UAE Friday sermon: kindness is rewarded in this life and the next

Martyrdom is an example of a worthy act, worshippers to be told

Any act of kindness is rewarded greatly in this life and the hereafter, worshippers will be reminded on Friday.

In many instances, the Quran cites examples of good deeds performed by prophets, and how they were rewarded.

“Our religion is one of kindness and has urged Muslims to do all that which is good, both in words and deeds,” worshippers will be told.

“We called to him, ‘O Abraham, You have fulfilled the vision.’ Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good,” says a Quranic verse.

Furthermore, in the Quran, good-doers were promised to have whatever they desire.

“And the one who has brought the truth and they who believed in it - those are the righteous. They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the doers of good.”

Kindness comes in many forms; it could be in acts of worship and submission to God, or by adhering to His commands, like being kind to one’s parents.

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the neighbour farther away, the companion at your side,” says the Quran.

God also ordered people to speak with kindness to one another.

“And speak to people good words,” says another verse.

“And tell My servants to say that which is best,” the sermon also cites from the Quran.

God also demonstrated in the Quran the rewards for restraining one’s anger and pardoning others - which are also considered acts of good in Islam.

“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous, who spend in the cause of Allah during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good.”

Moreover, on the day of judgement, good doers will have an advantage, as a verse from the Quran describes.

“For them who have done good is the best reward. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.”

The sermon also points to martyrdom as a model for well-doing.

“They have set a role model for the generations to come in their well-doing and sacrifice of their blood and soul in the way of their Lord and for the sake of protecting their land and honour,” concludes the sermon.