Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

Feb, Friday 23. 2024

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! Shaban: A month in which deeds are raised. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Fatir:

“O mankind! Worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.”  (S.2  V.21)

It is narrated of Anas ibn Malik RA that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “Do good throughout your lives and open yourself up to the fragrant breezes of the mercy of Allah. For Allah has fragrant breezes from His mercy, affecting thereby whom He wills from His slaves.” [Tabarani]    Know that the days of this month of Shaban are blessed, for in it are raised our deeds to the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth. So, it would indeed be a beautiful thing that a person acquire tremendous reward through his performing acts of devotion therein, occupying his time with worship, such that his faith is increased and that his spiritual rank is raised. This would be consistent with the example of the Prophet SAW, for when he was asked about striving for devotion in Shaban :said he “That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting. [Sunan an-Nasa’i]    Some of the Scholars have said: For the reason that Shaban serves as an introduction to Ramadan, there has been legislated in it that which is legislated in Ramadan itself concerning worship and devotion. So, let us strive in the worship of our Lord in these days, so that we can ready our hearts for Ramadan and to habituate our souls towards devotion towards the Most Merciful.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Baqarah and Surah at-Taubah:

“Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend [in His cause] out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, [can] expect a profit that will never perish.”  “That He may give them in full their rewards and increase for them of His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative.…”  (S.35  V.29–30)

So, O Allah bestow and bless us to invest in the month of Shaban, and aid us in remembering You and being grateful to You, and in having a good opinion of Your slaves, O Most Merciful. I say this, and seek your forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, indeed He is the most forgiving, most merciful.

Slaves of Allah! Know that in the night of the middle of Shaban, Allah sends His mercy on those who seek mercy, and seeks His forgiveness and purification for those who do wrong. For it is narrated on Abu Musa al-Ashari RA on the Messenger SAW said: Allah looks down on the middle night of Shaban and forgives all His creatures, except a polytheist or one who is hostile. [Ibn Majah]   So, what is more beautiful than one who forgives a human being who wronged them and reconciles with those who hurt them, and who seeks much forgiveness through supplication and humility towards the Lord of the Heavens and Earth. Such a person asks mercy from the most Merciful of the Merciful, a means by which they enter Ramadan through a clean and pure slate.

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! Give shifa to all those who are sick.

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