UAE Friday sermon: Fear of Allah acts as guide for worship

Fear of Allah is a principle of Islam as it can guide people to act positively, worshippers will be told in Friday’s sermon.

“And fear Allah and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers,” the Quran said.

The sermon will say that being conscious of Allah is conducive to help Muslims perfect their actions and devote themselves to good deeds.

It will recall a story about the Prophet Mohammed when a man asked him to define ihsan [perfection].

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you,” the Prophet replied.

As the Quran said: “Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.”

Worshippers will be told that obedience to Allah and fearing Him is the path for cherishing the eternal blessings of Paradise.

“Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord,” the Quran states.

Thus, being heedful of Allah will prompt Muslims to seek perfection in all their affairs. As such, they will try only to earn Allah’s satisfaction because He “knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal”.

The sermon will urge worshippers to “make a pact with yourself in three [areas] – when you do something, remember that Allah sees you, and when you speak, remember that Allah hears you, and when you are silent, remember Allah’s knowledge of your inner [thoughts, feelings and being].”