3:19 And so the knowledge…17:54 Reading is about…
Seeking knowledgeFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 3, 2026.

Reading renews Muslim knowledge and focus

Pillars · John Ederer

“Reading is about growing and learning and developing your capacity to understand the world and to deal with it in a better way.”

The khateeb, at 17:54

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Reading and integrated study of revelation and creation are acts of worship that cultivate spiritually grounded, intellectually capable people and help renew Muslim civilization.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. The Qur'an calls believers to study, learn, and teach revelation as a path to spiritual growth and purposeful service.
  2. Islamic education integrates knowledge, character formation, and continuous refinement, historically supported through waqf institutions.
  3. Muslim civilization once joined sacred and rational sciences, but political control, colonialism, and educational separation weakened that tradition.
  4. Reading is presented as worship that strengthens cognition, emotional intelligence, memory, concentration, creativity, and critical thinking.
  5. Constant scrolling and uncritical dependence on AI are warned against as threats to focus, discernment, and intellectual independence.
  6. The khutbah closes by asking Allah to revive Muslim reading, writing, knowledge, and civilizational contribution.
Try this week
Read books regularly beyond required school or work material.
Study revelation alongside the natural and worldly sciences.
Learn and teach beneficial knowledge to others.
Use sustained reading to rebuild focus and reduce constant scrolling.
Keep refining knowledge, skills, understanding, and character throughout life.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:79Used to argue that believers cultivate spiritual growth through learning and teaching revelation.
Quran 2:30-31Used to connect human stewardship of the earth with knowledge.
Quran 30:7Used to contrast worldly knowledge with heedlessness about the afterlife.
Quran 58:11Used to argue that faith is strengthened and elevated through knowledge.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“And so the knowledge of revelation and knowledge of creation go hand in hand.”
Pillars · University City, NC
Play from 3:19
“Reading is about growing and learning and developing your capacity to understand the world and to deal with it in a better way.”
Pillars · University City, NC
Play from 17:54
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that reading and seeking knowledge are forms of worship, not merely ways to earn grades or money. Good education joins revelation with learning about the world, while also shaping character and refining our skills. The speaker says Muslim civilization grew when sacred and worldly sciences were pursued together, and declined when knowledge was controlled or separated. Reading can strengthen our memory, focus, creativity, and ability to understand people, while endless scrolling can weaken attention. Families can respond by making time for books, discussing what they learn, and sharing knowledge in service of Allah and humanity.

  1. What is one book or topic you would like to explore this month?
  2. How can we make reading part of our family routine?
  3. What has scrolling made harder for you to focus on?
Where it was given

The masjid

Pillars Mosque3116 Johnston Oehler Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269Jumu'ah 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, and 2:10 PMKhateebJohn EdererMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Pillars156 khutbahs
Keep listening

More on Seeking knowledge

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IMAN Center · Kirkland, WA · Sep 19, 2026Knowledge matters only when it changes us“Sometimes the problem is knowledge without action.”Daar-Ul-Islam · Ballwin, MO · Oct 3, 2026The first revelation calls us to learn and serve“Before any type of great transformation occurs outwardly, there must be deep reflection inwardly.”CCIL-KBW · Laval, QC · Sep 26, 2026Protect your heart from information overload“Faire confiance à Allah ne signifie pas rester sans rien faire.”