Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jun 3, 2026.

A lasting legacy comes through service

“It is to serve others, not to be served.”

The khateeb, at 25:24

In one sentence

A meaningful Islamic legacy is built through sincere, humble, patient service that benefits people and continues after death.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Frames legacy as a central life question and critiques narrow worldly ambitions.
  2. Shows diverse examples of legacy through education, philanthropy, justice, family, leadership, and ordinary service.
  3. Contrasts lasting service with fame, recognition, ego, and material inheritance.
  4. Presents ikhlas, humility, and patience as the three requirements for building a lasting legacy.
  5. Applies the message to spouses, parents, youth, business owners, converts, scholars, and community leaders.
  6. Closes with prayers and announces a youth leadership mentorship program.
Try this week
Cultivate ikhlas by doing community and humanitarian work for Allah alone.
Erase ego and pride, embrace humility, and prioritize serving others.
Practice patience and consistency through daily intentional actions.
Parents should nurture children whose faith and character continue their legacy.
Youth should use their skills and technology for da'wah and respect their parents.
Business owners should practice ethical commerce and establish a waqf from their profits.
Scholars and community leaders should build institutions and train successors.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Life holds little meaning if you live with no ambition of leaving a legacy.”
Maryam Islamic Center · Sugar Land (New Territory), TX
Play from 8:52
“It is to serve others, not to be served. It is to benefit others rather than benefiting from others.”
Maryam Islamic Center · Sugar Land (New Territory), TX
Play from 25:24
“Your true legacy is a child who raises their hands in the middle of the night and he says, My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.”
Maryam Islamic Center · Sugar Land (New Territory), TX
Play from 29:58
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb invited us to think about the good we want to leave behind and how our lives can benefit others. He described many ways to serve, including raising children with love, helping vulnerable people, sharing useful skills, and supporting education. He emphasized three qualities: ikhlas, which means doing good for Allah alone; humility; and sabr, or patience. A lasting legacy grows through daily, intentional actions, including how we treat the people closest to us. We can begin today and help the next generation carry that goodness forward.

  1. What skill or interest could you use to help someone this week?
  2. What good deed could you do quietly, without needing anyone to notice?
  3. How could our family help one another experience Islam as beautiful through the way we treat each other?