Friday sermon: It is important to remember God at all times

It is important to remember God and pray to him throughout the day, especially as believers approach the holy month of Ramadan, worshippers will be told on Friday.

The imam will say that among the best deeds is to remember God as the Prophet Mohammed did: “Saying, ‘Glory is to Allah, All praise is due to Allah, There is no deity save Allah, and Allah is the greatest’ is more beloved to me than all that the sun has risen over.”

The imam will recite from the Quran, saying: “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon.” (Al-Ahzab: 41-42).

In the sermon, the imam recalls the story of Ibn Abbas, one of the Prophet’s cousins and an early Quran scholar, when he said that all obligations to God can be exempt by circumstance, with the exception of remembering God.

The Quran says “remember Allah standing, sitting, or (lying) on your sides” (An-Nisaa: 103).

The sermon highlights that praising, remembering and believing in God at any time during the day is key for people of the faith. The imam will say that those entering their houses and remembering God’s name will find their homes in peace and tranquillity.

The Prophet said that “the example of the house in which remembrance of Allah is made and the house in which Allah is not remembered, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one”.

It is also advisable to mention Allah’s name whenever one leaves home. By doing so, God will guide them to all that is good, keep them away from all that brings distress and evil.

As the Prophet said: “When a man goes out of his house and says, ‘in the name of Allah, I trust in Allah; there is neither might nor power but with Allah’, the following will be said to him at that time, ‘you are guided, defended and protected’. The devils will go far from him and another devil will say, ‘how can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?’ ”