Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

November, Friday 24. 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-Anfal:

“O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty.”  (S.8  V.29)

Indeed, supplication to Allah is from the greatest forms of worship, and most immense in reward. The Messenger of Allah SAW said: “Supplication (du’a’) is itself the worship.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]　　Then Messenger of Allah SAW

recited the words which is in the Qur’an in Surah Ghafir:

“… your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you. …’”  (S.40  V.60)

And Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Baqarah:

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.…”  (S.2  V.186)

The Prophet SAW used to make much supplication. He SAW used to commence his day, after praying the Fajr rayer: “O Allah! I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision, and deeds that will be accepted.” [Ibn Majah]

O Servants of Allah! Indeed, in supplication there is much benefit for the believers, so this is an act much beloved to Allah. The Prophet SAW said: “Nothing is more honorable before Allah than supplication.” [Tirmidhi]   Whoever calls upon Allah, attains unto His pleasure. The Door of the Heavens opens up for whoever calls upon Allah, and the person is safeguarded and protected from tribulations. So, the believer is one who is present in his heart at the time of the supplication, having awe and hope in Allah, being certain of the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth. The Prophet SAW said: “Supplicate to Allah whilst being assured of being answered, and know that God does not answer a supplication which comes from a careless and inattentive heart.” [Tirmidhi]   The believer should choose the best times in which his supplications are to be answered, such as supplication in prostration, or in the last third of the night, and between the adhan and the iqamah. He should open his supplication with the praising of Allah, then send his salawaat upon the Prophet SAW. Then he should supplicate for whatever he needs, for himself, for his family, for his parents, for his community, for his nation, and for the collective muslims, the Ummah. And it is more important the future life than the worldly life. So don’t neglect to desire heavenly reward in the supplication to Allah.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Ali’Imran:

“…There are some who say, “Our Lord! Grant us ˹Your bounties˺ in this world,” but they will have no share in the Hereafter.”  (S.2  V.200)

“…Those who desire worldly gain, We will let them have it, and those who desire heavenly reward, We will grant it to them. …”  (S.3  V.145)

May the peace and the blessings of Allah be upon prophet Muhammad SAW, his family and all of his Companions. May A

llah 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! Bless us with Your love. Bless us the love of those You love.

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.