Honorable Muslims!
The second caliph of Islam, the symbol of justice Umar b. al-Khattab once said to his friends as follows: “Reckon with yourselves before you are reckoned with and prepare for the Greatest Inquisition. The reckoning of the Day of Judgment is easy for those who reckoned with themselves in the world.”[i]
Dear Muslims!
The essence of reckoning is to know oneself. It also means contemplating where one came from, why s/he came, and where s/he will go.
The beginning of the reckoning is to stop all kinds of carnal and lustful desires. It means to abandon bad habits and behaviors. It also means to repent of our sins and decide not to commit the same sins again.
Eventually, the reckoning is being a servant of Allah (SWT) with complete submission and meticulously abiding by the rights of people.
Dear Believers!
It is stated in the Holy Qur’an: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the tomorrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”[ii] This verse calls us to reckon with ourselves as a requirement of our faith. It invites us to make a future plan in accordance with our purpose of creation.
I would like to conclude this week’s khutbah with the following hadith of the Messenger of Allah (saw): “The clever person is the one who subjugates his soul and works for what is after death. And the incapable is the one who follows his desires and merely hopes in Allah.”[iii]
[i] Tirmidhi, Sifat al-Qiyamah, 25.
[ii] Hashr, 59/18.
[iii] Tirmidhi, Sifat al-Qiyamah, 25.
FRIDAY KHUTBA OF TOKYO CAMİİ “REVIEWING OUR PAST AND SHAPING OUR FUTURE“.(PDF)