Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

March, Friday 29. 2024

We believe in Allah, Angels, Divine Books, Messengers, the Last Day, and the Divine decree both its good and the apparent bad. 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 a slave of Allah and His Messenger.

Dear Believers! Allah has singled out in the last ten nights of Ramadan for the blessed night of Qadr and He has made that night better than a thousand months. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Qadr:

“Indeed, Allah sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.” “And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?” “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” “The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.” “Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (S.97  V.1–5)

For the Qur’an is a Book of immense magnitude, which was revealed by an Angel of immense magnitude upon a Prophet of immense magnitude on a night of immense magnitude. On this night Allah destines what will be in the coming year from what is proportioned from provision, lifespan and the good.

Allah says: Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah ad-Duhan:

“ We sent it (Qur’an) down during a blessed night.” “On that night is made distinct every precise matter.” (S.44  V.3—4)

So whoever brings life to this night by dedicating themselves to righteous deeds, such as giving charity, spiritual devotion, recitation of the Qur’an, remembrance of Allah, prayers, can hope for the attainment of forgiveness from Allah. The Prophet SAW said: “He who passes Night of Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.” [Bukhari and Muslim]   The duas on the Night of Qadr are those that are most hopeful of being accepted, and of the greatest of things that the believers can make supplication for is: sings from your nobility and grace upon us and allow us to reach the Night of Qadr and please write for us forgiveness and reward.

O Fasting Believers! Indeed, the Night of Qadr is also a night of peace and tranquility, which Jibril brought down and with him was noble Angels with mercy, baraka and peace. In other words, the Night of Qadr is peace and goodness in its entirety, there is no evil in what the Night represents until the onset of Fajr. So, let us embed the value of peace in our hearts, in ourselves, in our speech and in our deeds. This entails that each of us strive to have peace in our hearts and to spread peace amongst ourselves. So, let us esteem the value of our characters, especially when it comes to our interactions with our family members, friends and intimate companions, broader society and the wider world we interact with. For one the Names of our Lord is al-Salam, and our religion is a religion of peace (Salam), and our Prophet SAW was a Prophet of mercy and peace (Salam), likewise our very greeting by which we greet each other is Salam.

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, all our ibada and all of our good deeds and forgive us for our sins.

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

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

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