Unity is a journey, not a destination
“You should look at unity, the unity of the ummah in particular, as a journey and not a destination.”
The Gaza war exposes both the Muslim ummah’s material weakness and its moral potential, calling Muslims to pursue unity as an ongoing journey by making space across ethnic, linguistic, and sectarian differences.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Gaza’s suffering is compared with the Prophet’s community enduring the Meccan boycott, highlighting faith’s resilience.
- The war reveals Muslim political weakness but also the moral power of collective support and Islamic unity.
- Qur’anic teachings present unity as a continuing journey rather than a permanently achieved condition.
- Islamic history illustrates repeated divisions over succession, tribe, language, ethnicity, and sectarian identity.
- The bus metaphor urges Muslims to make room for newcomers and share belonging despite differences.
- Muslims are urged to identify a shared objective and behave with solidarity because suffering does not distinguish between communities.
In the khateeb's words
“That Islam is infused with a new spirit, a new vitality, a new life. Every time it suffers some kind of setback.”
“But in terms of unity, I want to bring to your attention the fact that you should look at unity, the unity of the ummah in particular, as a journey and not a destination.”
“We have to make space on this bus. Because we are all on the same journey.”
For the dinner table
Dr. Muneer Fareed begins by reflecting on the suffering of Palestinians and what it reveals about our community’s strengths and weaknesses. He points to the faith of people enduring terrible hardship as a reminder to keep hoping in Allah’s mercy. He explains that Muslim unity is a journey that requires people to keep working through disagreements. Using the image of a bus, he reminds us to make room for others, even when sharing feels uncomfortable. He asks us to look beyond language, ethnicity, and sectarian differences and consider what shared purpose brings us together as Muslims.
- What helps you remember Allah’s mercy when something feels difficult?
- How could you help someone new feel included at school or the masjid?
- What is one good thing our family could work on together to help others?
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