Make Allah's priorities your own
“Following the path of Allah azawajal will grant us victory in the dunya before the akhira.”
A true believer must make Allah's priorities their own through jihad al-nafs, striving to perform obligations, avoid sins, and then build voluntary worship, so that Allah becomes their refuge and grants them victory in this life and the next.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- A believer's defining trait is magnifying what Allah and His Messenger magnify.
- Jihad al-nafs has two dimensions: forcing oneself toward obedience and patiently refraining from disobedience.
- Hadith al-Qudsi teaches that Allah declares war on whoever opposes His ally and that nothing draws a servant closer than fulfilling obligations.
- The five pillars are the non-negotiable foundation; prayer, zakah, and tawhid must shape daily priorities.
- The path is hard and surrounded by accessible desires, so patience and righteous companionship are essential.
- Practical steps: solidify obligations, avoid major sins such as free mixing and interest, and only then build nawafil.
- Allah's love, protection, and responsive nearness are promised to those who draw near through voluntary worship.
- Believers will fall into sin, but they are distinguished by continuous, immediate repentance.
In the khateeb's words
“a lot of people think that Jihad whenever it's mentioned in Islam it means they fight in battle with those who oppose and the enemies of Islam but that is not correct”
“these things that we're talking about are what show us if Allah azawajal is a priority for us or not”
“following the path of Allah azawajal will grant us victory in the dunya before the akhira but it just needs patience it needs for us to have patience and to have tawakkul”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that a believer gives greatest importance to what Allah has made important. We begin by strengthening our obligations, especially the foundations of Islam, before adding extra acts of worship. Living faithfully requires daily effort, patience, and resisting desires that pull us away from Allah’s guidance. Allah’s commands are meant for our true good, even when obedience feels difficult. We will all fall short, but a believer keeps returning to Allah through sincere repentance.
- What is one good habit you would like to make part of your daily routine?
- When is it hardest to choose what Allah wants over what feels easy or popular?
- What helps you ask Allah for forgiveness and try again after a mistake?
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