Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

January, Friday 13. 2023

All praises are due to Allah. I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah the uniquely One, who has no partners in His one-ness. And I testify that the Prophet Muhammad is the slave of Allah and His Messenger.

O servants of Allah! Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Hasyr: 

“O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”  (S.59  V.18)

The Messenger of Allah SAW said: “In the body there is a piece of flesh, the whole body is sound if it is sound, and the whole body is corrupt if it is corrupt. It is the heart.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

The heart is that which moves the body, orientates and directs it. It is also the place for reflection, contemplation, admonition and remembrance. It is the spiritual hear that is primary instrument that is able to discern and “hear” the signs of its Lord, which then enables submission to the words of its Creator.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Anfal:

“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith.”  (S.8  V.2)

So, the heart is that which commands to faith and attains unto contentment through the remembrance of Allah.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah ar-Raad:

“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”  (S.13  V.28)

So how great is a heart that has Taqwa of its Lord and which fulfills its obligations and which esteems the sacred symbols and rites that Allah has set into place. As Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Haji:

“That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.”  (S.22  V.32)

So, such a sound heart is one that is empathetically attuned to others, and gives good to those around it.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Anfal:

“And [He] brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together. …”  (S.8  V.63)

So what is more beautiful that a gentle heart, that shows this gentleness and mercy to those who are weak and needy, such as being merciful to the orphans and the poor. This is the heart that benefits the one who possesses it.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah in the Qur’an in Surah as-Shuara:

“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children.”  “But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.”  (S.26  V.88—89)

The Prophet SAW said: “The inmates of Paradise are three – amongst them he mentioned – the person who is merciful and kind hearted.” [Sahih ibn Hibban]    The Prophet SAW was the most merciful of people, hence many of the companions used to define him by the attribute of being merciful (Rahiman). Similarly, Abdullah ibn Umar RA described the hearts of the Sahaba (the companions of the Prophet SAW) by saying: “They are the companions of Muhammad SAW. They were the best of this Ummah. He made their hearts righteous, so they embodied this in their character. One of the great scholars of this Ummah, Fakhruddin al-Razi is reported to have said that the completion of felicity for human beings lies in two things: “Honoring the commands of Allah and showing gentleness to the creation of Allah.”

May the peace and the blessings of Allah be upon prophet Muhammad SAW, his family and all of his Companions. May Allah be pleased with the Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and all those who will follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.

O Allah! Accept our prayers and all our ibada.  

O Allah! Accept all of our good deeds and forgive us for our sins

O Allah! Guide us to the right path and accept all our worships

O Allah! Accept us for Your service and for the service of Islam and Muslims.

O Allah! Accept all of us Dawah worker in Japan

O Allah! Give rizq in abundance to all Muslims in Japan

O Allah! Grant safety and security in Japan and all over the world. Aamin ya Rabbil Aalamin