Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

February, Friday 10. 2023

In the name of Allah Most Gracious and Most Merciful 

All praises are due to Allah. We believe in Him and His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and in Destiny its good and apparent bad. We are content with Allah as our Lord, and Islam as our religion. 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-Baqarah and Surah al-Hasyr:

“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who have Taqwa of Allah.”  (S.2  V.2)

“If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah.”  (S.59  V.21)

The Qur’an revealed to the last of the Messenger as the seal of the Messengers, confirming all the revelations that came before? Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al Imran: 

“He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. …”  (S.3  V.3)

The hearts of those who contemplate become reverent and humble whenever they recite and reflect on the Qur’an.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW whenever he would hear the words of the Lord, his heart would become reverential and tears would flow from his eyes. So one day the Prophet Muhammad SAW said to Abdullah bin Masud RA: “Recite [the Qur’an] to me.” so Ibn Masud narrates: “I began reciting Surah al-Nisa until I reached the saying of Allah: So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness ? (Qur’an: 4:41). After that bin Masud RA raised his head and saw the tears of the Prophet SAW flowing.” [Bukhari and Muslim]    This is the manner, O slaves of Allah, of someone who engages with the Qur’an with reflection. Whoever does so, shall find their hearts full of reverence and awe, have their souls purified, their character reformed, and their whole lives transformed for the better. This power of the Qur’an to completely transform hearts lies in what it contains of eloquence, deep meaning and immense wisdom.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah az-Zumar and Surah al-Hijr:　

“And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur’an from every [kind of] example – that they might remember.”  “[It is] an Arabic Qur’an, without any deviance that they might become righteous.”  (S.39  V.27—28)

“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.”  (S.15  V.9)

So, Allah has preserved the Qur’an from any distortion and alteration, allowing for the believers to continually benefit from it till the Last Day. This entails that the believers should continue to seek benefit from it.

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

“Indeed, the believers are 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)

This is the nature of the believers who take their light and guidance from the Qur’an, who find therein a healing for the hearts. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Isra’ and Surah ar-Raad:

“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers. …” (S.17  V.82)

“Is it not by the remembrance of Allah that hearts become content. …”  (S.13  V.28)

The straight path that we ask Allah to guide us towards the path of true happiness and bliss in this life and the next. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Taha:

“… Whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].”  (S.20  V.123)

The Prophet SAW said: “Recite the Qur’an for on the Day of Judgment it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it.” [Muslim]

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