Friday sermon: be good to ensure your place in Paradise

Allah has commanded Muslims to do good and carry out the best of deeds to earn their place in Paradise, the sermon will tell worshippers on Friday.

God created this world and perfected it so that people can be tested. He gave mankind everything so they can put forward their best, as instructed in the Quran.

“And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord” [Quran: 39:55]

Those who hear the Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet and act in accordance of them are those who will be rewarded in the afterlife.

Several key deeds haven been outlined by God as mandatory for Muslims to perform. These include prayer and payment of zakat.

“Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of Zakah, they fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about. That Allah may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account.” [Quran: 24: 37-38]

Piety towards parents has also been identified as a key deed for Muslims to perform if they hope to enter Paradise.

“And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, kind treatment.” [Quran: 46:15]

Allah promises to accept the good deeds of those who are kind to their parents and says He will look after them in the best of manners.

The Quran says: “those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.”[Quran: 46:16]

Saying kind things and being respectful to others is also prescribed to Muslims. Interacting with others and spreading joy helps create a harmonious and happy society, the sermon will say.

Muslims will be told to respond to greetings with ones even better than them, as an example of great communication and fostering stronger connections with others.

The sermon will advise Muslims to follow the example of Prophet Mohammed who would always interact with others with gentleness, ignore their mistakes, teach them with tenderness and see that their rights are fulfilled.

"Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer — We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do." [Quran: 16:97]