True victory comes through obedience
“It is about the obedience that we show to Allah.”
True victory for Muslims comes not from numbers or might but from obedience to Allah and His Messenger, as shown at Hudaybiyyah and the conquest of Mecca, so believers should seize the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah and the Day of Arafah for worship.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Blessings of the sacred months and Dhul-Hijjah: stop sinning, value the Hajj season
- The Sahaba's longing for Mecca while in Medina and the lesson that victory is not about numbers
- Sulh al-Hudaybiyyah: difficult treaty accepted in obedience, and the revelation of Surah al-Fath as the true victory
- Ibn Kathir on the abundant good that came from the treaty: safety, da'wah, spread of faith
- The conquest of Mecca: cleansing the Ka'bah of idols, tawaf, takbir inside the Ka'bah
- Gratitude that Hajj is easy for us today, and rewards even for those who cannot go
- The Day of Arafah: forgiveness, fasting expiating two years, best du'a, al-Qurtubi on its naming
- Closing du'as, then community announcements (Eid, picnic, security vigilance after San Diego shooting)
In the khateeb's words
“It's not about the numbers. It's not about the might. It is about the obedience that we show to Allah.”
“It was an ayah was revealed to me. It is more beloved to my heart than the entire world combined.”
“There is no day that Allah will release people from the fire more than the day of Arafah.”
“Make your family, your spouse and your children practices. Remind them with it. Even when they're like early age. Get it in their habit inshallah.”
For the dinner table
Today the imam spoke about the sacred months and the blessing of Hajj, reminding us not to take for granted how easily we can worship when the early Muslims could not even enter Mecca. He told the story of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, which felt like a painful loss to the companions but was called a clear victory by Allah, because obedience and patience opened the door to da'wah and eventually to the conquest of Mecca. His big point was that success does not come from numbers or strength, it comes from obeying Allah, and that is as true for Palestine today as it was then. He also reminded us that those of us not going to Hajj can still earn huge rewards, especially by fasting the day of Arafah, which wipes away the sins of two years. He encouraged parents to make that fast a family habit, starting with the children. He closed by asking Allah to accept the pilgrims' Hajj, to free Masjid al-Aqsa, and to make us all ambassadors for Islam.
- Why do you think Allah called the Treaty of Hudaybiyah a 'victory' even though the Muslims felt sad about it?
- The imam said it's not about numbers or might, what do you think he meant by that?
- Fasting one day on Arafah forgives two years of sins, how could our family remind each other to do it?
More on Hajj, Umrah & Eid
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