This week's sermon will emphasise the many blessings that came with the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
As this Saturday coincides with the prophet’s birthday, the sermon reminds worshipers of the occasion’s significance.
First, the arrival of Prophet Mohammed was anticipated by the prophets who preceded him.
For instance, Prophet Ibrahim was quoted in the Quran asking God: “O Allah: Send amongst them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them.”
Prophet Eissa also announced that he would be followed by a prophet named Ahmad – one of Prophet Mohammed’s many names.
He is quoted in the Quran as saying: “And bringing good tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.
Prophet Mohammed was born in the Year of the Elephant, and his birth was accompanied by numerous portents and signs.
“Making clear for us the lofty magnitude of his worth, and his esteemed status and rank,” says the sermon.
Since an early age, Prophet Mohammed was involved in initiatives which helped bring about justice.
“He attended the most honourable of pledges, one of the most honoured ones with the Arabs of the time. This is what was known as the ‘Hilf-al-Fudhul’ (The ‘Alliance of Virtues’).”
It was a pact that brought all the tribes of Quraysh together. In this pact they agreed to form an alliance to protect the rights of those in need.
“They intended that there should not be anyone in Makkah who is oppressed, nor from those who come from the outside and have dealings therein,” says the sermon.
“For should any of them be oppressed, they resolved to stand alongside them, until their rights were returned.”
After the message of Islam was revealed to him, Prophet Mohammed said that this pact was very dear to his heart, and if he were to be called to be part of it again under the name of Islam he would not change a word in it.
He said at the time: “Islam would not increase anything in this pact, except stressing it even more”.
“This is because this pact of allegiance contributed towards the establishment of peace, and the instilling and spreading of tolerance and harmony, whilst protecting from injustice and tyranny,” explains the sermon.
When the message was revealed to Prophet Mohammed at the age of 40, it was perceived as a “gifted mercy”.
“And from his mercy to us in the world, is that he came to us with the Sharia, one of justice and tolerance,” continues the sermon.
“That in turn is built upon making things easy and light for people. Hence he used to make things easy for people in their worship. And to make the affairs of societal interactions easy for them.”
Prophet Mohammed will also serve as a source of mercy for his people on judgement day. He is the only prophet who will intervene on behalf of believers.
