Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

July, Friday 21. 2023

All praises are due to Allah the Lord of all the worlds, who accepts from His slaves deeds that are intended sincerely for His sake. 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! We are currently in the sacred month of Al-Muharram, which is one of the four sacred months of the year (Dhu’l-Qi’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah, Al-Muharram and Rajab). This is an extremely virtuous month where there are special rewards for certain deeds, such as fasting, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet SAW said:“The best fasting after that of Ramadaan is fasting during the month of Al-Muharram; and the best prayers after the obligatory ones are the night prayers.”　Among the virtues of this month is that it contains the day of ‘Aashooraa’, which falls on its tenth day. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that: “Quraysh (the tribe of the Prophet SAW) as well as the Prophet SAW himself used to fast the day of ‘Aashooraa’ during the days of Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance). When the Prophet SAW emigrated to Madeenah he continued to fast it and commanded the people to do so. However, when the revelations regarding fasting in the month of Ramadaan came, he SAW gave it up and used to fast during Ramadaan instead. After this, some people continued to fast the day of ‘Aashooraa’ (optionally) whilst others gave up fasting it.” (Bukhaari & Muslim)　　Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that: “When the Prophet SAW arrived in Madeenah he observed that the Jews were fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, so the Prophet SAW asked them:  “Why do you fast on this day?” they replied, “This is a great day.  It is on this day that Allah saved Moosaa and his followers while drowning Pharaoh and his people, so Moosaa fasted this day out of gratitude to Allah.  That is why we fast on this day” The Prophet SAW said in response: “We have more right to Moosaa than you (i.e. we love Moosaa and follow what he came with (Islaam) more than you do.” and thereupon the Prophet SAW fasted this day and commanded the people to do likewise.” (Bukhaari & Muslim)   Salamah Ibn Al-Akwa’, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that “The Prophet SAW commanded a man from the tribe of Aslam to call upon people and say, ‘Whoever has eaten something today, then let them refrain and fast the rest of the day; and as for those who have not eaten, let them fast because today is ‘Aashooraa’” 　Abu Qataadah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that a man asked the Prophet SAW about the virtues of fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, so the Prophet SAW replied: “I hope that Allah will make it a cause to expiate the sins of the previous year.”  (Muslim)    Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet SAW said: “If I live until next year I will fast the ninth along with the tenth (i.e. of Al-Muharram).” (Muslim)   This was said by the Prophet SAW so that his fasting would differ from that of the Jews. As Muslims, we should be keen to fast the ninth along with the tenth of this month. If this is not possible, then we should try to fast other days of this sacred month such as Mondays, Thursdays and the mid-three days of this month (i.e. the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth). It is vital that the Muslims make provisions for their hereafter by increasing their performance of righteous deeds. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surat t Ghaafir:

“Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.” (S.40  V.51)

So be assured while you are performing your prayers and fasting and when you are rushing to perform all other types of righteous deeds that Allah will support you and that He will protect you. Whenever you are involved in an act of worship, Allah will love you due to this and will give you a magnificent reward. This is because Allah only enables those whom He loves to perform righteous deeds and He only guides those who repent to Him. The Prophet SAW said: “I swear by Him besides Whom there is nothing worthy of worship: A person will perform the deeds of one of the people of Paradise until there is only a arms-length between himself and Paradise; then, what has been written for him overtakes his behaviour and he will begin performing the deeds of the people of Hell and thereby enter Hell. Also, a person will perform the deeds of one of the people of Hell until there is only a hand-span between himself and Hell; then, what has been written for him overtakes his behaviour and he will begin performing the deeds of the people of Paradise and thereby enter Paradise.” (Bukhaari & Muslim)  　Allah says in the Qur’an in Surat Al-Anbiyaa’:

“And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight as a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are we as an accountant.”  (S21  V.47)

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! Guide us to the right path and make us of those on whom You bestows Your mercy.

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

O Allah! Grant safety and security to everyone here in Japan as well as all over the world. Aamin ya Rabbil Aalamin.