UAE Friday Sermon: How to avoid temptation

Worshippers will be reminded today that they should always seek guidance from God when tempted by Satan to commit evil acts.

“Allah the Almighty is the ever-guardian over all His Creation," says the sermon. "Thus, a believer should always seek refuge with Him from any and all kinds of harm, especially the wicked whispers of Satan.

“And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing."

Believers can seek the protection of Allah by praying to Him and reciting Quranic verses, especially those that are known to ward off evil spirits.

“This brings us to another question as to why one should seek refuge with Allah from Satan,” continues the sermon.

“Because he is expelled from the mercy of Allah and is an enemy to humans."

As a verse from the Quran explains: “Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy.

“This means that Satan only aspires to avert you away from the straight path of your Lord, so treat him as an enemy and protect yourselves from him by obeying Allah the Almighty and seeking refuge with Him.

“O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing."

The sermon provides a number of ways to seek refuge with God from the evil of Satan.

“The greatest of which is to have a sincere faith," the Quran says. "This is because the believer whose heart is full of faith will, definitely, be under the protection of the Most Merciful and, thus, fortified against the vices of Satan.

“Furthermore, maintaining the acts of worship regularly and perfecting them is also a means of keeping the believer in Allah’s refuge from Satan and his ill-plotted whispers.

“Another way to avoid falling victim of the temptations of Satan is by keeping away from all that may cause grief and fill the heart with gloom.”

The sermon recommends donating to charity as a method of repelling Satan’s whispers. As a verse in the Quran says: “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”