Prophetic guidance: Cultivating critical minds, nurturing wisdom

1 Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura Friday Sermon 4 September 2026 / 22 Rabiulawal 1448H Nurturing Minds, Critical Cultivating Guidance: Prophetic Wisdom إِنََّّالْحَمحدََّ ََّّلِلِهِ،ََّّنََحمَدُهَُّ ََّّوَنَسحتَعِينُهَُّ ََّّوَنَسحت َغحفِرُهُ،َّ ََّّوَن َعُوذَََُّّّبِِللَِّ ََّّمِنحَّ ََّّشُرُورَِّ ََّّأَن حفُسِنَا ََّّ وَمِنحَّ ََّّسَيهِئَاتَِّ ََّّأَعحمَالِنَا، ََّّمَنحَََّّّي َهحدِهَِّ ََّّاللَََُّّّفَلََََّّّمُضِل َّ ََّّلَهُ،ََّّوَمَنحَََّّّيُضحلِلحَّ ََّّفَلََََّّّهَادِىََّ ََّّ لَهُ،ََّّوَأَشحهَدَُّ ََّّأَنحَََّّّلََََّّّإِلَهََََّّّإِل َََّّّاللَََُّّّوَححدَهَُّ ََّّلََََّّّشَرِيكََّ ََّّلَهُ،ََّّوَأَشحهَدَُّ ََّّأَن َََّّّسَيهِدَنََّ ََّّمَُُم دًاَّ ََّّ عَبحدُهَُّ ََّّوَرَسُولُهَُّ .ََّّالل هُم َّ ََّّصَلهَِّ ََّّوَسَلهِمحَّ ََّّعَلَىَََّّّسَيهِدِنََّ ََّّمَُُم د َّ ََّّوَعَلَى ََّّآلِهَََِّّّوَأَصححَابِهَِّ َّ أَجْحَعِيحََّ .ََّّأَم اََّّب َعحدُ، ََّّف َيَا ََّّعِبَادََّ ََّّٱلِل ِ،ََّّٱت قُواََّّٱلِل َ.ََّّقَالََََّّّت َعَالََََّّّفَِّ ََّّالت نحزِيل :ََّّيََّ َّ أَي ُّهَاَّ َّ ٱل ذِينََّ َّءَامَنُوا ََّّٱت قُوا ََّّٱلِل َََّّحَق َّ َّت ُقَاتِهِۦ َّوَلَََّّتََُوتُن ََّّإِل ََّّوَأَنتُمََّّمُّسحلِمُونََّ . My dear brothers, Have taqwa towards Allah s.w.t. Fulfil His commands and abstain from His prohibitions. May we attain happiness and goodness in this world and in the Hereafter. Amin, ya Rabbal ‘Alamin. Blessed congregation, Rasulullah s.a.w. was sent as an exemplary teacher, guiding humanity with knowledge, wisdom, and compassion. Keywords: Teach Guide Approach Understand 2 Allah s.w.t. says in Surah al-Jumu‘ah, verse 2: Which means: "It is He who sent among the unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves, reciting His verses to them, purifying them, and teaching them the Book (the Quran) and wisdom, although they had previously been in clear error." Dear brothers, The Prophet s.a.w. introduced an educational revolution that shaped both the human mind and character. In today's age of abundance in information and Artificial Intelligence (AI), our challenge is no longer simply gaining access to information. Rather, it is developing critical minds that can distinguish truth from falsehood and evaluate matters with fairness and discernment. This is why the Prophetic pedagogy, that is his approach to teaching and guiding, must be reinstated, not only by teachers, but also by parents and every mentor or guide within our community. What are some characteristics of this pedagogy? First: Rasulullah