5:48 Allah subhanahu wa…7:53 Do not make your job…8:15 And whenever you have…
Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, May 16, 2026.

Put Allah’s commands before your desires

ICCI · Ameen Al Ali
Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

True elevation of iman requires more than obligatory prayer: believers must prioritize Allah and His commands over desires, possessions, work, family, and other attachments.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Raises whether iman should be strengthened only in special seasons or continually, using Surah al-Hajj.
  2. Connects Surah al-Hajj’s opening warning of Judgment Day with its closing commands to believe, pray, prostrate, and do good.
  3. Explains that obligatory prayers are foundational but believers must go beyond them through sacrifice and extra effort.
  4. Uses Ibrahim’s sacrifice as a test of loving Allah above cherished gifts and attachments.
  5. Urges listeners to put Allah and His commands before work, children, parents, and personal desires.
  6. Introduces Julaibib’s story as an example of Allah’s care for those who prioritize His commands.
Try this week
Perform every obligatory prayer, including waking early for it.
Go beyond obligatory prayer by adding good deeds and sacrificing time for Allah.
When desires conflict with Allah’s commands, choose the commands over work, children, parents, or other attachments.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 22Used to connect Judgment Day with belief, prayer, prostration, and good deeds.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants you to do something more.”
ICCI · Dunning, IL
Play from 5:48
“Do not make your job before Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala or before the orders of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the commands of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
ICCI · Dunning, IL
Play from 7:53
“And whenever you have a competition between your desires and between the commands of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, you have to put the commands of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in front of you.”
ICCI · Dunning, IL
Play from 8:15
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah asks whether believers should strengthen their iman only in special seasons or every day. Using Surah al-Hajj, it says safety on Judgment Day is connected to belief, prayer, prostration, and doing good. Obligatory prayers are essential, but the speaker urges us to go further by sacrificing time and effort for Allah. Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son is presented as a test of whether Allah is loved above gifts, work, children, parents, and desires. The practical message is to put Allah’s commands first whenever they conflict with what we want.

  1. What does it mean to put Allah first in an ordinary day?
  2. What is one good deed or act of sacrifice you could add this week?
  3. When can a job, desire, or possession compete with doing what Allah commands?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Community Center of Illinois6435 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634Jumu'ah 1st prayer 12:15 PM · 2nd prayer 1:30 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at ICCI7 khutbahs
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