Friday sermon: as exams draw near, it's time to pray

Study in the early morning, respect your books and pray to Allah is the advice this week's Friday sermon has for students approaching their exams.

Study during the early morning, respect your books and pray to Allah - that's the advice this week's sermon has for students approaching their exams.

A successful child, it notes, is an asset to his or her parents. "A righteous child shall be distinguished by good education and the privilege of learning beneficial knowedge," says the sermon.

An intellectual enjoys high status, which prompts people to pray for him in return for his contribution to society.

"No wonder then that the first word revealed of the Holy Quan was "Iqraa" (Recite)," says the sermon.

"As our children, in schools and universities, are preparing for their final exams we have to advise them to adhere to piety as this leads to paradise and is an escape from hardship."

Students are advised to learn more about their creator and to be obedient whether they find themselves in a good or bad situation. A hadith by the Prophet Mohammed says: "Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity."

"Among the aspects of placing faith in Allah is studying early in the morning because at this time one tends to be more active and fresh," adds the sermon. "That is why our Prophet Mohammed used to pray: 'O Allah, bless my Umma [community] in their early morning'."

Students are also advised to recite a prayer by the prophet Moses which says: "My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]. And ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue. That they may understand my speech."

And when students encounter particularly taxing questions, they can recite the Prophet Mohammed's saying: "O Allah, nothing is easy but what you have made to be easy."

The sermon continues: "Our dear students, you are advised to show respect to knowledge by appreciating books. Thus you should neither destroy them nor look down on them. You should also avoid shelving them in an inappropriate place because it is most likely they mention Allah's names somewhere."