Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Knowledge Leads to Dignity, Violence to Misery”

Dear Muslims!
In the verse I have recited, our Lord Almighty (swt) states: “Indeed, Allah has done the believers a great favor by raising a messenger from among them—reciting to them His revelations, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom…”¹
In the hadith I have read, our beloved Prophet (saw) says, “Whoever teaches some knowledge will have the reward of the one who acts upon it…”²

Dear Believers!
Our sublime religion, Islam, is a faith that commands the pursuit of learning and the acquisition of knowledge. Islam regards it as an act of worship to engage in acquiring knowledge that lead to Allah’s pleasure. It makes the acquisition of knowledge an essential duty for every Muslim, both men and women. The fact that the first verse revealed to our beloved Prophet (saw) was the commandment, اِقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذ۪ي خَلَقَۚ “Read, o Prophet, in the Name of your Lord Who created.”³ points to this truth.
Islam has put goodness, justice, mercy, love and respect at the basis of education and training. According to Islam, the purpose of reading and writing is to benefit humanity and contribute to the development of societies. In this regard, the Messenger of Allah (saw) says in one of his hadiths, خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ “The best people are those who are most beneficial to other people.”⁴

Dear Muslims!
Unfortunately, due to the growing distance from the mercy-filled messages of the Qur’an and Sunnah, oppression and injustices are increasing day by day across the world. As the knowledge, wisdom, and guidance prescribed by Islam have faded away, love and respect have diminished, while violence and hatred have risen. However, according to our sublime religion, Islam, violence is considered cruelty, a grave sin forbidden by Allah, and a violation of the rights of others, with severe consequences. Violence cannot be justified under any circumstance. Violence in any form is unacceptable, regardless of who perpetrates it or who the victim is. Islam, the religion of mercy and peace, and violence can never be mentioned together.

Today is the day to unite knowledge with wisdom and morality. It is time to protect our families and children from harmful habits and false ideologies. It is time to strengthen our country and nation by harnessing all available technology and the opportunities of the modern era.

On this occasion, I respectfully and gratefully remember all our teachers, Qur’an course instructors, and lecturers who have guided us to this day. I pray for mercy on those who have passed away and wish health and well-being to those who are still with us.

[1] Ali ‘Imran, 3/164.
[2] Ibn Majah, Sunnah, 20.
[3] ‘Alaq, 96/1.
[4] Quda‘i, Musnad al-Shihab, I, 365.

Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Knowledge Leads to Dignity, Violence to Misery” PDF