Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Begin every action with Bismillah

“We should habituate ourselves to saying bismillah before any action.”

The khateeb, at 9:51

In one sentence

True success comes from following Allah and the Prophet Muhammad by cultivating taqwa, beginning daily actions with Bismillah, and embodying the Sunnah through speech, character, and justice.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Defines al-hamd and urges taqwa, truthful speech, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
  2. Compares worldly champions with Prophet Muhammad as humanity’s ultimate example.
  3. Frames Jumu'ah, belief in the unseen, and obedience as preparation for ultimate success in the Hereafter.
  4. Teaches saying Bismillah before ordinary actions as a source of barakah and protection from wrongdoing.
  5. Explains Bismillah as seeking Allah’s help and recommends making it a daily habit.
  6. Applies prophetic striving to Palestine through supporting Muslim businesses, good character, and truthful speech.
  7. Closes with prayers and reminders about justice, generosity, remembrance, and gratitude.
Try this week
Say Bismillah before everyday activities such as eating, entering the home, teaching, or beginning work.
Learn and implement the Sunnah in household routines without taking on more than can be sustained.
Direct spending toward Muslim businesses when possible.
Practice truthful, kind, polite, and concise speech.
Strengthen character and regularly remember and thank Allah.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Words that are truthful, words that are kind, words that are polite, words that are concise, not the opposite.”
MCC East Bay · Pleasanton, CA
Play from 2:56
“We have the goat, the epitome of what human existence can possibly be. And our purpose on this earth, on this playing field that we have, is to be the best human player that we possibly can be.”
MCC East Bay · Pleasanton, CA
Play from 6:31
“And so we should habituate ourselves to saying bismillah before any action.”
MCC East Bay · Pleasanton, CA
Play from 9:51
“People change based off of your akhlaq and your character. And this is what draws people to Islam.”
MCC East Bay · Pleasanton, CA
Play from 14:51
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that real success is not fame or a trophy, but following Allah and the example of Prophet Muhammad. It asks us to build taqwa by remembering Allah in ordinary moments, especially by saying Bismillah before our actions and seeking Allah’s help. Our speech should be truthful, kind, polite, and concise, while our character should reflect the Sunnah. In response to suffering in Palestine, the khutbah encourages supporting Muslim businesses, living with good character, and speaking for truth rather than taking on more than we can sustain. It closes by calling the community to justice, generosity, remembrance, gratitude, and hope for Allah’s mercy.

  1. What is one thing you do every day that you could start with Bismillah?
  2. Which words, truthful, kind, polite, or concise, do you want to practice this week?
  3. Who is a good role model, and what is one habit you admire in them?