Friday Khutbah of Masjid Otsuka

June, Friday 16. 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 al-Baqarah:

“…and take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.”  (S.2  V.197)

These days, we are near being the first ten days of Dhul Hijja. Allah, the Most Exalted, swore by them in an indication to their great importance. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Fajr:

“By the dawn,”  “and [by] the ten nights,”  “and [by] the even [number] and the odd,”  “and [by] the night when it passes,”  “is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of perception?”  (S.89  V. 1–5)

Allah, the Almighty, gave oath by the first ten days of Dhul Hijja because they fall in a sacred month and in them falls the blessed Day of Arafah. Therefore, during these days, the best acts of worship are recommended, including prayer, fast, Hajj, almsgiving, sacrifices and Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah al-Hajj:

“…and mention the name of Allah on known days. …”  (S.22  V.28)

In these days, Allah multiplies His rewards for the believers who perform good deeds. Allah made the ten days of Dhul Hijja a season of worship for those who go for Hajj and those who do not. Thus, whoever is unable to perform Hajj, he can do a good deed during those days while in his house. The first ten days of Dhul Hijja are a great opportunity for attaining Allah’s forgiveness and winning rewards equal to those granted for performing Hajj. The ultimate goal of performing Hajj is returning after Hajj free of all sins. Therefore, whoever is diligent on establishing the prayer on its prescribed time will, by Allah’s favour, attain a reward that is equal to the reward granted for performing Hajj.

O servants of Allah! Performing two Rakaas prior to the Fajr prayer is better than all that is in the world. After these two Rakaas, it is good to go to masjid to observe the prayer in congregation. In this sense, one is urged to be a good performer of the prayer, knowing its conditions and the recommended acts relative to it. Another highly rewarded act of worship is attending lessons at masjid seeking beneficial knowledge. Indeed, such righteous deeds are gracious ones to be performed during these blessed days of Dhul Hijja for Allah, the Almighty, multiplies His rewards for them. Amongst the other good deeds that draw us closer to our Lord during these days is being grateful to Him, the Almighty, for His bounties and generous favours. Thanking Allah, the Most Exalted, is another cause of effacing one’s sins. Allah, the Most Gracious, swore by these days for they are glorious ones. Thus, we should honour them by performing as many acts of obedience as possible. For instance, one should recite the Qur’an much, remember Allah much, say Tahlil and Tahmid.

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