Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

April, Friday 07. 2023

In the name of Allah Most Gracious and Most Merciful

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-Lail:

“As for he who gives and fears Allah,”  “And believes in the best [reward]”  “We will ease him toward ease.”   (S.92  V.5–7)

In other words someone who spends their wealth in the path of good, out of piety for their Lord, seeking of His reward, and purifying themselves and their wealth. Indeed Allah will reward him for what he has expended and please him in the Hereafter by entering His paradise, by saving him from punishment. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Lail: “[He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself.”  “And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded,”  “But only seeking the countenance of his Lord” (S.92  V.18—20)

The true believer is the one who strives in Ramadan to worship their Lord. To help the people in the fulfilment of their goodly activities, in the worship of their Lord. In such a manner Ramadan comes upon the believers and shall continue to, until the end of time, throughout the ages. Indeed from the best of examples of noble giving, a form of compulsory charity, is the giving of Zakat. The giving of Zakat makes thing easier for the poor, facilitating things for those in need, aiding the deprived. From the forms of such noble giving there is the hidden charity, that no-one knows except Allah. For this act indicates the sacrifice and giving of its doer, the excellence of character of the one doing so From the greatest of charity in Ramadan is to provide food in the form of iftar to those who fast, for this is an act that is beloved to Allah and a means by which a person enters Paradise in a state of amnesty. The Sahaba and the righteous who came before ascertained the bounty of feeding food to the needy, so some of them used to give food every night to the widows, the orphans, and the poor. This is because giving food to others is a way of expressing gratitude to the Merciful One who has given us life itself, giving them safety and security. Allah has called us to this way of gratitude. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Quraish “Let them worship the Lord of this House,”  “Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.”  (S.106  V.3—4)

So we should honor this blessing of food and remember the poor and the needy, working with the official channels in distributing it to those most deserving. Alongside giving there is the spirit of giving, and what is more beautiful than one who whilst giving embodies the spirit of peace and contentment by smiling, for to smile in the face of one’s brother is itself a charity. The Prophet SAW is reported to have said: “Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.”    It is likewise beautiful if such a demeanor be coupled with kindly words, for that too is a type of charity that makes weighty the scales of goodness, allowing for such people to be saved from perdition and to enter the endless bliss.

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