UAE Friday sermon: Repent as Ramadan approaches

“In a few days, a dear guest will visit us, and a generous month, and a great season, it is the holy month of Ramadan, which Allah has opened the doors of his mercy for, and offered us a lot of generosity in it,” says today’s sermon.

Allah has blessed us with high seasons for worship and reward, which should be spent by getting closer to Him by following his orders and avoiding what is prohibited, worshippers will be told on Friday.

“In a few days, a dear guest will visit us, and a generous month, and a great season, it is the holy month of Ramadan, which Allah has opened the doors of his mercy for, and offered us a lot of generosity in it,” says Friday’s sermon.

It cites a hadith by Prophet Mohammed: “When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and demons are chained up, and the gates of Hell are closed and not one gate of it is opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and not one gate of it is closed. And a caller calls out: ‘O seeker of good, come to Allah; O seeker of evil, desist.’ Allah will have ransomed some people from the Fire, and that happens every night.”

The best way to greet Ramadan is by renewing one’s relationship with Allah by repenting, as Allah loves those who repent.

“It should be followed with commitment to (religious) obligations, reading Quran ...”

The sermon also highlights the importance of strengthening ties with one’s parents and making them happy.

It is highly recommended to practice more nawafil (voluntary deeds) to get closer to Allah.

As Allah says in a qudsi hadith revealed to Prophet Mohammed: “and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing nawafil until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection, I will protect him ...”