Seeking forgiveness and repentance guarantees success and eternal life FRIDAY SERMON

The virtue of repentance and forgiveness are discussed throughout the Quran – including in verses about creation

God is willing to overlook and forgive mistakes committed by people, should they show true regret for their actions, the worshippers will hear on Friday.

This trait is mentioned several times in the Quran: “and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (Al-Baqara: 199) and “indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful” (Az-Zumar: 53).

Emphasis on God’s mercy is also found in Hadiths. Prophet Mohammed, quoting God, said: “Oh My servants, you commit sins by day and by night and I forgive all sins; so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you.”

Repentance and forgiveness are discussed throughout the Quran – including in verses that mention the story of the creation of humans. For instance, of Adam and Eve the holy book reads: “they said, ‘Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers’.” (AlAaraf: 23). There are also examples mentioned in the Quran of Prophets repenting to God, including Prophet Mohammed.

He is said to have constantly sought pardon from God, saying “By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day”.

The Prophet’s companions confirmed this and said they would often see him saying a hundred times: “Oh my Lord, forgive me, and accept my repentance, for You are the Accepter of Repentance, the Most Forgiving.”

The sermon will tell worshippers that one of Prophet Mohammed’s greatest acts was to teach Muslims the best ways to seek forgiveness from God.

Chief among these is through supplication, which involves reciting a prayer that names God as the only deity and then asks Him for mercy for any sins.

God is said to respond to this prayer and promised to answer whoever invoked Him, saying “so We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.” (Al-Anbiyaa: 88).

By supplicating, a Muslim acknowledges and confesses his sin, and in return God accepts his repentance.

Being forgiven and cleansed of any wrongdoing is necessary in a worshipper’s path to heaven, according to the Quran.

“Their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.” (Al Imran: 135-136).

Prophet Mohammed said a Muslim who supplicates with conviction in the morning, then dies the same day “will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”

Seeking forgiveness also provides more short-term blessings with the Quran promising for those who repent “[rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And He will give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” (Noah: 10-12).

The sermon ends by urging worshippers to seek forgiveness from God and to invoke peace and blessings upon the Prophet, his family and companions to receive ten blessings from God in return.