2:21 The purpose of life is…10:21 The taqwah of Allah is…16:06 But we're going to use…23:03 I'm reacting to Allah…
Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Nov 12, 2025.

Taqwa is the true purpose of worship

UMMA · Mohammad Elshinawy

“The purpose of life is to worship Allah to attain that taqwa.”

The khateeb, at 2:21

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In one sentence

The khutbah argues that taqwa, consistent, God-conscious obedience, is the true purpose of worship and the means of salvation, shown by repairing sins with good deeds and treating people well.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines taqwa as the goal and outcome of worship.
  2. Frames life as a brief journey whose lasting provision is taqwa for the Hereafter.
  3. Uses a dream parable to portray death, the grave, passing time, and worldly distraction.
  4. Introduces a practical taqwa triangle: consistent God-consciousness, repairing sins with good deeds, and good character.
  5. Illustrates prioritizing obligations over optional worship and warns against selective religiosity.
  6. Shows that harming people can erase good deeds, then closes with patience, character, and prayer for the oppressed.
Try this week
Practice taqwa consistently, especially when obedience feels uncomfortable.
Prioritize obligatory duties over optional worship, including lawful income, guarding the tongue, and caring for dependents.
After a misdeed, quickly follow it with a good deed and do not abandon good actions.
Treat people with excellent character by avoiding backbiting, abuse, and harm.
View every interaction as a test of patience and God-consciousness.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2Uses worship's purpose to explain attaining taqwa.
Sahih al-BukhariUses the mosquito-or-fly question during Hajj to illustrate misplaced religious priorities.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The purpose of life is to worship Allah to attain that taqwa.”
UMMA · Southfield, MI
Play from 2:21
“The taqwah of Allah is when it's uncomfortable. That's when it actually gets tested.”
UMMA · Southfield, MI
Play from 10:21
“But we're going to use our good deeds to keep purging the bad from our life.”
UMMA · Southfield, MI
Play from 16:06
“I'm reacting to Allah because Allah put them in my life”
UMMA · Southfield, MI
Play from 23:03
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah reminds us that our life has a clear purpose: to worship Allah and grow in taqwa, meaning steady awareness of and obedience to Him. We will never be perfect, but we can keep returning to Allah, especially after mistakes, by following a bad deed with a good one. Taqwa is not just private worship; it also means choosing what Allah asks when it is uncomfortable and treating people with excellent character. Every person we meet can become a test, so we should respond with patience, fairness, and mercy. The goal is to spend this short life preparing for the lasting life to come.

  1. What is one difficult choice where remembering Allah could help you?
  2. What good deed could you do after making a mistake?
  3. How can we show better character to someone in our family this week?
Where it was given

The masjid

UMMA26899 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48033Jumu'ah 1:30 PMKhateebMohammad ElshinawyMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at UMMA38 khutbahs
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