ ‫َ ََ‬ ‫َ‬
‫ﺻ ِّﻞ َو َﺳﻠِّ ْﻢ َو َﺎﺑ ِر ْك َﻋﻠَﻰ َﺳﻴِّ ِﺪ َ�‬
‫ﻴﻤﺎ‪ .‬اﻟﻠﱠ ُﻬ ﱠﻢ َ‬
‫ِ‬ ‫ِ ِ‬
‫ﺻﻠﱡﻮا َﻋﻠَﻴﻪ َو َﺳﻠّ ُﻤﻮا ﺗَﺴﻠ ً‬ ‫َء َاﻣﻨُﻮا َ‬
‫آل َﺳﻴِّ ِﺪ َ� ُﳏَ ﱠﻤ ٍﺪ‪.‬‬ ‫ُﳏَ ﱠﻤ ٍﺪ و َﻋﻠَﻰ ِ‬
‫َ‬
‫ِ‬ ‫اﺷ ِ‬ ‫وارض اﻟﻠﱠﻬ ﱠﻢ َﻋ ِﻦ اﳋُﻠَ َﻔ ِﺎء اﻟ ﱠﺮ ِ‬
‫ﻳﻦ اﳌَْﻬﺪﻳِّ َ‬
‫ﲔ أَِﰊ ﺑَ ْﻜ ٍﺮ َوﻋُ َﻤ َﺮ َوﻋُﺜْ َﻤﺎ َن‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ﺪ‬ ‫َْ َ ُ‬
‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫و َﻋﻠِ ِﻲ‪ ،‬و َﻋﻦ ﺑ ِﻘﻴﱠ ِﺔ اﻟ ﱠ ِ‬
‫ﲔ‪َ ،‬و َﻋﻨﱠﺎ‬ ‫ﲔ‪َ ،‬وَﺎﺗﺑِﻌﻲ اﻟﺘﱠﺎﺑِﻌ َ‬ ‫ﺼ َﺤﺎﺑَﺔ َواﻟ َﻘ َﺮاﺑَﺔ َواﻟﺘﱠﺎﺑِﻌ َ‬ ‫َ ّ َ َ‬
‫ﲔ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻚ � أَرﺣﻢ اﻟ ﱠﺮ ِِ‬
‫اﲪ َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ﻣﻌ ُﻬﻢ وِﻓﻴ ِﻬﻢ ﺑِﺮ ْﲪَﺘِ‬
‫َ َ‬‫َ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ََ َ‬
‫ﻨﻬﻢ‬ ‫ﺎت‪ ،‬اﻷَﺣﻴ ِﺎء ِ‬
‫ﻣ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ﻤ‬ ‫ﺎت‪ ،‬واﳌُﺴﻠِ ِﻤﲔ واﳌُﺴﻠِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ﻨ‬ ‫اﻟﻠﱠﻬ ﱠﻢ ا ْﻏ ِﻔﺮ ﻟِﻠﻤ ْﺆِﻣﻨِﲔ واﳌُْﺆِ‬
‫ﻣ‬
‫َْ ُ‬ ‫َ ْ ََ ْ َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ْ ُ ََ‬ ‫ُ‬
‫اﻟﻮَﺎﺑ َء َواﻟ ﱠﺰَﻻ ِز َل َواﳌِ َﺤ َﻦ‪َ ،‬ﻣﺎ ﻇَ َﻬ َﺮ‬ ‫ِ‬
‫َواﻷَ ْﻣ َﻮات‪ .‬اﻟﻠﱠ ُﻬ ﱠﻢ ا ْدﻓَ ْﻊ َﻋﻨﱠﺎ اﻟﺒَ َﻼ َء َو َ‬
‫ﺻﺔً‪ ،‬وﺳﺎﺋِ ِﺮ اﻟﺒـ ْﻠ َﺪ ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬
‫ﲔ‪.‬‬ ‫اﻟﻌﺎﻟَ ِﻤ َ‬
‫ب َ‬ ‫ان َﻋﺎ ﱠﻣﺔً‪َ �َ ،‬ر ﱠ‬ ‫ﻣ ْﻨـ َﻬﺎ َوَﻣﺎ ﺑَﻄَ َﻦ‪َ ،‬ﻋﻦ ﺑَـﻠَﺪ َ� َﺧﺎ ﱠ َ َ ُ‬
‫اب اﻟﻨﱠﺎ ِر‪.‬‬ ‫ﺬ‬
‫َ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ‫ﺎ‬‫ﻨ‬ ‫اﻵﺧﺮِة ﺣﺴﻨَﺔً‪ ،‬وِ‬
‫ﻗ‬ ‫رﺑﱠـﻨﺎ آﺗِﻨﺎ ِﰲ اﻟ ﱡﺪﻧﻴﺎ ﺣﺴﻨﺔً‪ ،‬وِﰲ ِ‬
‫َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ ََ َ‬ ‫َ َ ََ َ‬ ‫ََ َ‬
‫‪6‬‬
‫ﺎن َوإِﻳﺘَ ِﺎء ِذي اﻟ ُﻘ ْﺮَﰉ‪َ ،‬وﻳَـ ْﻨـ َﻬﻰ َﻋ ِﻦ‬
‫ﷲ‪ ،‬إِ ﱠن ﷲ �ْﻣﺮ ِﺎﺑﻟﻌ ْﺪ ِل وا ِﻹﺣﺴ ِ‬
‫ْ‬
‫َ َ ُُ َ َ َ‬
‫ﺎد ِ‬‫َ‬ ‫ﺒ‬
‫َ‬
‫ِ‬
‫ﻋ‬
‫ﻴﻢ‬ ‫اﻟ َﻔﺤ َﺸ ِﺎء واﳌُﻨ َﻜ ِﺮ واﻟﺒـﻐْ ِﻲ‪ ،‬ﻳ ِﻌﻈُ ُﻜﻢ ﻟَﻌﻠﱠ ُﻜﻢ ﺗَ َﺬ ﱠﻛﺮو َن‪ ،‬ﻓَﺎذ ُﻛﺮوا ﷲ اﻟﻌ ِ‬
‫ﻈ‬
‫ُ َ َ َ‬ ‫َ َ َ ْ َ ْ ُ‬ ‫ْ َ‬
‫ﻛﺮ‬ ‫ﻌﻄ ُﻜﻢ‪ ،‬وﻟَ ِ‬
‫ﺬ‬ ‫ﻳ ْﺬ ُﻛﺮُﻛﻢ‪ ،‬وا ْﺷ ُﻜﺮوﻩُ َﻋﻠَﻰ ﻧِﻌ ِﻤ ِﻪ ﻳ ِﺰد ُﻛﻢ‪ ،‬واﺳﺄَﻟُﻮﻩُ ِﻣﻦ ﻓَﻀﻠِ ِﻪ ﻳ ِ‬
‫َ ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫َ َ ْ َ ْ‬ ‫َ ْ َ ُ‬
‫َﻛﱪُ‪َ ،‬وﷲُ ﻳَﻌﻠَ ُﻢ َﻣﺎ ﺗَﺼﻨَـﻌُﻮ َن‪.‬‬ ‫أ‬ ‫ِ‬
‫ﷲ‬
‫َ‬

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