FRIDAY KHUTBA of TOKYO CAMII “WORSHIP: AWARENESS OF SERVITUDE TO ALLAH”
Dear Believers!
In the verse I have recited, the Almighty Allah commands, “Worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).”1
In the hadith I have recited, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) says, “The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done most continuously, even if they amount to little.”2
Honorable Muslims!
Allah created humans, so they only worship Him.3 Servitude, or worshipping, means being fully aware of Him, connected to Him in heart, having faith in Him, and doing good deeds. The essence of servitude to Allah is to obey Him knowingly and willingly and worship Him sincerely.
Honorable Believers!
Worship is the sign of the believer and the reflection of the faith in life. It indicates the desire to be closer to Allah and the effort to become a good servant. It is the finest manifestation of love and devotion to the Almighty Allah. It is the expression of gratitude for the blessings and favors bestowed upon us by Him. It is to seek refuge in and submit ourselves to Him, Whose forgiveness and mercy have no limits.
Honorable Muslims!
Humans, created to be in servitude to Allah, strive to deserve Allah’s approval through obligatory and supererogatory worship, aim to earn His contentment and obtain His love. Ultimately, they receive The Almighty Allah’s mercy, help, and protection. In a hadith qudsi, Allah states, “…the most beloved things with which My servant comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e., give him My Refuge)…”4
Honorable Muslims!
Being in servitude to Allah, which is the meaning and the purpose of our existence in the world, is an honor for us. We should fulfill our responsibilities with due diligence to deserve such honor. We should strive to keep alive the sense of servitude to Allah for our life. We should embellish our life with worship, good deeds, and good morality. Let us always remember that Allah is always with us.
[1] Hijr, 15/99.
[2] Abu Dawud, Tatawwu, 27.
[3] Dhariyat, 51/56.
[4] Bukhari, Riqaq, 38.
FRIDAY KHUTBA of TOKYO CAMII “WORSHIP: AWARENESS OF SERVITUDE TO ALLAH”(PDF)