UAE Friday sermon: take care of your health and well-being

Mosque-goers will be told that good health must be preserved and appreciated through acts of worship

The blessing of well-being is the greatest favour God bestows upon mankind, the sermon will tell mosque-goers on Friday.

Worshippers will be told that Prophet Mohammed emphasised the importance of good health saying “Apart from true faith, none has been given anything better than the wellness."

To be healthy one must avoid all that may cause them harm. Those who are forgiven their misdeeds by God are undoubtedly sound in their religious status.

Ibn Abbas, one of the Prophet’s cousins, said “The pleasure is the wellness of body, hearing and eyesight. Allah, the Exalted is He, will ask His Servants about how they have used them."

So valued is health that even Prophet Mohammed would ask God to protect him. "O Allah, please grant me health in my body. O Allah, grant me good hearing. O Allah, grant me good eyesight," he said. He would begin his days asking, "O Allah, I ask You security in this world and in the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religion and my worldly affairs, in my family and my wealth."

The sermon will say that it is for this reason that Muslims must appreciate the value of good health. It is with safety and soundness that one’s life becomes pleasing — having the means to earn a living and perform acts of obedience.

"Whoever among you wakes up feeling safe and secure within his family, having healthy body, with provisions for the day, it is as if he acquired the whole world," the Prophet would say.

As for spiritual security, Muslims can achieve that by doing what Allah enjoined them to do and avoiding what He prohibited.

Another way of maintaining religious soundness is by seeking the advice of people in matters they are knowledgeable about. This is line with Allah's orders, "so ask the people of the message if you do not know." (An-Nahl: 43).

On another level, physical health also needs to be taken care of and protected. One can keep good health by following a healthy lifestyle, as the Prophet said, "The human being does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath.”

The sermon will tell mosque-goers that Allah has endowed upon them the favours of healthy body, security of children and family, welfare, extended provisions, tranquillity of the soul and stability of the homeland. Such precious favours should be preserved and appreciated by making best of their time by performing acts of worship and doing good deeds.