Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Friday Sermon
11 March 2022 / 8 Syaaban 1443H

Understanding Surah al-Dhuha: Instilling Positive Thinking

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

Let us strive to increase our taqwa of Allah (s.w.t.) by obeying

all His commands and avoiding all His prohibitions. May we be
among His righteous servants. Ameen.

Brothers and Sisters,

The Qur'an acts as a main reference for the believers. The

Qur’an has always been a guide for us in going through life that
is filled with tests and challenges.

In today’s sermon, I would like to invite everyone to ponder

upon the historical context of the revelation of surah al-Dhuha.
Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Quran:
Which means: “By the morning brightness. And [by] the night
when it covers with darkness. Your Lord ˹O Prophet˺ has not
abandoned you, nor has He become hateful ˹of you˺. And the
Hereafter is certainly far better for you than this life. And your
Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.” [Al-
Dhuha:1-5]

If we look into the seerah of the Prophet (s.a.w.), we will find a

story on the revelation of this surah and how it happened in the
beginning of Islam. At that time, the Prophet (s.a.w.) was
feeling very sad and worried when he did not receive any
revelation after so long.

Eventually, Jibril (a.s.) came with a revelation as a comfort and

solace, which was Surah Al-Dhuha. This surah contains the
meaning of hope towards the mercy of Allah (s.w.t.) for those
who are patient. Even though the surah was revealed for the
Prophet (s.a.w.), its messages are also meant for the ummah of
the Prophet (s.a.w.), reminding us to believe that Allah (s.w.t.)
will never abandon humankind.

In life, when we are challenged by difficulties and situations

seem uncertain, we should reflect on this surah. It contains
words of encouragement and guidance, to always look at the
bigger picture. It reminds us not to limit our focus on this life
alone but look ahead to our ultimate ending in the hereafter.
And a good ending is for those who are patient and steadfast.

Brothers and Sisters,

In this life, there will be times when we feel happy and

fortunate, and there are times when we feel sad and
disappointed. We do agree that hardships and troubles in this
world can cause a person to feel upset, discouraged and may
lose hope in living. All these can affect our daily lives and may
possibly cause a person to fall into depression.

The issue of depression should not be taken lightly, because

depression disrupts the feelings of a person causing dejection
that is detrimental to their life. So, how can we protect
ourselves from within, as we prepare ourselves in receiving
assistance from Allah (s.w.t.)?

Allow me to suggest a few ways:

Firstly: Always remember Allah (s.w.t.) in times of ease and

think well of Allah (s.w.t.) in times of difficulty. Because the key
to getting Allah's help in times of struggle, is by remembering
Allah (s.w.t.) in times of comfort. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:
"Remember Allah at the time of ease, surely Allah will
remember you at the time of difficulty" (Hadith narrated by
Imam al-Tirmizi)
Secondly: Let us continue to strive in helping others. Because
if we were to help others in need, Allah (s.w.t) will send down
His help when we are in difficulty as narrated in a hadith in
Sahih Muslim.

May we continue to be spirited and always remain positive

whilst living peacefully with our dear families and community.
Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

‫ َفاْس َتْغ ِفُروُه ِإَّن ُه ُه َو‬، ‫َأُقْو ُل َقْو ِلي َه َذ ا وَأْس َتْغ ِفُر َهللا الَع ِظ ْي َم ِلي َو َلُك ْم‬
‫الَغ ُفْو ُر الَّر ِحْيم‬
 ‫‪Second Sermon‬‬

‫الَحْم ُد ِهلل َحْم ًد ا َك ِث يًر ا َك َم ا َأَم َر ‪َ ،‬و َأْش َه ُد َأن اَل ِإَل َه ِإاَّل اُهلل َو ْح َد ُه اَل‬

‫َش ِر يَك َل ُه‪َ ،‬و َأْش َه ُد َأَّن َس ِّيَد َنا ُمَح َّم ًد ا َعْب ُد ُه َو َر ُس وُلُه‪ .‬الَّلُه َّم َص ِّل‬

‫َو َس ِّلْم َعَلى َس ِّيِد َنا ُمَح َّم ٍد َو َعَلى آِلِه َو َأْص َح اِبِه َأْج َم ِعيَن ‪َ .‬أَّم ا َبْع ُد ‪َ ،‬فَي ا‬

