Repair what you can and trust Allah
“You've got to pick up the phone.”
When something is broken, sincere reform requires taking the steps within our control while relying on Allah for the success to complete what we cannot.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces the hadith of strangers as those who remain righteous and repair corruption.
- Connects sincere intention with determined action, and tawakkul with taking practical means.
- Uses Shu'ayb and marital reconciliation to show that reform requires shared willingness and Allah's tawfiq.
- Applies the principle to estranged relatives and community members through apologies, calls, and humility.
- Expands the message to communal unity, emphasizing internal repair alongside trust in Allah.
- Concludes that prayer cannot replace action and urges people to fix what remains possible.
In the khateeb's words
“The solution is not for you to make du'a to Allah only to fix things. No, you've got to pick up the phone.”
“That doesn't mean that the situation is always going to get resolved, but it always means that you're going to be rewarded.”
For the dinner table
Sheikh Omar reminded us that fixing what is broken includes working on ourselves, our families, and our communities. We need sincere intentions and good actions, while trusting Allah to give our efforts success. Making dua matters, and so does taking the step within our reach, such as apologizing, making a phone call, or listening with patience. He described Allah as Al-Jabbar, the one who mends what is broken, and encouraged us to keep hope that hearts can change. Our efforts may not resolve every situation, but trying to repair things for Allah's sake is still rewarded.
- What is one small thing you could do this week to help mend a disagreement?
- What makes an apology feel sincere to you?
- When have you needed strength to admit you were wrong?
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