God praises those who are devoutly obedient to His decrees and prefers them over those who are not, worshippers will be told on Friday.
Going deeper to its meaning, obedience means devoting oneself in submission to God, the sermon explains.
“And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and earth. All are to Him devoutly obedient,” the Quran says.
Devoted obedience to Allah’s orders can be achieved by following His teachings and standing for prayer at night for longer periods. It is also seen in turning to God, hoping for His mercy, and imploring to Him in supplication.
Supplication also means seeking guidance from God, as a verse in the Quran says: "Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided and those are people of understanding."
Devoted obedience is known as Qunut and Prophet Ibrahim was praised for being so.
Similarly, Mary, mother of Jesus, obeyed the commands of God to be devoted to Him. He said: “Oh Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer].” (Al Imran: 43)
Submitting to the commandments of her Lord, she used to perform prayer and lengthen her standing in it. So Allah the Almighty praised her saying, “and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient”. (At-Tahrim: 12)
The Prophet taught worshippers the supplication of Qunut. It was narrated that Al Hasan Ibn Ali said: “The Messenger of Allah taught me some phrases to recite in Qunut of Witr prayer: ‘Oh Allah, guide me amongst those whom You have guided, grant me soundness amongst those You’ve granted soundness to, protect me amongst those You have protected, bless me in what You have bestowed upon me, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For, indeed, You decree in truth, and none can decree over You; none can disgrace those who You support, and none can honour those who You oppose. O Lord, You are the Blessed, and the Exalted.”
By saying this supplication, Muslims ask God to guide them so they may do good deeds and be drawn closer to Him.
The soundness mentioned in the supplication is one of the best favours that which Allah endows upon human beings, as the Prophet said, “No one is given anything after certainty better than soundness.”
Muslims will be told of the etiquette involved when supplicating to God.
“One should glorify and thank Him as befitting to His Supreme Status,” the sermon will say.
It was narrated that once the Prophet heard a man praying; he glorified and praised Allah. Afterwards the Prophet said, “Supplicate, you will be answered; ask, you will be given.”
Muslims are therefore urged, to keep in mind such things when reciting the Qunut supplication, invoking God and raising their hands unto Him so He might respond to their prayers and grant them His rewards and acceptance.