Walk for provision, race toward good deeds
“There is no rest except in Allah.”
The Quran maps different spiritual speeds for different destinations, walk calmly toward worldly provision, rush and race toward good deeds, but flee to Allah in repentance, refuge, and total dependence.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Open with the apocalyptic imagery of Surah al-Takweer to show the Day of Judgment is coming and to pose the question: where are you going?
- Contrast worldly goals: the Quran tells people to walk and spread out in the earth because provision is guaranteed.
- Contrast deeds for the Hereafter: believers are commanded to rush, run, and race toward good deeds.
- Introduce the highest command, fa-firru ila Allah, flee to Allah, and explain what fleeing implies.
- Present Imam al-Razi’s three subtleties: flee because real danger is near, do not look aside, and there is no refuge except Allah.
- Present Imam al-Qushayri’s five flights: from ignorance to knowledge, heedlessness to remembrance, desire to service, self-obsession to gratitude, and creation to the Creator.
- Close with a dua asking Allah to make the believers walk with dignity, race to good deeds, and flee to Him.
In the khateeb's words
“But rather these verses are meant to inspire, to motivate people that I should take stock of my life.”
“The tragedy of our times is that you and I live our lives hyper-focused on the material, temporary, fleeting, finite, goals of this world.”
“There is no rest except in Allah. No true arrival except through Allah. And no salvation except to Him.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that the Day of Judgment is real and that we should regularly ask where our lives are headed. We can work toward school, careers, family, and other worldly responsibilities, but our deepest goal should be the Hereafter. We are encouraged to rush toward good deeds and to be among those who act first in serving others. Most importantly, we are told to flee to Allah by turning from sin, ignorance, heedlessness, and dependence on creation toward repentance, knowledge, remembrance, service, and trust in Him. True rest, arrival, and salvation are found with Allah.
- What is one good deed you would like to be quicker to do this week?
- What distraction or habit could you turn away from so you can remember Allah more?
- What does trusting Allah look like in your life today?
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