Death & the hereafterFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 17, 2024.

Sincere deeds make the shahadah meaningful

“Don't underestimate that smile when you greet people.”

The khateeb, at 16:52

In one sentence

Because every person will be judged by the sincerity and quality of their deeds, believers must make the shahadah meaningful through sincere worship, obedience to the Prophet's Sunnah, repentance, and good character.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Judgment Day is unavoidable, and Allah will question every person about every deed.
  2. The mizan weighs deeds and their quality to determine salvation or loss.
  3. The Hadith of Bitaqah illustrates how sincere tawhid can outweigh vast records of sin, while mere lip service cannot.
  4. La ilaha illallah is the key to Jannah, whose ridges include affirming and obeying Muhammad as Allah's Messenger.
  5. Sincerity makes small deeds weighty; good manners, cheerful greetings, and kindness are especially valuable.
  6. The khutbah closes with self-examination, a call to die upon tawhid and obedience, and prayers for oppressed Muslims.
Try this week
Make the shahadah sincere and live by its meaning, rather than merely repeating it.
Follow the Prophet's Sunnah and obey his guidance.
Perform good deeds sincerely for Allah, without showing off or seeking worldly benefits.
Repent, rectify one's ways, and improve one's condition before death.
Do not underestimate small good deeds; greet fellow Muslims cheerfully and smile.
Cultivate good character and manners while fulfilling the rights of Allah.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“there will be no one among you except that Allah is going to speak to him Allah is going to speak with him and there will be no one in between”
Masjid Ar-Rahman · North Vancouver
Play from 3:21
“these are not weighed by kilograms or by pounds no they're weighed by their quality”
Masjid Ar-Rahman · North Vancouver
Play from 16:07
“even if you meet your brother in Islam with a cheerful face simply smiling don't underestimate that smile when you greet people when you talk to them”
Masjid Ar-Rahman · North Vancouver
Play from 16:52
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah reminds us that every person will stand before Allah and answer for what they did and said. Our deeds will be weighed, and their sincerity and quality matter, not just their size or appearance. The statement “La ilaha illallah” is immensely powerful when we truly believe it and live according to it by worshipping Allah alone and following the Prophet. Even small acts, such as smiling and treating people kindly, can become heavy on the scale. Good character, sincere worship, repentance, and obedience are all ways to prepare for meeting Allah.

  1. What small good deed could you do today that might be more valuable than it seems?
  2. Which good manner, such as patience, kindness, or smiling, would you like to practice this week?
  3. What does it mean to show that “La ilaha illallah” in how we live?