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! Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Qaf:

“And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,”  “[It will be said], “This is what you were promised – for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]”  “Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].”  (S.50  V.31—33)

Sincere repentance is a way of attaching and returning oneself to Allah, a way of demonstrating humility towards His majesty and hastening to His pleasure, with a willingness to obey Him. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Zumar:

“And return [in repentance] to your Lord. …”  (S.39  V.54)

Such sincere Repentance is a noble attribute, one through which the Prophets and Messengers have been characterized.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW used to say in his prayer of the night: “O Allah! To You I have submitted, and in You do I believe, and in You I put my trust, to You do I turn [in repentance].”  [Bukhari and Muslim]    From the means that aid the sincere repentance of the heart are the recitation of the Qur’an and reflection upon its meanings. Contemplation upon the creation of Allah also bequeaths the fruit of esteeming and magnifying Allah and allows for sincere repentance towards Him. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Qaf:

“Have they not looked at the heaven above them – how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts?”  “And the earth – We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind,”  “giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah in repentance].”  (S.50  V.6–8)

A person who sincerely repents to their Lord becomes characterized by the most noble of morals and embodies the most beautiful of qualities. So, you see such a person being pious to their parents, kind to their family, a companion to their wife, caring for their children, upholding mercy in themselves, and being merciful to others. Indeed, sincere repentance is the means for guidance. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Raa’d:

“… He guides to Himself whoever turns back to Him in penitence.”  (S.13  V.27) 

This is also a door unto imbibing the reverential awe of Allah, whereby they attain unto success with the Gardens of Paradise. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Qaf:

“Who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].”  “Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity.”  “They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us [Allah] is more.”  (S50  V.33–35) 

So, let us draw near to Allah with hearts that are repentant, oft-returning to Him.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ghafir:

“… But none will remember except he who turns back [in repentance].”  (S.40  V.13) 

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! Make us to You sincerely repentant, of those drawing near to You.

O Allah! Please accept all of us for Your obedience and bless us with obedience towards Your Messenger SAW.

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

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! Accept us for Your service and for the service of Islam and Muslims

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