Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Allah’s pleasure is the greatest reward

In one sentence

Allah’s pleasure is the greatest reward of Paradise, and believers can pursue it now through sincere faith, prophetic practice, patience, gratitude, cleanliness, and good speech.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. The greatest reward in Paradise is Allah’s pleasure and seeing Him, not material blessings.
  2. Worldly wealth does not necessarily prove that Allah is pleased with someone.
  3. Allah’s pleasure can be sought now through sincere faith and following the Companions’ example.
  4. Believers should ask for Allah’s pleasure and respond to calamities with patience and closeness to Him.
  5. Simple deeds such as cleanliness, praising Allah after eating and drinking, and kind speech can earn Allah’s pleasure.
  6. The khutbah closes with supplications for Muslims and the congregational prayer.
Try this week
Say “Raditubillahi Rabbah, Wabil Islami Deena, Wabimuhammadin nabiya” in the morning and evening.
Ask Allah for His pleasure in dua and sujood, including seeking refuge from His displeasure.
Follow the Companions through sincere actions and life changes, not merely verbal claims.
Respond to calamities with patience and use them as motivation to draw closer to Allah.
Maintain cleanliness and brush the teeth.
Praise Allah after eating and drinking.
Speak good words to parents, relatives, neighbors, friends, and coworkers.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 9Uses the promise of Paradise and the statement that Allah’s pleasure is greater to identify the supreme reward.
Surah 89Uses the contrast between worldly ease and hardship to reject wealth as proof of Allah’s approval.
Sahih al-BukhariDescribes Allah granting the people of Paradise His lasting pleasure as greater than all other gifts.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The fact that Allah is pleased with you. Just think about that for a second. So how do you get Allah to be pleased with you?”
JSMC · Tampa, FL
Play from 8:16
“Don't let that calamity and that test get between you and Allah. Use it as fuel to get closer to Him. Use it as fuel to get closer to Him.”
JSMC · Tampa, FL
Play from 25:32
“Because of that one statement you said, Allah will mandate and write down His pleasure for you until the day when you meet Him.”
JSMC · Tampa, FL
Play from 28:06
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that the greatest gift of Paradise is Allah’s pleasure, even more than its beautiful homes, food, and rivers. We can begin seeking that gift now by sincerely living our faith and following the good example of the Companions. Hard times do not necessarily mean Allah has abandoned us; they can be tests that bring us closer if we respond with patience and trust. Simple habits such as staying clean, thanking Allah for food and drink, and speaking kindly can also earn His pleasure. This week, our family can choose one small act of worship and one kind word to practice deliberately.

  1. What small action could we do today to seek Allah’s pleasure?
  2. How can we help each other respond patiently when something difficult happens?
  3. What kind word could we say to someone in our family this week?