Hajj and qurbani are personal obligations
“No one will love you more in this world than your mother.”
Hajj, the sacred ten days, and Qurbani are serious obligations for those with means, and no act of worship, including Qurbani, is accepted if one's parents are not pleased with them.
The khutbah in 10 steps
- Opening recitation of Surah ar-Rahman and adhan
- The sacred months and the obligation to take Hajj as seriously as salah, fasting, and zakat
- Virtues of an accepted Hajj and warnings for those with means who neglect it
- Hajj Badal: the woman permitted to perform Hajj for her elderly father; doing Hajj for deceased parents
- Story of the dying millionaire whose wife refused to fund his Hajj Badal
- The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the unmatched virtue of fasting the day of Arafah
- Qurbani rulings: wajib on each person with means, not just the father; bring children to witness it
- Giving Qurbani shares and sadaqah jariyah on behalf of living and deceased parents
- Allah's pleasure depends on parents' pleasure; story of the dying companion whose mother withheld forgiveness
- Closing with Imam Ghazali: a child's duties to parents continue after their death through dua
In the khateeb's words
“Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam says a man who has the means to perform Hajj but refuse to refuse to perform Hajj he will die as a Nasara or a Yahudi he will die as a Christian or a Jew not as a Muslim”
“it is the foundation of Islam a man whom Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has been blessed with this life and die without performing Hajj hisab will be taken on him accountability will be taken on him”
“if we are doing all of that but our mothers and fathers are not pleased with us Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will not accept those ibadat”
“no one will love you more in this world than your mother not your son not your daughter not your wife”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us that the sacred months have begun and Hajj is a pillar of Islam, not an optional extra, anyone with the health and money to go has no excuse to delay. The imam told moving stories, like the daughter who performed Hajj for her elderly father and the dying man whose wife refused to fund his Hajj, warning us not to wait until death is near. For those staying home, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are precious, and fasting the day of Arafah wipes away two years of sins. He also explained that Qurbani is a duty on every adult with means, not just the father, and we should bring our children to witness it so the sunnah lives on. Most of all, he taught that Allah's pleasure depends on our parents' pleasure, no prayer, fast, or sacrifice is accepted if we neglect or hurt them. Even after our parents pass away, we can keep giving: dua, charity, and Qurbani shares in their name reach them in their graves.
- If you could do one special deed for Grandma or Grandpa this Eid, what would it be?
- Why do you think the Prophet cried when he heard the mother's complaint about her son?
- What is one thing our family could do together during the ten best days of the year?
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