Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Messages From Surah Al-Masad”

Dear Muslims!
One of the surahs in our divine book, the Holy Qur’an, is the Surah al-Masad (Tabbat). In this Friday’s khutbah, let us once again reflect on the truths taught to us by Surah al-Masad.
Allah the Almighty states in this surah as follows: “May the hands of Abu Lahab perish, and he himself perish! Neither his wealth nor worldly gains will benefit him. He will burn in a flaming Fire, and so will his wife, the carrier of thorny kindling, around her neck will be a rope of palm-fiber.”¹

Dear Believers!
Abu Lahab was our Prophet’s (saw) uncle. Nevertheless, he was one of those who subjected his nephew to severe hardship, tyranny, and oppression. He was one of the greatest enemies of Islam and Muslims. Surah al-Masad describes the ultimate fate of Abu Lahab, his supporters, and those who follow their path, from which there are several lessons to be drawn.
We learn from this surah that those who fight against Allah and His Messenger (saw), and relentlessly oppose believers, will face severe punishment.

Dear Muslims!
Surah al-Masad highlights that those who support oppression, like Abu Lahab and his allies, will share their ultimate downfall. This is because supporting oppressors is itself a form of being an oppressor. Causing oppression to spread is itself a form of oppression. Our Prophet (saw) says, “He who helps tyranny is under the wrath of Allah the Almighty.”² So, we must resolutely oppose oppression with our hands, tongue, and heart wherever it arises. In a world where oppression exists, no one will be safe. The warning of the Messenger of Allah (saw) in this regard is quite clear: “When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him (from doing evil), it is likely that Allah will punish them all.”³

Dear Believers!
It is unfortunate that the oppression of figures like Abu Lahab continues today, and that individuals with the malice of figures like Abu Jahil are found across continents. Murderers and occupiers are committing brutal massacres in Islamic places, particularly in Gaza, without sparing children, women, the elderly, or the innocent. The ruthless criminals are committing a genocide unprecedented in history. Those who support them applaud oppression with their bloodstained hands and encourage the oppressors. O Oppressors! Stop this rage! Do not trust the sources of power you rely on! Look back at history and learn from it! Remember what has happened in the past due to your transgressions! The power and resources you have today will never save you! No power will be able to prevent our sublime religion, Islam, from taking root in the hearts and spreading throughout the world. Our Lord (swt) informs us of this fact as follows:
يُر۪يدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُ۫ا نُورَ اللّٰهِ بِاَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللّٰهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِه۪ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْـكَافِرُونَ
“They wish to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths, but Allah will certainly perfect His light, even to the dismay of the disbelievers.”⁴

I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the following verse. Allah the Almighty stated,
قُلْ لِلَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ اِلٰى جَهَنَّمَۜ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ
“O Prophet! Tell the disbelievers, ‘Soon you will be overpowered and driven to Hell— what an evil place to rest!’”⁵

[1] Masad, 111/1-5.
[2] Abu Dawud, Qada’ (‘Aqdiyyah), 14.
[3] Tirmidhi, Tafsir al-Qur’an, 5.
[4] Saff, 61/8.
[5] Ali ‘Imran, 3/12.

Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Messages From Surah Al-Masad” PDF