UAE Friday sermon: remember God often and ask for forgiveness

Each new day is a blessing that we should be grateful to God for, mosque-goers will hear on Friday.

Prophet Mohammed said, “When one of you awakens, let him say: All praise is due to Allah, Who healed me in my body, returned to me my soul, and permitted me to remember Him'".

The sermon will tell worshippers to wake up early, perform ablution and to best occupy their time by reciting Dhikr — remembrance — and the supplications as the Prophet did.

Those who perform ablution according to Sunna will have their “sins depart from their body, even from under their fingernails,” Prophet Mohammed said.

The sermon will congratulate those who wake up before dawn as it is a good time to seek forgiveness from Allah and have supplications answered.

Every step taken to the mosque will raise a worshipper’s status and decrease their sins, according to the Prophet who said "Whoever purifies himself in his house then walks to one of the houses of Allah in order to perform one of the duties enjoined by Allah, for every two steps he takes, one will erase a sin and the other will raise him one degree in status."

After completing Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, Muslims are advised to remember God, to praise, exalt and glorify Him.

"Whoever prays Fajr (morning) in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Rakaas, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah," Prophet Mohammed said.

A Muslim should remember Allah on all occasions and at all times. When leaving home, one should seek God’s blessings at the beginning of the day and indeed throughout the day. One should also mention Allah's name when eating. This is because the remembrance of God is the best means to expel the devil.

Once at home, a Muslim should sit with their family; listen and talk to them. And as one should begin the day with Allah's remembrance, it should end the same way.

One of the most important types of Dhikr is seeking Allah's forgiveness as it increases one's good deeds and eradicates their misdeeds. Thus, when a worshipper meets God on the Day of Judgment, they will do so with a pure record.

The Prophet often repented to God, saying "By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day."