Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

June, Friday 09. 2023

In the name of Allah Most Gracious and Most Merciful

All praises are due to Allah. We believe in Him and His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day and in Destiny its good and apparent bad. We are content with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion. 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 Yusuf:

“And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allah.”  (S.12  V.57)

The Prophet SAW compared the believer to gold, for gold is known for its purity and its flawlessness or impeccability. This is because gold as long as it is gold, has an essence that does not change, nor does its value diminish. In similar manner is the believer, their heart is pure, their praiseworthy character is free from blemish and their certainty if firm and sound in their Lord. Similarly, the Prophet SAW also compared the believers to the nature of the bee, in that the bee seeks its food or nourishment from the best of sources in the form of honey, the nectar of flowers and the ripest parts of fruits, and then the bees are generous in that this nourishment fuels their flights by which they help cross pollinate flowers as they fly from one to the next. So, in similar manner, the believer is one who only consumes what is lawful, wholesome and pure, and who is generous in spreading goodness and righteousness amongst society. This is the believer, they are good-natured, gentle in dealing with others, do not break people’s hearts, do not hurt the feelings of others. You see such believers being distinguished by their morals amongst people, being known for their praiseworthy attributes, for their kind words, and for their beautiful actions. This is why the believer has been as someone who when they speak, they speak the truth. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah at-Taubah:

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.”  (S.9  V.119)

And when the believers are given a trust, they preserve it. Likewise, when they make a promise, they are loyal to fulfilling it, being true to the words of Allah in the Qur’an in Surah al-Mu’minun:

“And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive.”  (S.23  V.8)

Indeed Allah sent forth the Prophet Muhammad SAW with the greatest and most noble of characters.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Qalam:

“And indeed, you are of an immense moral character.”  (S.68  V.4)

The Prophet SAW put forward for us the best of examples in human character, and the loftiest demonstration of interacting with other people, in fact he is the best of examples, and the most perfect template for human beings to model their character upon. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Ahzab: ‌

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”  (S.33  V.21)

So let us be avid in characterizing ourselves with every noble characteristic, and to adorn ourselves with every beautiful character trait. This begins with those closest to us, with our families, with our spouses, with our children, and then it expands to our wider communities. Let us demonstrate this beautiful character in turn for our children to emulate and to take forward for the future generations.

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