UAE Friday sermon: Reward for those who do good deeds

Life is a race leading to the next, and those who do good deeds will be rewarded, the Friday sermon says.

Muslims need to lead when it comes to good deeds, worshippers will be told on Friday.

Life is a race leading to the next life. Those who hasten to do good deeds will be rewarded, the sermon says.

To be a virtuous believer in this life, one needs to be faithful and fulfil as many good deeds as possible. This is because in the next life, every person will be rewarded or punished according to their attitude and efforts on Earth, the faithful will hear.

Being foremost in good deeds means devoting one’s life to acts of righteousness. This means commitment to acts of goodness towards relatives, homeland and others.

Our worldly life resembles a racecourse where people compete to work and build. Yet only those who are determined enough to race for good work shall win, the sermon says.

Reward and punishment, therefore, will be in proportion to each person’s contribution.

So whatever one does will be recorded for them, be it good or bad, worshippers will be told.

Allah, the Almighty, says: “O mankind, indeed you are labouring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it.” (Al Inshiqaq: 6)

A true believer is a person whose good deeds are reflected in the way he thinks, the words he says and the actions he takes. This can be seen in his efforts to develop this world and promote stability and prosperity.

From this perspective, the Prophet called on every able Muslim to perform acts of charity. And although means and types of goodness are many and change over time, they have a single purpose: serving the well-being of mankind.

This way, all good works complement each other, leading to the prosperity of the entire community and nation.

Prophet Mohammed gave many examples of good deeds. For instance, he said: “Every act of goodness is a charity.”

He said: “Every Muslim has to give in charity.” The people asked: “If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?”

The Prophet replied: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).”

The people asked: “If he cannot find even that?” The Prophet replied: “He should help the needy who appeal for help.”

Then the people asked: “If he cannot do that?” He replied: “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.”