Islam must come before every other identity
“You cannot be a Muslim only on Yom al-Jumma when you come to Jumma.”
A Muslim's primary identity before all ethnic, professional, or social markers is Islam itself, and faith must be lived completely, not part-time, especially by youth navigating a society whose values often conflict with Islamic ones.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening question: what is the one thing strangers recognize you by, ethnicity, profession, or something else?
- The khutbah-opening verse (fear Allah and die only as Muslims) establishes 'Muslim' as the identity marker that matters most to Allah
- Youth in a non-Muslim society face a two-faced conflict between Islamic values and popular values (peer pressure, TikTok influencers, speech norms)
- The command to enter Islam completely (kaffah), no part-time, weekend-only, or masjid-only Islam; Imam al-Saadi's explanation of the verse
- The story of the boy and the king from Surah al-Buruj: a boy caught between sorcery and the monk's true faith
- The boy's test with the stone and the beast, the blind man's healing, and the king's rage, story left unfinished for next week due to time
- Closing appeal: summer months expose children to phones and screens; parents urged to use the masjid's summer and weekend schools
- Announcements: class schedules, Janaza and Zakat contacts, and a mask/health precaution due to smoke outside
In the khateeb's words
“However, what supersedes all of that is being called a Muslim first.”
“You cannot be a Muslim only on Yom al-Jumma when you come to Jumma.”
“This young boy, by Allah's grace, was able to hold on to the truth.”
“We strongly encourage the parents to ensure that they're being intentional with regards to how their children spend their time.”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us that the most important thing about us is not our job, our culture, or our language, it is that we are Muslims. The khateeb warned against being 'part-time' Muslims who only show their faith at the masjid or with Muslim friends; instead, we should live as Muslims in every place and every moment. He told the story of a young boy who held on to the truth even when everyone around him followed a tyrannical king, and he showed us that trusting Allah can give us courage we never imagined. He also asked parents to be thoughtful about how children use their phones and free time, especially during the summer, so that faith stays part of their everyday lives. May Allah help us all stand out as witnesses to the truth and guide our families.
- What is one thing you did today that showed you are a Muslim?
- When is it hardest to act like a Muslim, at school, online, or with friends?
- If you had to choose between fitting in and pleasing Allah, what would help you choose Allah?
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