Friday sermon: Aim for the good in this world and the next

Worshippers will be told that to earn their place in Paradise, they must live a good and conscientious life

Muslims should strive to earn their place in Paradise but not forget the importance of their life on Earth, the sermon will tell worshippers on Friday.

Prophet Mohammed was known to frequently supplicate by saying: "Our Lord, grant us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of hellfire."

The supplication derives from a similar one often repeated by Moses, who asked God to “decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter”. (Quran 7:156)

God responded to these requests in the Quran by saying those who lived their lives correctly will “have a share of what they have earned”. (Quran 2: 201)

The sermon says that God’s response shows the importance of balancing the pursuit of goals in this life while working towards the next.

“Seek through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter, and [yet] do not forget your share of the world.” (Quran 28: 77)

The "best of this world" described in the Quran includes any good thing that a person desires, such as good health, a spacious home, righteous work or great knowledge.

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while they are a believer – We will surely cause them to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” (Quran 16: 97)

To earn their place in Paradise, people must live a good and conscientious life while being respectful to others. The rewards of this behaviour are described in the Quran.

“Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], ‘Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home’.” (Quran 13: 23-24)