Sharia is a merciful path to life
“Sharia is the law of Allah which gives you life like water.”
The khutbah argues that Muslims should respond to the EPIC City and Sharia controversy by understanding Sharia as a merciful, life-giving framework, educating themselves, engaging neighbors confidently, and trusting Allah rather than fearing hostile publicity.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Frames Texas officials’ Sharia-compound rhetoric about EPIC City as fearmongering and recalls post-9/11 anti-Sharia legislation.
- Uses turbulence and ship-pilot imagery to urge trust in Allah during social pressure.
- Compares Meccan attacks on the Prophet with modern negative publicity, arguing that curiosity can lead people to the Quran.
- Calls Muslims to build moral and intellectual clarity, practice civic engagement, and explain Islam positively.
- Defines Sharia as a broad, life-giving path rather than mainly a penal code, contrasting Islamic and biblical legal perceptions.
- Uses a story about Umar and a hadith on doubt to emphasize privacy, mercy, justice, and cautious punishment, then closes with a call to dialogue and prayer.
In the khateeb's words
“It is Allah pushing you from the minor league to the major league.”
“Sharia is the law of Allah which gives you life like water. It has been trodden by Moses, by Jesus, by Ibrahim.”
“Remember, this is Islamic consensus. You cannot implement Islamic law or Sharia in a non-Muslim state.”
For the dinner table
In this khutbah, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah discussed the controversy surrounding a proposed Muslim-friendly community in Texas and the fear stirred up around the word Sharia. He compared challenging times to turbulence on an airplane, encouraging Muslims to trust Allah while doing their part. He asked listeners to learn about their faith, participate in civic life, and meet negative comments with thoughtful, positive conversation. He described Sharia as a path to life-giving water and emphasized justice, mercy, and reformation. As a family, we can put these lessons into practice by learning together, treating people with kindness, and respecting their privacy.
- What helps you remember Allah when something feels scary or uncertain?
- How could you respond kindly if a friend misunderstood something about Islam?
- What is one way our family can respect each other's privacy?
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