Friday sermon: Reading brings knowledge

Reading leads to knowledge and knowledge to a high ranking in this life and the next, Muslims will be told on Friday.

Reading leads to knowledge and knowledge brings rewards in both this life and the next, this week’s sermon tells worshippers.

“Knowledge is the key to the rise of civilisations,” says the sermon, “and our religion has pushed us to achieve it with all our efforts and capabilities.”

Allah considers knowledge vital to status. A verse from the Quran says: “Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks.”

The very first verses revealed in the Quran order people to read: “Read: In the name of thy lord who createth, createth man from a clot. Read: And thy lord is the most bounteous, who teacheth by the pen.”

When the verses were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed, he replied he was not a reader as he had not read before.

“And thou [O Mohammed] was not a reader of any scripture before it, nor did thou write it with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted, who follow falsehood,” says the Quran.

“Allah revealeth unto thee the scripture and wisdom, and teacheth thee that which thou knewest not,” adds another verse.

“Starting the verse with ‘read’ signalled that Prophet Mohammed will be a reader, as in a reciter of the book after which he had never read a book before.

“And by repeating the verse ‘read’ on to the Prophet was an announcement for humanity that there must be a relationship between them and reading so the world will rise with knowledge and intellect,” continues the sermon.

Prophet Mohammed also said that Allah would ease a path to heaven for whoever sought knowledge.