UAE Friday sermon: It is important to fast and recite the Quran

Reciting the Quran and fasting are means of intercession on judgment day, worshippers will be reminded on Friday.

“The fasting believer who also recites the Quran will, by Allah’s favour, attain two intercessors; fasting will intercede for him for being observant of it, and the Quran will intercede for him for reciting it at night,” the sermon will say.

As a hadith by Prophet Mohammed says: “Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord, I prevented him from food and drink during the day, so allow me to intercede for him.’

“The Quran will say, ‘O Lord, I prevented him from sleeping during the night, so allow me to intercede for him.’ And they will be allowed to intercede.”

Many recite the Quran extensively during Ramadan. This is because reading the Quran attentively is a form of worship that is rewarded, worshippers will hear.

Reciting should lead to advising each other on how to live with the Quran.

“Living with the Quran is being diligent in reciting it and not letting our daily life responsibilities deprive us from the merits of the words of Allah.

“Contemplating on its meanings imparts tranquillity to our souls and minds,” worshippers will hear.

An example is when the Prophet’s companion and second caliph, Umar ibn Al Khattab, embraced Islam after he read the first verses of the Quranic chapter Taha, which say: “Ta,ha. We have not sent down to you the Quran that you be distressed.

“In this Aya, Allah, the Almighty, linked between the revelation of the Quran and the happiness of mankind,” the sermon explains.

Reciting the Quran and understanding it also offers great knowledge, and many have ­become scholars from reflecting on its meanings.

“If We had sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah,” cites the sermon.

Moreover, the rewards of reading the Quran are huge, as Prophet Mohammed said: “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold ­reward.”