Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, May 22, 2026.

Being Muslim requires more than inheritance

“Strive according to Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.”

The khateeb, at 9:41

In one sentence

Being Muslim is a divinely given identity that must be personally lived through sincere worship and striving according to the Qur'an and Sunnah, rather than reduced to inherited status or school-of-thought labels.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Opens with Arabic khutbah formulas, praise of Allah, testimony, and blessings on the Prophet.
  2. Urges congregants to put away phones and use Jumu'ah for spiritual purification.
  3. Encourages worship before Eid, including fasting, prayer, charity, and Hajj, highlighting the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah.
  4. Explains that Allah named believers Muslims, while labels such as Malikiya and Tijaniya reflect scholarly or communal affiliations.
  5. Calls Muslims to strive according to the Qur'an and Sunnah rather than personal or institutional rules alone.
  6. Warns that being born Muslim is insufficient; each person must actively maintain faith.
Try this week
Put phones away or turn them off during Jumu'ah.
If not already fasting, try to fast at least one day before Eid.
Use prayer, charity, fasting, and Hajj when able as opportunities for spiritual purification.
Strive according to the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“We pray five times a day. We seize the opportunity to come clean before Allah. We give Sadaqa Zakat to come clean. We fast Gureen Ramadan to come clean.”
YIC · Yonkers, NY
Play from 7:33
“But the only name that Allah gave me and you is Muslim.”
YIC · Yonkers, NY
Play from 9:24
“Strive not according to me or according to you or according to any constitution or rule and regulations. Strive according to Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.”
YIC · Yonkers, NY
Play from 9:41
“If you say I'm a Muslim because my mother and father were Muslims there. I was born Muslim. That's not enough.”
YIC · Yonkers, NY
Play from 9:58
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us to put away distractions during Jumu'ah so we can listen and seek Allah's forgiveness. He described prayer, charity, fasting, and Hajj as opportunities to come clean before Allah, and encouraged those able to fast before Eid to take that opportunity. He explained that we may honor scholars and follow different schools of thought while remembering that Allah gave us the shared name Muslim. He also reminded us that our faith carries a responsibility toward our neighbors, co-workers, and community. Being raised in a Muslim family is a beginning, and we each need to nurture our own faith and strive according to the Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah.

  1. What helps you put distractions aside when it is time to listen or pray?
  2. How could you show kindness to a neighbor or classmate this week?
  3. What is one part of being Muslim that you want to understand more deeply?