Knowledge is a step closer on the path to heaven

More knowledge and enlightenment gets you a step closer to the path to heaven, Muslims will be reminded today.

Today's Friday sermon recalls Muslims' golden era, when they excelled in all types of science and technology, thus contributing in building the civilization we see today.

"Muslims built a human civilisation... based on beneficial knowledge, and their motivation was the Quran's focus on knowledge and science," it says.

The Quran calls for people to meditate in the universe, as a verse says: "Say: Behold what is in the heavens and the earth!"

Other verses call for looking into the secrets behind creation: "Will they not regard the camels, how they are created? And the heaven, how it is raised? And the hills, how they are set up? And the earth, how it is spread?"

The sermon goes on to cite verses rotating around biology: " So let man consider from what he is created. He is created from a gushing fluid. That issued from between the loins and ribs."

The Quran also raises the status of whoever runs after knowledge and education, telling them they will be upgraded by doing so.

Therefore, Muslims were proactive about making their mark in all fields, with great effort spent translating all types of books into Arabic during early Islam.

"The results of this focus was showcased when the first hospital in the Islamic world, Dar Al Shefa, was created in Baghdad, Muslim scientists also created pharmaceutical sciences by using medical herbs."

The sermon does not overlook the role of parents and academics, calling them to motivate their students and children into having the spirit of their ancestors.

They are reminded of a hadith by the Prophet Mohammed that says: "Who took a path asking in it for knowledge, Allah enhances a path for him to heaven."