UAE Friday sermon: treat everybody with tolerance to earn God's favour

The sermon will tell mosque-goers to treat everyone with respect and leniency

Show people tolerance by treating them with respect, showing them leniency and being good to them, the sermon will tell mosque-goers on Friday.

Forgiveness is one of the forms of tolerance and those who forgive are shown great rewards by God as He said, “but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah."

Tolerance reflected between a husband and wife is when they overlook each other’s flaws and treat each other with leniency and mercy. The positive impact of this will be seen in a happy family and parents who set a good example to their children.

It was narrated that the Prophet Mohammed said to one of his companions, "Do like (being admitted to) Paradise?" The man said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Then, wish for your (Muslim) brother what you like for yourself."

Respecting others and showing leniency are qualities that Allah places in the heart of whoever He wills amongst His servants. God commanded the Prophet to adopt a tolerant and peaceful approach when dealing with people.

So when the Prophet complained to his Lord about the obstinacy of his people saying, "O my Lord, indeed these are a people who do not believe," (Az-Zukhruf: 88), Allah ordered him to pardon them and seek to establish peace with them. He said, "so turn aside from them and say, 'Peace.' But they are going to know." (Az-Zukhruf: 89).

People should also show leniency when dealing with people in trade, sales or asking for payment. The Prophet accentuated this when he said, "May Allah's mercy be on him who is lenient in his buying, selling, and in demanding back his money."

On Friday, worshippers will be told that clemency is a right for all people from all cultures, races, colours and religions, for Allah says, "and We have certainly honoured the children of Adam." (Al-Israa: 70). Prophet Mohammed said, "And people are all the children of Adam, and Adam was [created] from dust."

In its core values, Islam highlighted tolerance and leniency in treating non-Muslims, with the holy Quran reading "there shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion." (Al-Baqara: 256). Non-Muslims should be treated with kindness and respect.

The sermon will say that the positive impacts of tolerance are plentiful and the UAE is an incubator for the values of tolerance, peace and cultural diversity.

The UAE achieves this by laying down laws and regulations to guarantee everyone on its land cherishes respect and appreciation and is protected against discrimination, mosque-goers will be told.