True strength is patience and goodness
“Being good is more important than being great.”
True strength comes from patience, prayer, self-mastery, clear purpose, and goodness, exemplified by Shaykhah Munira al-Qubaisi's transformative leadership.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- The gorilla meme reframes strength as winning without making others lose.
- Patience and prayer are presented as continuous sources of spiritual strength.
- Shaykhah Munira al-Qubaisi's biography illustrates women's scholarship, leadership, family life, and service.
- Her institutions challenged colonial assumptions and shaped generations of respectful, confident Muslims.
- The khutbah closes by urging purposeful faith that transforms hardship and by offering prayers for the bereaved and ill.
In the khateeb's words
“And that really got me thinking Is it possible to win without making others lose?”
“Sheikha Munira Didn't teach us How to be great She taught us Something more important She taught us How to be good Being good Is more important Than being great Than being powerful”
“The one who has purpose Is protected from the vicissitudes Of the world From the upheavals that we experience”
“Allow your faith to be so deep That it transforms your trials Your difficulties Your hardship And makes it transformed Into gardens of bliss Through conviction And through strength”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah began with a playful question about a gorilla and led to a deeper question about what makes someone strong. The khateeb taught that strength grows through patience, prayer, and mastery of ourselves. He shared the example of Shaykhah Munira al-Qubaisi, describing how she nurtured faith, supported women's education and leadership, and influenced generations through teaching and companionship. He encouraged us to listen to our mothers' dreams and consider how we can support women in scholarship, work, and family life. His message was that being good matters more than being great or powerful, and that deep faith can transform how we face hardship.
- What would handling a disagreement without making someone else lose look like?
- Which woman has helped you learn something important about your faith?
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