Honorable Muslims!
Faith is the belief in the existence of Allah (swt), His angels, His books, His prophets, the Last Day, and that qada (decree) and qadar (destiny) are controlled by Him.1 Faith is a covenant to follow the commandments of our Lord (swt), refrain from what He has prohibited, and maintain a steadfast character as a believer. It is to remove the obstacles on the path to righteousness, justice, benevolence and mercy, and peace and happiness. Faith entails wholehearted dedication to the divine principles conveyed in the Qur’an and adopting the exemplary life of the Prophet (saw) as a guide in all aspects of life.
Dear Believers!
We hold the belief that our Lord (swt) is constantly present with us and will not abandon us, which we believe will contribute to our success in the trials of this world. It is our faith that will make us strong in the face of all difficulties and keep our hope for the future alive. It is our faith that empowers us to withstand oppression, evil, and injustice. Today, too, a handful of mujahidin in Gaza are resisting against the oppressors with the strength they draw from their faith. With their unwavering faith in Allah (swt), they are fighting against the oppressors. Our Lord (swt) states, “Allah is the Guardian of the believers. He brings them out of darkness and into light.”2
Dear Muslims!
Endless praise and thanks be to Allah the Almighty that He has granted us such a great blessing as faith. When we manifest our faith across all facets of our lives, we express gratitude for this immense blessing. As long as we endeavor to perfect our faith with righteous deeds and good morals, we will gain the pleasure of our Lord (swt). When we become good believers, where no one is harmed by our hands and tongue, we represent and communicate Islam in the best way.
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the following supplication we are taught in the Holy Qur’an:
“Our Lord! We have heard the caller to true belief, proclaiming, ‘Believe in your Lord alone’, so we believed. Our Lord! Forgive our sins. Absolve us of our misdeeds. Join us with the virtuous when we die.”3
[1] Ibn Hanbal, I, 28.
[2] Baqarah, 2/257.
[3] Ali ‘Imran, 3/193.
Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Faith: The Measure That Makes Life Valuable”