Justice needs a guide and willing people
“Today is the day of Jum'a, a day of du'a, a day that your du'as are meaningful.”
Justice on earth requires not only a just divinely-appointed guide but a people who truly desire justice, so on this blessed day of Jumu'ah believers should collectively perform istighatha (seeking Allah's aid) and du'a to hasten the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi, who alone will establish true justice.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Opening Arabic salawat and Quranic verse on Allah answering those who seek His help (Al-Anfal 8:9)
- Condolences for the upcoming Arba'een of Imam Hussain and reminder that Karbala's sacrifice was for establishing justice
- All the Imams bore the title al-Mahdi; but justice needs both a just guide and a people who accept guidance, which failed in Imam Ali's time
- Today's world (Ukraine, Lebanon, Palestine, Iran) lacks justice because some profit from war and chaos
- Jumu'ah is a special day of du'a, especially the hour before Maghrib; believers should perform istighatha (du'a, two-rakat prayer, or ziyarah)
- Step-by-step description of the two-rakat istighatha prayer with 'ya ghiath al-mustaghithin' repeated 25 times in each posture, ending with 'min al-abd al-dhalil ilal mawla al-jalil' 30 times, then asking one's needs above all the reappearance of Imam Zaman
- Second khutbah: advise to taqwa; Imam Zaman's words 'inna allaha ma'ana' (Allah is with us), with Allah and truth one never feels lonely, illustrated by Ali Akbar at Karbala and Imam Zayn al-Abidin with the Quran; closing du'as
In the khateeb's words
“on the occasion which will be soon upon us and that will be next week and that is the Arba'een of Imam Hussain”
“when he stated that he's leaving to do islah that correction in the ummah it was to ensure that justice prevailed”
“and again today is the day of Jum'a a day of du'a a day that your du'as are meaningful”
“the most important need not only simply for ourselves but for humanity is the reappearance of Imam Zaman”
For the dinner table
Today Sheikh Jafar reminded us that Arba'een of Imam Hussain is coming, and he asked us to remember what Karbala was really about: establishing justice. He said justice needs more than a good leader and a good law, the people themselves have to truly want it, and today too many people profit from war, corruption, and chaos. So on this blessed day of Jumu'ah, he encouraged everyone to make istighatha, to ask Allah for help, whether through du'a, a special two-rakat prayer, or ziyarah, especially before Maghrib. The greatest thing we can ask for, he said, is the reappearance of Imam Zaman, who will fill the earth with justice where everyone receives their rights. Finally, he reminded us of Imam Zaman's beautiful words, 'Allah is with us, so we need no one else', and of Imam Zayn al-Abidin, who said he would never feel lonely as long as he had the Quran. The message for us: stay on the path of truth, trust Allah, and never feel alone.
- If you could ask Allah for help with one thing tonight before Maghrib, what would it be?
- Imam Zayn al-Abidin said he'd never feel lonely as long as he had the Quran, what's something that makes you feel less alone?
- The khateeb said justice means everyone gets the same opportunity, what's one unfair thing you see that you wish you could fix?
The masjid
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