Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 22, 2026.

Dhul Hijjah is a chance to draw near

“The truly successful person is the one who seizes the opportunity in these days.”

The khateeb, at 9:38

In one sentence

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are an unparalleled opportunity to draw near to Allah through repentance, worship, remembrance, fasting, especially on Arafah, and repairing relationships before the opportunity passes.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Calls believers to fear Allah and evaluate what they are preparing for the Hereafter.
  2. Explains the exceptional virtue of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
  3. Urges repentance, restoring others' rights, prayer, dhikr, Quran recitation, charity, family ties, and kindness.
  4. Encourages fasting during these days, especially the Day of Arafah.
  5. Recommends abundant supplication, praise, tahlil, and blessings upon the Prophet.
  6. Closes with prayers for accepted worship, pilgrims, deceased parents, and Muslims worldwide.
Try this week
Repent sincerely and restore the rights of anyone you have wronged.
Maintain the obligatory prayers and add voluntary prayers.
Increase takbir, tahleel, tahmeed, tasbih, Quran recitation, and supplication.
Fast as many of the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah as possible, especially Arafah.
Give charity, honor parents, maintain family ties, forgive others, and show kindness.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the truly successful person is the one who seizes the opportunity in these days invest their moments in obedience and does not waste even a single second”
Nigerian Islamic Association · Chicago
Play from 9:38
“for when a sacred season departs it becomes only a memory and when life itself passes it becomes but just a trace”
Nigerian Islamic Association · Chicago
Play from 16:02
“fasting on the day of arafah i hope from Allah that it expires the sins of the year before it and the year after”
Nigerian Islamic Association · Chicago
Play from 18:53
“let us invest every moment of that day in supplication that we may attain from Allah the abundance of His generosity”
Nigerian Islamic Association · Chicago
Play from 20:34
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are a special chance to draw close to Allah. We are encouraged to repent, repair wrongs, pray, remember Allah, read Quran, give charity, honor parents, keep family ties, and show kindness. We should fast whatever days we can, especially Arafah, and fill that day with supplication and the words la ilaha illallah. The speaker reminds us that these opportunities pass quickly, so we should use our health and free time before they are gone. He closes by praying for accepted worship, the pilgrims, deceased parents, and all Muslims.

  1. Which action from the khutbah could we practice together during the ten days?
  2. What does it mean to restore someone's rights if we have wronged them?
  3. How can we make the Day of Arafah a day of focused prayer and remembrance?