Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Ramadan and the Awareness of the Hereafter”

Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii
March 13, 2026

Ramadan and the Awareness of the Hereafter

Honorable Muslims!
One day, our Prophet (saw) said to his companions, “Verily, the example of this world and myself is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then moves on and leaves it behind.”¹ This hadith reminds us that our life in this world is fleeting compared to the everlasting life of the Hereafter. It warns us against becoming consumed by the fleeting pleasures of this world, lest we neglect preparing for the eternal Hereafter.

Dear Muslims!
For Muslims, second only to faith in Allah (swt) is the profound importance of living with awareness of the Hereafter. By beginning with the phrase, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day,” our Prophet (saw) would emphasize the importance of certain matters he was about to convey. The following hadith is a clear example: “Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should be good to his neighbors. Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should be generous to his guest. Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good or remain silent.”²

Dear Believers!
A Muslim grounded in the awareness of the Hereafter understands that their life has profound meaning and is not a random existence. They recognize Allah’s (swt) presence closer than their jugular vein, with every word spoken and every deed meticulously recorded. They live with a deep sense of accountability, knowing that they will stand before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgment to answer for every action.
Embracing the awareness of the Hereafter compels a Muslim to diligently fulfill their obligations to Allah (swt), to themselves, and to their environment. They strive to protect themselves and their families from the Fire of Hell, fueled by both people and stones. They seek to be the subject of their parents’ supplications and endeavor to attain their pleasure. They believe that earning their parents’ approval is akin to earning the approval of Allah (swt). They provide relief to the needy and the destitute.

Dear Muslims!
The awareness of the Hereafter fosters a remarkable equilibrium within a Muslim. They strive for excellence in this world while their hearts remain firmly fixed on the eternal life to come. They lead a balanced life between the two. Muslims are trustworthy; they do not harm anyone with their hand or tongue. They do not harm the possessions of others or violate anyone’s chastity and dignity. Muslims are honest; they do not deviate from honesty in their business and commercial dealings. They respect the rights of others and the public, and they abstain from anything deemed haram.
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the following warning from Allah (swt): “O humanity! Be mindful of your Lord. Beware of a Day when no parent will be of any benefit to their child, nor will a child be of any benefit to their parent. Surely Allah’s promise is true. So do not let the life of this world deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah.”

[1] Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 44.
[2] Bukhari, Adab, 3.
[3] Luqman, 31/33.

Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Ramadan and the Awareness of the Hereafter” PDF