Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Violating the Rights of Others Equals Wearing a Garment of Fire”
Honorable Muslims!
One day, our Prophet (saw) asked his Companions, “Do you know who the bankrupt is?” The Companions replied, “It is the one who has lost his wealth and possessions, having gone bankrupt.” The Messenger of Allah (saw) then said: “The bankrupt from my nation is the one who will come on the Day of Judgment with prayers, fasting, and zakat. Yet he will have insulted this person, slandered that person, unlawfully consumed the wealth of another, shed someone’s blood, and beaten yet another. So his good deeds will be taken and given to those whom he wronged. IIf his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, their sins will be taken and cast upon him, and then he will be thrown into the Hellfire. That is the true bankrupt.”1
Dear Believers!
At the root of all evils experienced within the family, in society, and across the world lies the violation of people’s rights. Sadly, people’s rights are sometimes violated out of habit, sometimes through neglect and heedlessness, and sometimes with deliberate intent. The preservation of life, religion, property, intellect, and lineage is among the most fundamental principles of Islam. These rights are sacred and inviolable in the sight of Allah. Their violation is a grave burden of responsibility, a great injustice, and an infringement upon the rights of others.
Dear Believers!
Altering the inheritance shares ordained by our Almighty Lord without mutual consent contravenes divine justice. Accordingly, depriving one’s daughters of their inheritance, as well as the daughters’ refusal to accept their rightful share ordained by Allah, constitutes a violation of people’s rights. Violating land boundaries and seizing another’s property, confiscating people’s possessions on unfounded pretexts, and wronging people through false statements is like wearing a garment of fire. In the hadith I recited at the beginning of the khutbah, the Messenger of Allah (saw) says: “Avoid taking land unjustly. Whoever usurps the land of another unjustly, his neck will be encircled with it down to the seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.”2
Dear Believers!
Spreading false or misleading information on social media and digital platforms to slander others and harm their honor also constitutes a violation of people’s rights and is a sin. What befits a Muslim is to be content with what is halal and never resort to what is haram. It means refraining from speaking against anyone’s honor and dignity, and not coveting another person’s property.
Dear Muslims!
The awareness of people’s rights begins within the family. It takes root through proper education and spiritual awareness. Let us remember that violating the rights of others is among the gravest of reckonings on the Day of Judgment. Without seeking the rightful owner’s pardon and without compensating for their material and spiritual losses, there can be no escape from the severe punishment of the Hereafter.
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the meaning of verse 281 of Surah al-Baqarah: “Be mindful of the Day when you will ˹all˺ be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full for what it has done, and none will be wronged.”3
Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Violating the Rights of Others Equals Wearing a Garment of Fire” PDF
