DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT MALAYSIA SPECIAL IDULFITRI SERMON (KHUTBAH) Bond of Relationship a Complement To Idulfitri Celebration (01 Syawal

1431H / 10 September 2010)

Fellow congregants, Muslimin and Muslimat, May Allahs blessings be on us. On this victorious and blessed morning, let us together intensify our gratitude and our submissions to Allah SWT in all earnestness not just a submission per se but a submission with a full responsibility in our adherence to Allah SWT commands and to leave all His forbiddance, so that we will be loved by Him, get His protection in the world and the hereafter. Today, Mimbar will deliver a khutbah on
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a topic entitled Bond of Relationship, A Complement To Idulfitri Celebration.

Fellow congregants, Muslimin and Muslimat. Today, with the coming of 1 Syawal, it is the moment for Muslims of all ages all over the world to express takbir, tahmid and tasbih in unison and chorus audibly as a sign of praise of Allahs sovereignty, and repentance that the blessed month of Ramadan has left us, and the sign of our gratitude to Allah SWT that only with His blessings can we congregate here today. The resonance in praise of Allah SWT has vibrated our souls, feelings and thinking, as the celebration of idulfitri set by our religion is begun with our full submission to Allah, and hopefully the celebrations being held all over the country are filled with activities that dont contradict with the teachings of Islam and do not contaminate the glow of Ramadan. Idulfitri means a celebration of victory in curbing lust and temptations and to enable us to return as Allahs godly devoted subjects and who conform to His rules, love al- Quran, love our holy prophet SAW, mosques and live in harmony through a bond of relationship among fellow Muslims. The prime strength of idulfitri celebration is seen in the practice of this bond of relationship. The bond of relationship means creating a strong, loving

relationship among relatives, family members and other Muslims. Normally, prior to idulfitri celebration, Muslims in droves return to their kampong via land, sea or air to be with their parents and close relatives to celebrate idulfitri together. After idulfitri prayers, we will be shaking hands with our parents, close relatives,
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neighbours, friends and acquaintances to ask for forgiveness on our wrong doings, injustice, and other sinful deeds. Allahs decree in Surah An-Nisa verse 36:

Interpreted to mean:And pray to Allah, and dont you associate His Oneness with any other, and be good to your parents, relatives and orphans, the poor, immediate and distant neighbours, colleagues and helpless travellers and slaves that you have. Truly, Allah abhors arrogant people and those who boast about themselves. Based on this verse, parents, relatives and family members are the main focus where we intensify our bond of relationship because they are the ones with whom you have lineage and blood relation. It is a responsibility to render help to family members in need. This is the approach of Muslims to fulfil their social obligations. With the coming of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), when starting the program of Hijrah to strengthen the bond of relationship among the people of Ansar and Muhajirin was proven to be successful. Abu Syufian, when he was a special envoy of the Prophet (pbuh) had an audience with King Hercules in Persia. King Hercules asked Abu Syufian what Muhammads (pbuh) instruction was, and he answered, Pray to Allah SWT, the one and only God, dont ally Allah with anything, Islam, the religion of Allah is asking us to perform solat (prayers), be honest and sincere and to leave bad deeds and to continue the bond of relationship (Muttafaq Alaihi) . According to explanation by Abu Syufian to non-

Muslim leaders, it was clear that the bond of relationship was a basic requirement in handling social issues. The big question that arises is whether it is possible to create a relationship with non-Muslims. In principle, Islam does not forbid its Ummah to have a bond of relationship with non-Muslims if it gives benefits to Muslims. Allah SWTs decree in Surah Muntahanah, verse 8:

Interpreted to mean: Allah does not forbid you from doing good and being just to people who are not at war with you because of your religion and they do not displace you from your own villages; truly, Allah, the Most Compassionate loves people who are just.

Bond of relationship is the soul of Islamic strength as it creates love, relationship, peace and family ties and society. People who like to continue and maintain the bond of relationship will be rewarded with better sustenance and long life. Ibnu Umar stated that Rasulallah (pbuh) said:

Interpreted to mean: Anyone who likes to widen his means of livelihood and live a good life, he should enchance the retationship among his brothers of Islam. (Documented by Bukhari)

