Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

August 12, 2022

All praises are due to Allah the Lord of all the worlds, who accepts from His slave’s 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 oneness. And I testify that the Prophet Muhammad is the slave of Allah and His Messenger.

O Servants of Allah! As to what follows, I urge you and myself, to be aware that you are asked to obey Allah the Most Exalted in line with His orders. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Anaam:

“And to establish prayer and fear Him. And it is He to whom you will be gathered.”  (S.6  V.72)

That is to say: the worshiper is speaking to his/her Lord by remembering Him and reciting His holy words, reflecting upon His Supreme status and adhering to the orders. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Taha:

 “…And establish prayer for My remembrance.”  (S.20  V.14)

This means, to celebrate my remembrance in your prayers. So, the worshiper begins the prayer with Takbir (saying Allah is the Most Great). Thus, the worshiper begins their prayer saying: Allahu Akbar, acknowledging that Allah the Almighty is greater, more exalted and higher than anything else that can come to mind, and being in His presence is greater that this world and all that which is there in it.After Takbir, the worshiper recites Surat Al Fatiha, humbly addressing their Lord. So, they praise Him and glorify Him, seeking His mercy and hoping for His guidance. In return, Allah, the Most Exalted, responds to their prayers, grant them what they have asked for and forgive them. On this account, the Prophet SAW said, “If he stands to pray and praises Allah, lauds Him and glorifies Him as He deserved and shows wholehearted devotion to Him, his sins would depart leaving him (as innocent) as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.”  Following the Fatiha, the believer recites verses from the holy Qur’an, contemplating on their meanings, following in this the commandments of Allah the Almighty.

O Servants of Allah!During bowing, the worshiper declares such glorification in words, glorifying their Lord and testifying His greatness and supremacy. So, they say, “Subhana Rabi Al Adheem (Glorious is my Lord the Magnificent),” repeating the phrase three times so that its meaning should settle in their heart. As the worshiper raises his head from bowing, they say, “Allah hears him who sends his praises to Him.”   This means, Allah hears the praises of His servants and responds to their prayers. During prayer, the worshiper prostrates before his Lord, humbly submissive to and glorifying Him, saying, “Subhana Rabi Al Aala (Glorious is my Lord the Most High).”   Saying these words is conducive to draw the worshiper nearer to their Lord. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Alaq:

“…But prostrate and draw near [to Allah].”  (S.96  V.19)

On the same matter, the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “The nearest the servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself (during prayer), so increase in supplication (in this state).”   Furthermore, while sitting for Tashahhud (testimony of faith) during prayer, the believer should praise Allah the Most Exalted and Sublime with the best of compliments, and call upon Him with sincere and fully devoted prayers. One should also invoke peace and blessings of Allah upon prophet Muhammad SAW and all of the righteous servants of Allah, and then ask their Lord to grant them whatever they wish. In this context, amongst the supplications that are recommended in the Sunna to be said after Tashahhud is the following: “O Allah! Please forgive my past and future sins and those sins which I did in secret or in public, and what I have transgressed the limit in, and what You know about me more than I do. You are the One who makes (some people) forward and (some) backward. There is none to be worshipped but You.”   Concluding the prayer, the worshiper recites the Salam after they have filled their prayer with humble submission to Allah the Almighty, contemplation on the words of His holy Book and calling upon Him privately. As such, a feeling of tranquillity and happiness fill their heart because by the time they have completed their prayer, they become as clean of sins as they were on the day they were born. Please know that prayer is a great pillar of Islam, one that Allah the Almighty has enjoined upon us to observe regularly on its prescribed time. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah An-Nisaa: 

“…Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.”  (S.4  V.103)

The Messenger of Allah SAW said, “Allah, the Most Exalted, has made five prayers obligatory. If anyone performs ablution for them well, offers them at their (prescribed) time, and observes perfectly their bowing and submissiveness in them, it is the guarantee of Allah that He will pardon him (his misdeeds).” 　We are all urged, therefore, elders and youngsters, men and women, to maintain our prayers and offer them on their decreed time.

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!  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!  Guide all the people in Japan and all over the world to Islam

O Allah!  Grant safety and security in Japan and all over the world   Aamin ya Rabbil Aalamin