Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 11, 2026.

Love Allah before all other loves

“The love of Allah and his messenger is the balance for the force of love.”

The khateeb, at 34:14

In one sentence

Love is the strongest force in human life, and it becomes joyful, resilient, and morally sound when love of Allah and His Messenger anchors every other love.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces love as the strongest human force and links creation to worship.
  2. Reframes ubudiyyah as joyful surrender arising from love rather than coercion.
  3. Explains how love sweetens worship and helps believers endure hardship.
  4. Distinguishes balanced love from permissiveness, control, enabling, and codependency.
  5. Urges listeners to prioritize Allah, the Messenger, and the akhirah over worldly attachments.
  6. Applies the message to grief, September 11, justice, religious freedom, and preserving Islamic identity.
Try this week
Put love of Allah and His Messenger first, prioritizing the akhirah over worldly outcomes.
Parents should set loving boundaries, require prayer and Quran learning, reject harmful enabling, and seek rehabilitation when needed.
When grieving someone who has died, pray two rakahs, make dua, perform Umrah, and give sadaqah on their behalf.
Preserve justice, equal opportunity, freedom of religion, and opposition to racism without abandoning Islamic identity.
Support the mosque through its donation boxes, machines, kiosk, app, or QR code.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Love made me lose my values. Love erased me. A love of a worldly object. Without Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, I'm at risk.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 25:35
“when I love Allah and his messenger first. It is clear in my head. I will never jeopardize the akhira for the dunya.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 30:42
“The love of Allah and his messenger. Is the balance for the force of love.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 34:14
“If you feel sad. Go and pray to rakaz. And make dua for me. Do umrah on my behalf. Give sadaq on my behalf.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 42:43
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah taught that love is a powerful part of why we worship and serve. When love for Allah and His Messenger comes first, worship becomes joyful and our other loves stay balanced. We should love our families through guidance and gentle boundaries, not by giving in to harmful behavior or controlling every choice. When someone we love dies, we can carry our sadness into prayer, dua, Umrah, and charity on their behalf. The khutbah also urged us to protect justice, equal opportunity, freedom of religion, and compassion in America without giving up our faith.

  1. How can we show love while still setting good boundaries?
  2. What can we do when we miss someone who has died?
  3. Which values should our family try to protect in our community?