s.a.w. nurtured critical thinking 3 Rasulullah s.a.w. taught by stimulating the intellect. In a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim, he asked his companions that which means: "Do you know who the bankrupt is?" When they replied that it was someone without wealth, the Prophet s.a.w. corrected their understanding. He explained that the truly bankrupt person is one who comes on the Day of Judgement with good deeds, only to have them depleted as compensation for the wrongs they committed against others. Through this method, Rasulullah s.a.w. teaches us to look beyond the surface, think critically, and reflect deeply before arriving at conclusions. Second: Teaching according to the learner's level of understanding Rasulullah s.a.w. delivered guidance gradually, according to people's ability to understand, and he educated his companions in the same way. In a narration recorded by Imam al-Bukhari, Sayyidina Ali r.a. advised that which means: "Speak to people according to the level of what they are able to understand." Conveying the truth and religious teachings also requires patience, a gradual approach, and words that touch the heart – not coercion or harshness. Third: Rasulullah s.a.w. touched the hearts of the people 4 Effective education begins with hearts that are connected. Sayyidina Mu'az ibn Jabal r.a. narrated that the Prophet s.a.w. held his hand and said that which means: "O Mu'az, by Allah, I truly love you." (Abu Daud) Rasulullah s.a.w. expressed his love before offering his advice. When those we guide feel valued, cared for, and free from prejudice, they become more receptive to advice and learning with open hearts. Beloved congregation, The responsibility of educating extends beyond schools or the classroom. It is a trust entrusted to every one of us. Guided by the example of Rasulullah s.a.w., let us fulfil this responsibility with wisdom, compassion, and the best of approaches. May Allah s.w.t. grant us wisdom in nurturing our families and communities, and shower His mercy upon all our teachers and educators in this world and the Hereafter. Amin ya Rabbal 'Alamin. أَق ُوحلُ َّق َوحلَِّ َّهَذَا َّوَأَسحت َغحفِرَُّ َّاللَََّّالعَظِيحمََّ َّلَِّ َّوَلَكُمح، َّفَاسحت َغحفِرُوهَُّ َّإِن هَُّ َّهُوََّ َّالغَفُوحرَُّ َّ الر حِيحم. َّ 5 Sermon Second الَْمحدُ ََّّللَََِّّّحََحدًاَّ ََّّكَثِيرًاَّ ََّّكَمَا ََّّأَمَرَ، ََّّوَأَشحهَدَُّ ََّّأَنََّّلََََّّّإِلَهََََّّّإِل َََّّّاللَََُّّّوَححدَهَُّ ََّّلََََّّّشَرِيكََّ َّ لَهُ،ََّّوَأَشحهَدَُّ ََّّأَن َََّّّسَيهِدَنََّ ََّّمَُُم دًاَّ ََّّعَبحدُهَُّ ََّّوَرَسُولُهُ. ََّّالل هُم َّ ََّّصَلهَِّ ََّّوَسَلهِمحَّ ََّّعَلَىَََّّّسَيهِدِنََّ ََّّ مَُُم د َّ ََّّوَعَلَى ََّّآلِهَََِّّّوَأَصححَابِهَِّ ََّّأََّجْحَعِيَ. ََّّأَم اََّّب َعحدُ، ََّّف َيَا ََّّعِبَادََّ ََّّالل،ََّّاِت قُواَََّّّاللََََّّّ ت َعَالََّ َّفِيمَا َّأَمَرَ، َّوَانت َهُواَّ َّعَم ا َّنَََاكُم َّعَنحهََُّّوَزَجَرَ. أَلََََّّّصَلُّواَّ ََّّوَسَلهِمُواَّ ََّّعَلَىََّّالن بِهَِّ ََّّالحمُصحطَفَى، ََّّف َقَدحَّ ََّّأَمَرَنََََّّّاللَََُّّّبِذَلِكََّ ََّّحَيحثَُّ ََّّ قَالََّّفَِّ ََّّكِتَابِهَََِّّّالعَزِيزِ: ََّّإِن َََّّّاللََََّّّوَمَلَئِكَتَهَُّ ََّّيُصَلُّونََّ ََّّعَلَىََّّالن بِهَِّ ََّّيَ اََّّأَي ُّهَا ََّّال ذِينََّ ََّّ ءَامَنُواَََّّّصَلُّواَّ ََّّعَلَيهَََِّّّوَسَلهِمُواَّ ََّّتَسحلِيمًا. ََّّالل هُم َّ ََّّصَلهَِّ ََّّوَسَلهِمحَّ ََّّوَبَِرِكحَّ ََّّعَلَىََّّسَيهِدِنََّ ََّّ مَُُم د َّ َّوَعَلَى َّآلََِّّسَيهِدِنََّ َّمَُُم د . وَارحضََََّّّالل هُم َّ ََّّعَنَََِّّّالخُلَفَاءَِّ ََّّالر اشِدِينََّ ََّّالمَهحدِيهِيََّ ََّّسَادَاتِنَا ََّّأَبَِّ ََّّبَكحر َّ ََّّوَعُمَرََّ ََّّ وَعُثحمَانََّ َّوَعَلِيهِ، َّوَعَنَّبَقِي ةَِّ َّالص حَابَةَِّ َّوَالقَرَابَةَِّ َّوَالت ابِعِيَ، َّوَتََبِعِي َّالت ابِعِيَ، َّ وَعَن ا َّمَعَهُم َّوَفِيهِم َّبِرَحَحَتِكََّ َّيَََّّأَرححََّمَََّّالر احَِِيَ. الل هُم َّ ََّّاغحفِرحَّ ََّّلِلمُؤحمِنِيََّ ََّّوَالمُؤحمِنَاتِ، ََّّوَالمُسحلِمِيََّ ََّّوَالمُسحلِمَاتِ، ََّّالأَححيَاءَِّ ََّّمِنهُم َّ وَالأَمحوَاتِ. ََّّالل هُم َّ ََّّادحفَعحَّ ََّّعَن اََّّالبَلَءََّ ََّّوَالوَبَِءََّ ََّّوَالز لَزِلََّ ََّّوَالمِحَنَ، ََّّمَاََّّظَهَرََّ ََّّ مِن حهَا ََّّوَمَا ََّّبَطَنَ، ََّّعَنََّّب َلَدِنََّ ََّّخَاص ةً،َّ ََّّوَسَائَِّ رَََِّّّالب ُلحدَانَِّ ََّّعَام ةً،ََّّيََََّّّرَب َََّّّالعَالَمِيَ. ََّّ اَلل هُم َّ ََّّانحصُرحَََّّّإِخحوَان َنَا ََّّاحلمُسحتَضحعَفِيحََّ ََّّفَِّ ََّّغَز ةََّّوَفَِّ ََّّفِلِسحطِيََّ ََّّوَفِحَّ ََّّكُلهَِّ ََّّمَكَان َّ ََّّ 6 عَام ةً،ََّّيََََّّّأَرححَمََّ ََّّالر احَِِيَ. ََّّرَب نَاََّّآتِنَاََّّفَِّ ََّّالدُّنيَا ََّّحَسَنَةً، ََّّوَفَِّ ََّّالآخِرَةَِّ ََّّحَسَنَةً، َّ وَقِنَا َّعَذَابََّ َّالن ارِ.َّ َّ عِبَادََّ ََّّاللِ،ََّّإِن َََّّّاللََََّّّيََحمُرَََُّّّبِِلعَدحلَِّ ََّّوَالإِححسَانَِّ ََّّوَإِيتَاءَِّ ََّّذِي ََّّالقُرحبََ، ََّّوَي َن حهَى ََّّعَنَََِّّّ الفَححشَاءَِّ ََّّوَالمُنكَرَِّ ََّّوَالب َغحيِ، ََّّيَعِظُكُمحَّ ََّّلَعَل كُمحَّ ََّّتَذَك رُونَ، ََّّفَاذكُرُواَّ ََّّاللََََّّّالعَظِيمََّ َّ يَذحكُرحكُمح، ََّّوَاشحكُرُوهَُّ ََّّعَلَىََّّنِعَمِهَِّ ََّّيَزِدحكُمح،َّ ََّّوَاسحأَلُوهَُّ ََّّمِن ََّّفَضحلِهَِّ ََّّي ُعحطِكُم، ََّّوَلَذِكحرَُّ ََّّ اللََِّّأَكحبََُ، َّوَاللَُّ َّي َعحلَمََُّّمَاَّتَصحن َعُونَ.