Forgiveness, pardoning others and obedience to God are qualities of the pious

Goodness, kindness and piety are the themes of this week’s sermon. People of faith are pious and they are favoured, the sermon reads.

“O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.” [31:33]

The characteristics of the pious are those who prevent themselves from hurting others, hold their anger and pardon others when they are able to.

“Oh people, the fruit of pardoning others and handling anger is one of the great characteristics of the pious,” the sermon reads.

Another characteristic, the sermon reads, is to seek forgiveness.

“And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allah? – and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.” [3:135]

The verse means that those who have sinned remember Allah’s greatness and ask for forgiveness, those are the pious, the sermon read.

Being pious also means to be obedient to Allah, the Prophet Mohammed and guardians.

“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” [4:59]