‫ِع َباَد اهلل‪ِ ،‬اَّتُقوا اَهلل َتَعاَلى ِفيَم ا َأَمَر ‪َ ،‬و انَتُه وا َعَّم ا َنَه اُك م َعْنُه َو َز َج َر ‪.‬‬

‫َأاَل َص ُّلوا َو َس ِّلُم وا َعَلى الَّنِبِّي اْلُم ْص َطَف ى‪َ ،‬فَق ْد َأَم َر َنا اُهلل ِب َذ ِلَك َح ْيُث‬

‫َق ال ِفي ِكَتاِب ِه الَعِز ي ِز ‪ِ :‬إَّن اَهلل َو َماَل ِئَك َت ُه ُيَص ُّلوَن َعَلى الَّنِبِّي َيـا َأُّيَه ا‬

‫اَّلِذ يَن َءاَمُنوا َص ُّلوا َعَليِه َو َس ِّلُم وا َتس ِليًم ا‪ .‬الَّلُه َّم َص ِّل َو َس ِّلْم َو َباِر ْك‬

‫َعَلى َس ِّيِد َنا ُمَح َّم ٍد َو َعَلى آِل َس ِّيِد َنا ُمَح َّم ٍد ‪.‬‬

‫ُع‬ ‫ٍر‬ ‫ْك‬ ‫ي‬‫ِب‬‫َأ‬ ‫ي‬‫ِّي‬ ‫ا الَّل َّم َعِن الُخ َلَف اِء الَّر اِش ِد ي ال ْه ِد‬
‫َن َب َو َم َر‬ ‫َن َم‬ ‫َو ْر َض ُه‬

‫َو ُعْثَم اَن َو َعِلِّي ‪َ ،‬و َعن َبِق َّي ِة الَّص َح اَبِة َو الَق َر اَب ِة َو الَّت اِبِعيَن ‪َ ،‬و َت اِبِعي‬

‫الَّتاِبِعيَن ‪َ ،‬و َعَّنا َم َعُه م َو ِفيِه م ِبَر ْح َم ِتَك َيا َأْرَح َم الَّر اِح ِم يَن ‪.‬‬
‫الَّل َّم اْغِف ِلل ْؤ ِم ِني ال ْؤ ِم اِت ‪ ،‬ال ِلِم ي ال ِل اِت ‪ ،‬اَأل اِء‬
‫ْح َي‬ ‫ْر ُم َن َو ُم َن َو ُمْس َن َو ُمْس َم‬ ‫ُه‬

‫ِم نُه م َو اَألْم َو اِت ‪ .‬الَّلُه َّم اْد َف ْع َعَّنا الَباَل َء َو الَو َب اَء َو الَّز اَل ِز َل َو الِم َح َن ‪،‬‬

‫َم ا َظَه َر ِم ْنَه ا َو َم ا َبَطَن ‪َ ،‬عن َبَل ِد َنا َخ اَّص ًة‪َ ،‬و َس اِئِر الُبْل َد اِن َعاَّم ًة‪،‬‬

‫َياَر َّب الَعاَلِم يَن ‪َ .‬ر َّبَنا آِتَنا ِفي الُّد نَيا َح َس َنًة‪َ ،‬و ِفي اآلِخ َر ِة َح َس َنًة‪َ ،‬و ِقَن ا‬

‫َعَذ اَب الَّناِر ‪.‬‬

‫ِع َباَد اِهلل‪ِ ،‬إَّن اَهلل َي ْأُمُر ِبالَع ْد ِل َو اِإل ْح َس اِن َو ِإيَت اِء ِذ ي الُق ْر َبى‪َ ،‬و َيْنَه ى‬

‫َعِن الَف ْح َش اِء َو الُم نَك ِر َو الَبْغِي ‪َ ،‬يِعُظُك ْم َلَعَّلُك ْم َت َذ َّك ُر وَن ‪َ ،‬ف اذُك ُر وا‬

‫اَهلل الَعِظ يَم َي ْذ ُك رُك ْم ‪َ ،‬و اْش ُك ُر وُه َعَلى ِنَعِم ِه َي ِز دُك ْم ‪َ ،‬و اْس َأُلوُه ِم ن‬

‫َفضِلِه ُيعِط ُك م‪َ ،‬و َلِذ كُر اِهلل َأكَبُر ‪َ ،‬و اُهلل َيعَلُم َم ا َتصَنُعوَن ‪.‬‬