Fellow congregants, Muslimin and Muslimat While we are joyously celebrating idulfitri, we must be aware that there are some relatives, neighbours, friends and acquaintances and Muslim brothers and sisters of ours who can hardly celebrate idulfitri like we do, as their relationship is severed from relatives. They are paupers, abandoned children and those who are at Rehabilitation Centres, old folks homes, orphanages, welfare homes and some are at shelter homes run by non-Muslims. Mimbar feels grieved that those with severed relationship of brotherhood will find an alternative way out to get love or resort to injure themselves. Issues on changes of faith, abandoning babies and drug addiction are parts of common problems in their lives. This is the effect of them not having any bond of blood relationship. In the chapter on Ali Imran verse 112, Allah decrees:

Interpreted to mean: They will fall into disgrace where ever they are, unless they form good relationshipwith Allah SWT and good relationship among people. While giving the same explanation related to this brotherhood relationship the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:

Interpreted to mean: There is no place in Heaven for people who severe relationship of brotherhood. (Documented by Bukhari)

Fellow congregants, Muslimin and Muslimat, Having the attitude of self importance, having ego, being cruel and unjust prevent the tie in brotherhood relationship. The effects of such attitudes, sometimes lead men to act outside their bound like not recognising their lineage, performing tortures, causing injuries, taking other peoples lives and as well as their own. In line with the light of Ramadan which offers a big avenue to strengthen bond of relationship, Mimbar would like to take this opportunity to remind us to maintain and strengthen the bond of relationship by giving aids voluntarily, helping them to fulfil their aspirations, forgiving and be forgiven, paying visits, offering prayers and continue having close relationship suitable to our means. However, the best accepted norm is by paying visits as a show of respect. The practice of paying social visits is effective as it is a sign of our sincerity to bind our love and to strengthen our brotherhood and the opportunity to seek forgiveness openly. Remember all muslims, that our practices such as prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage and so will not be accepted by Allah SWT if we only concern about ourselves and break off the ties. Let us ponder deeply the decree of Allah SWT in Surah al-Hujuraat verse 10:

Interpreted to mean: Truly the believers are brothers. Make peace among your brothers (who are fighting); and remain conscious of Allah, so that you may be shown mercy.

SECOND IDULFITRI SERMON (KHUTBAH)

Beloved congregants, Muslimin and Muslimat - May Allah SWT shower us His Compassion. Let us on this joyous day express our gratitude for the pleasure of faith and Islam endowed by Allah SWT. Imam Ghazali once said that those who are grateful are always with Allah in their hearts, the tongues utter Alhamdulillah and the bodies used in doing goodness. Truly, only those who die in faith and Islam are welcome by Allah SWT. His decree in Surah Ali Imran verse 102:

Interpreted to mean: Oh people of faith, show your godly devotion to Allah SWT in earnestness and do not ever die other than being in Islam.

Beloved congregants, muslimin and muslimat, The light of Ramadan reminds us that the fundamental of bond of relationship in Islam transcends the borders of any country or continent. We must always be aware that our Muslim brothers and sisters abroad are living in difficulty throughout their life, growing up in a war situation, generation after generation, and continue to live in unending sufferings particularly our Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine. Even though many agreements and peaceful negotiations have been reached and taken, Palestine continually becomes smaller and suppressed. Based on the struggle of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in facing the Jews in the battles of Khandak and Khaibar, the most effective way of fighting the zieonist regime is through jihad. Based on the observation of Mimbar, there are Muslim minorities in many countries especially in this region, undergoing difficulties in their lives. Mimbar would like to draw your attention and would ask you to visualise how Muslims in countries at war and experiencing extreme poverty observe the fasting month and celebrate idulfitri. In the spirit of bond of relationship, Mimbar appeals to todays congeagants, muslimin and muslimat to give aids to our hard core poor brothers and sisters in Islam who are now living in extreme hardships. Mimbar is most thankful to Islamic and non-Islamic organizations in conducting programmes on bond of friendship and human aids for the Palestinians as well as sacrificial rite (kurban) programmes in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and elsewhere. The light of Ramadan reminds us to extend help, a programme being organised from time to time in mosques, media, etc. With Allah SWTs grace, our sustenance will increase, our life will be longer and our love towards our communities will be better.

Beloved congregants, brothers and sisters in Islam Today, let us increase our expressions of salawat and salam to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for propagating Islam through many sacrifices and jihad and over time, it has become the religion of the country. Our show of love is expressed in our salawat and salam as Allah SWTs decree in Surah al-Ahzab verse 56:

Interpreted to mean: Truly Allah and His angles shower blessings on the Prophet (giving him honour and graces). O Believers! Bless him and greet him with a worthy salutation.

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Translated into English by ahmaddahan@yahoo.com

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