Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

Friday Sermon

23 January 2026 / 4 Syaaban 1447H

Faith, Brotherhood, and Collective Strength

Zumratal mukminin rahimakumullah,

Have taqwa and fear Allah s.w.t. at all times. Obey all His commands and avoid all that He has forbidden. Remember that Allah s.w.t. is All-Hearing, All-Seeing, and that no sin or good deed is hidden from His knowledge. May this taqwa guide us towards the straight path; the path of Allah’s pleasure. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.

Blessed congregation,

Last week’s khutbah mentioned the miraculous event of al-Isra’ wal-Mi’raj, as recorded in the Sirah of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

This week, the sermon discusses one of the first initiatives the Prophet s.a.w. carried out upon arriving in Madinah following the hijrah, that is enacting the pact of brotherhood between the Muhajirun (migrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (dwellers of Madinah).

Why was this among the first actions undertaken by the Prophet s.a.w. upon his arrival in Madinah? What pressing need necessitated the formation of this pact?

My brothers,

The Prophet s.a.w. recognised that the Muhajirun were in urgent need of the support of the Ansar, having left behind their homes, families, and possessions in Makkah. At the same time, he also acknowledged the Ansar’s eagerness to participate in good deeds. Although they had embraced Islam later than the Muhajirun, they were deeply keen to contribute to the religion.

In addition to that, the Prophet s.a.w. understood the profound impact of brotherhood or togetherness in servitude, for when it is rooted in faith, is it entails reminding, motivating, supporting, and advising one another wisely in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure.

The Prophet s.a.w. knew that remaining steadfast in worship alone is far more difficult, especially in the face of uncertainty, hardship, and severe trials that affected the morale of the Muslims at the time, and so the Prophet s.a.w. enacted the pact of brotherhood as soon as he arrived in Madinah.

The spirit of togetherness and wanting to help one another is aligned with the teachings of the Quran. Allah s.a.w. says in Surah at-Tawbah, verse 71:

Which means: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer and give zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those are the ones whom Allah will have mercy upon. Indeed, Allah is Almighty and All-Wise.”

Honourable congregation,

In today’s world, we too face challenges of our own. Therefore, the spirit of brotherhood is crucial. We need to take inspiration from the historic pact recorded in the Sirah of the Prophet s.a.w. by strengthening our relations with those who live around us and turning it into a bond that is grounded in faith, aiming to attain Allah’s pleasure.

Here, the sermon presents two key reminders:

First: We must be compassionate and ready to help anyone in need

Whether through financial help, emotional support, or simply a listening ear. A Muslim views his relationship with others as an opportunity to uphold amar ma‘ruf – the enjoining of goodness mentioned in the Qur’anic verse recited earlier.

When the person being helped is a fellow Muslim, the bond of faith between them becomes evident. When the person is from a different background, the beauty and humanity of Islam manifested. This is the sweetness of human relations that are grounded in faith and the spirit of togetherness.

Second: We must support each other in strengthening our faith

This can be achieved by encouraging and normalising the culture of performing good deeds, generosity in charity, excellence in conduct, consistency in devotion, dedication in seeking religious knowledge, and mutual accountability in our religious matters.

Begin with the circle of influence closest to us – our children, family, friends, and everyone we meet. It is through collective efforts rooted in spiritual excellence that past Muslim communities achieved success, and the similar is also possible for today’s generation and those to come.

Blessed congregation,

The earlier generations of Muslims demonstrated a strong spirit of togetherness in their relationships with one another. Therefore, in our own lives and whatever fields we are involved in, let us cultivate the spirit of helping those around us and compete in spreading acts of goodness.

Let us instil a sense of unity. Seize every opportunity for doing kindness. With an awareness that is grounded in faith, may we earn rewards that weigh heavily on the scales of our deeds. Amin, Ya Rahman, Ya Mannan.

Second Sermon