Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 9, 2026.

Islam means surrendering to what is right

“A Muslim is one that is always willingly surrendering its will to the will of God.”

The khateeb, at 32:23

In one sentence

The khutbah argues that Islam is a lifelong practice of striving for excellence, surrendering one's will to Allah, and consistently choosing what is right despite trials and worldly chaos.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Friday and Jumu'ah are presented as uniquely blessed weekly obligations.
  2. Believers should pursue excellence, perseverance, patience, and mercy through life's tests.
  3. Daily prayer, sincere greetings, and consistent effort help believers recover from distractions and embody excellence.
  4. True commitment requires opposing evil, injustice, wrongdoing, and falsehood through action rather than words alone.
  5. The sermon defines Muslim identity as willing surrender to God's will and a return to an original nature.
Try this week
Attend and participate in salat al-Jummah each Friday.
Keep striving after setbacks, with patience, steadfastness, and mercy.
Use the daily prayers to reset and return to the right path.
Greet people genuinely when entering and during daily interactions.
Oppose evil, wrongdoing, injustice, and falsehood through consistent work.
Keep phones from distracting you during the khutbah unless an urgent call is expected.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih MuslimUsed to define Muslim identity as willing surrender to God's will before environmental influences shape identity.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“you just have to have a desire and a willingness. to be right. not your own right. to be right. be right. as Allah has described what is right in the Quran.”
Masjid Taleem Muhammad · Houston, TX
Play from 21:49
“we don't get there by just saying a bunch of words and doing a bunch of ritual rituals we did there by the work that we put in. and that work is being consistent.”
Masjid Taleem Muhammad · Houston, TX
Play from 29:46
“and a Muslim is one that is always willingly surrendering its will to the will of God. that's the definition and there's other definitions that we can say of a Muslim.”
Masjid Taleem Muhammad · Houston, TX
Play from 32:23