Good deeds need sincere faith

Good deeds become worthless like a mirage when they lack sincere intention, sound belief, and conformity to the Qur’an, the Prophet’s Sunnah, and the way of the believers.

The khutbah in 6 steps

1. Introduces the desert mirage as a metaphor for deeds that appear valuable but yield no reward.
2. Uses Qur’anic images of mirage, scattered ashes, and a ruined garden to warn against wasted deeds.
3. Describes a scholar, charitable person, and martyr whose deeds are rejected because they sought reputation.
4. Urges listeners to examine their prayers, creed, intentions, and religious practices.
5. Presents the Qur’an, Sunnah, and path of the Companions as standards for evaluating deeds.
6. Encourages learning foundational religion from scholars and concludes with supplications and prayer recitation.