Cleanse heart and fill with faith - sermon

The Friday sermon will discuss the Prophet's Ascension.

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The Prophet Mohammed's ascension to heaven proves that people are rewarded for their good deeds, worshippers will be told today.

As Tuesday marks the Prophet's trip from Mecca to Al Aqsa mosque and then to heaven, known as the Al-Israa wal-Mi'raaj, Muslims will be reminded of the lessons to be learnt from the occasion.

"The trip came as an honouring for the Prophet, peace be upon him, to crown his efforts and patience and as a form of sympathy after he lost his wife and uncle," the sermon says. Worshippers will be reminded of the Quranic verse that describes the incident: "Glory to him who did take his servant for a journey by night from the sacred mosque to the farthest mosque, whose precincts we did bless, in order that we might show him some of our signs: for he is the one who heareth and seeth."

Today's sermon says lessons to be learnt from the holy event include that of cleansing one's heart and filling it with strong faith, as it is believed that before the trip, the angel Gabriel took Prophet Mohammed's heart from his chest and washed it with zamzam water, then brought a golden bowl filled with wisdom and faith and emptied it into the Prophet's chest.

"It also shows the high status of the Prophet among the rest of the prophets, as he led them in prayer in Al Aqsa mosque," the sermon says.

Sebeeka Al Amri, 32, a private biology tutor, said: "Al-Israa wal-Mi'raaj shows how gentle and considerate of emotions and thoughtful our religion is. Our Prophet, when he went on the trip after the 'year of sadness', it was very comforting for him. To me it is always a nice and happy memory."

To Mrs Al Amri, when the Prophet went to Al Aqsa mosque, it showed how all religions were under one umbrella and mission: to observe the oneness of God.

"It reminds all religions who believe in prophets Eissa and Mousa that Prophet Mohammed was leading them in prayer, so they should believe in him as the final leader of all those leaders," she said.