Commentary: Friday Sermon Feels A Little Scripted

Salam admin dan semua,

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
10 March 2017 /11 Jamadil Akhir 1438H
A Comprehensive Understanding of Religion

Dear respected Friday Jemaah,
Let us have taqwa to Allah s.w.t. with the utmost taqwa. Know that every action that we do in this world will be judged and every word that we utter will be weighed in the Hereafter.
Dear Jemaah,
The sermon last week affirmed the importance for a Muslim to obtain a true and correct understanding with regards to his or her religion. There are numerous verses from the Quran and Sunnah that emphasize the importance of understanding the meaning behind a religious text. Allah s.w.t. mentions in the Quran:

Which means: “[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.”
The Prophet s.a.w. also once said: “When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of religion.” (Hadith narrated by Bukhari/Muslim)
This guidance from Allah s.w.t. and the Prophet s.a.w. assert the importance of thinking about, observing and understanding (tafaqquh) the teachings of Islam thoroughly. Why is this so, dear Jemaah? It is because religious texts like the Quran and Hadith are open to various interpretations. Like it or not, we are indirectly affected and influenced by our surroundings, lifestyle and the culture of thought of the society as well as the period that we live in. There is a reason for every action taken, spoken or otherwise and this includes religious texts like the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet s.a.w. It is on this basis, therefore, to understand a particular religious text, we must know its background and context. This gives us a more accurate picture regarding the meaning of that particular religious text. Consequently, if we fail to understand the background of a verse from the Quran or Hadith, it is feared that we might use it as a basis for something it is not meant for, or worse, for something that stands in direct opposition. This ‘ilm is known as Asbabun Nuzul and it discusses reasons behind the revelations of the Quranic verses as well as explains its context and backstory. Whereas the ‘ilm that discusses the context and background of Hadith is known as ‘ilm Asbabul Wurud. Mastery of these two disciplines will provide us with a clearer picture on the background of a particular Quranic verse or Prophetic hadith.
Dear Jemaah,
Understanding background and context is not only limited to religious texts. It is also required to understand the writings of the ‘ulama.
It is undeniable that the ‘ulama have left behind an immense wealth of knowledge for us to inherit. They have contributed in enriching our religious thought and put tremendous effort in producing various publications to provide explanation on religious matters and religious texts. However, dear Jemaah, when reading these writings, we may find statements or interpretations that seem to be in opposition to the realities of life in this era. If we put that particular interpretation into practice, it will not only cause confusion but also bring with it negative consequences.
For example, when flipping through the pages of fiqh books by ‘ulama hundreds of years ago, we find that some of them give special attention to the ruling that it is compulsory to migrate from a non-Islamic country (Darul Harb) which means a country in conflict and migrate to an ‘Islamic country’ also known as the “Darul Islam”.
The opinions stated by these jurists were shaped by the social as well as political conditions of their times that differ from the reality of life in this era. Their writings were intended to give an explanation to a people who lived in a world that witnessed persistent conflicts between different religions. It was a time when it was unimaginable that Muslims would be able to live peacefully with non-Muslims in a single country.
However with the shift in the political system, as well as the concept of modern citizenship, and through the application of international law, people today are given the rights to travel freely and reside in a nation regardless of their religious or ethnic background, contesting the suitability of the classical classification of the world as explained in traditional fiqh. This is the view of many contemporary ‘ulama such as Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah and others.
Hence dear Jemaah, understanding the background of the socio-religious and socio-political context as well as the reality of life that surrounds a particular writing will provide the reader a comprehensive picture of why such a statement or fatwa was given.
This explanation is important as we find a group of people in this day and age, who, without observing the context or background of a particular religious text or writings of the ‘ulama, seem to lose faith in religion and themselves. Some of them claim that the administrative system of the different nations today are un-Islamic simply because it is not a caliphate or an ‘Islamic state’. And that Muslims who live in places like Singapore are unable to practice their faith fully. This results in the extraction of the views of classical scholars who lived hundreds of years ago and in a specific context to be practiced in today’s 21st century.
Therefore, whenever we read or receive an opinion that was taken from classical ‘ulama, we must discuss them with local and contemporary scholars who understand the condition and context of the world we live in so as to obtain proper advice and further guidance.
It is not our intention to claim that the views of classical ‘ulama are incorrect or have no value. However, we have to admit that their views which were suitable for their particular needs and time might not be suitable for us today.
May we be considered to be among those who the Prophet s.a.w. characterised as people who Allah s.w.t. bequeathed understanding of religion and that He blesses us with Taufiq to practice religion according to His commands and guidance. Amin.