FRIDAY FOCUS: Reclaiming The Pulpit as Educator and Guide in Everyday
Connecting “Ikhlaqiyat and Mammallat” -Faith, Moral Values, Humility and the Daily Challenges of Contemporary Society
Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
The Friday Lecture (sermon)occupies a special and sacred place in the life of a Muslim. It is a weekly opportunity to pause, reflect, remember Allah, examine our conduct and renew our commitment to the values of Islam. This lecture is not merely a lecture to be heard and forgotten. At its best, it can serve as a means of teaching, educating, guiding on moral reflection, awareness and direction—helping us understand how faith should influence the way we live, work, speak and conduct ourselves. Perhaps, therefore, the Friday pulpit can gently help us reflect not only upon matters of worship, but also upon the everyday conduct through which our faith becomes visible. How do we treat our elders and neighbours? How do we behave in public spaces? Do we respect the rights and time of others? Are we conscious of waste and extravagance? Do we uphold honesty even when no one is watching? These may appear to be ordinary matters of daily life, yet they are closely connected with character, responsibility, rights and morality.
As believers the faith must find expression in our everyday conduct. Faith, Islam does not separate worship from character. Prayer(ibadat), fasting, charity and remembrance of Allah are central to our faith, but they should also nurture qualities such as honesty, humility, compassion, patience, moderation and responsibility. The real test of character often appears in ordinary situations—when we are impatient, inconvenienced, tempted by personal gain, or dealing with someone whose position is weaker than ours. The important question is therefore not merely: “What do I believe? “But also: “How does what I believe influence the way I behave?” in the everyday moral landscape
Undoubtedly our traditionally God-fearing modest society is changing rapidly. The “Badalta Kashmir ,’ the Gen Z may perceive alongside many real positive developments, smart city changes ,on flip side also encounter signs of declining courtesy and weakening social values.
Respect for elders can sometimes give way to impatience. Public behaviour can become increasingly hurried and inconsiderate. Traffic impatience, unnecessary honking, disregard for queues and careless use of public spaces are small examples of a wider issue: our growing difficulty in considering the rights and convenience of others.Similarly, corruption, encroachments, misuse of public resources, electricity theft and disregard for civic responsibilities raise questions that are not merely legal but moral. They concern “Amanah”—trust, responsibility and accountability which pulpit had to inculcate in the community at large. The same applies to environmental behaviour. Wasteful consumption, littering, excessive noise and poor waste management affect the quality of life of the entire community. Responsible use of resources is therefore not simply a civic obligation; it can also be understood as part of our responsibility towards Allah’s creation.
One area deserving greater reflection is maintaining the value of humility and moderation in a trending culture of display and extravagance. Weddings and other social occasions are meant to bring people together in happiness and gratitude. Yet sometimes they become occasions for competition, unnecessary expenditure and displays of wealth. Timing has no value- 2pm does not mean 2- it can be anything while the Islamic ideal of moderation offers an important corrective. Simplicity is not deprivation, modesty and humility is not weakness. A person’s worth does not depend upon the scale of a celebration, the cost of possessions or the ability to display wealth. The pulpit as a school of character could gently remind us that prosperity carries responsibility, and that moderation can protect families and communities from unnecessary social and financial pressures.
The Friday sermon, weekly class can play a valuable educational role by connecting timeless Islamic principles with ordinary experiences related to fairness in business, official routines and public dealings. Honesty can relate to corruption and misuse (abuse)of trust. Respect can be reflected in our treatment of elders, workers, neighbours and strangers. Patience can be applied to the road, the marketplace and not to jump the queue. Moderation can influence consumption, weddings and social expectations. Responsibility can extend to electricity, water, public property, waste disposal, littering and the hygienic environment. The speech does not need to become a political commentary or a news bulletin, as simply I discourage that course. It simply needs to help people understand how faith translates into fair and moral conduct. The purpose of the Friday reminder should not be to identify the faults of others, but to encourage “Mahasabha—self-examination and accountability. As Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) is reported to have reminded us, *“Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.” Friday can therefore become a weekly opportunity to look within ourselves first. It is easy to notice arrogance, dishonesty, impatience or extravagance in others; it is far more difficult to recognise and correct these tendencies in ourselves. Instead of asking: “Who else needs to hear this?” we might ask: “What does this reminder require from me?” That small change in attitude can transform the talk from something we merely hear into something we practise. The imam has an important role as an educator, guide and moral mentor, but nurturing a healthy community is a shared responsibility. We should support our imams through proper education, training, communication skills, continuing development and fair compensation, while families, institutions and community members also play their part. When imam and community work together with mutual respect and cooperation, the pulpit can become a stronger source of guidance, moral education and positive change.Rather, over time, the pulpit can address different aspects of community life—faith, family, character, social responsibility, honesty, compassion, moderation, civic conduct and the rights of others.
A Friday sermon(khutba) ,teaching session need not be harsh to be effective, but a thoughtful reminder, relevant example or simple question may stay with us longer than a lengthy admonition. The imam speaks, guides with best communication skills, knowledge evidences based references above sectarian orthodoxy but the responsibility is shared. The congregation can also help identify the concerns affecting families, young people and community life, ke eping the khutba relevant without becoming partisan or controversial. Ultimately, awareness should lead to action. Honesty should be practised, respect demonstrated, moderation embraced and public responsibility observed. Small, consistent changes in everyday behaviour can strengthen the moral character of a community. The Friday congregational prayers, and the message from pulpit ,as I believe in apolitical discourse can educate, remind, guide and nurture character, carrying values from the gathering into our homes, workplaces, roads, business and public spaces. The real question is not only, “What did I hear?” but “Where, When, What, And How Differently” shall be my dealings, speech, (Ikhlaq ,Mamalaat-Ibaddat) from this Friday. When faith shapes conduct, conduct shapes families; families shape communities; and communities shape society.
(STRAIGHT TALK COMMUNICATIONS EXCLUSIVE. The author Is a Medico, with postgraduate in Islamic Studies, Srinagar. is writings have appeared in national and international magazines.)
