Hardship should draw us closer to Allah
“Just because Allah is testing you, doesn't mean Allah is abandoning you.”
Because hardship is an unavoidable part of life, believers should respond with sabr by drawing closer to Allah, recognizing that everything belongs to Him, and using their blessings to care for the oppressed.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Uses a wilderness-guide analogy to frame life's hardships as difficulties Allah has already warned believers to expect.
- Explains tests of fear, hunger, diminished wealth, lives, and fruits, calling for patient endurance.
- Contrasts self-help control with surrender to Allah, arguing that difficulty can be part of the path rather than proof of failure.
- Clarifies that sabr permits grief and pain while keeping a person connected to Allah.
- Applies the theme to Gaza and Palestine, urging listeners to care, share truthful stories, and use their agency.
- Introduces Sumud 15 as a practice of walking, naming gratitude, and posting to resist desensitization.
In the khateeb's words
“Stop interpreting every difficulty as evidence that something has gone wrong.”
“Just because Allah is testing you, doesn't mean Allah is abandoning you.”
“The question is, when it comes, who will you become?”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that Allah has already told us that life will include fear, loss, hunger, and other tests. Hardship does not necessarily mean that something has gone wrong or that Allah has abandoned us; it can become a path that draws us closer to Him. Sabr does not mean doing nothing or hiding our feelings, we can cry, feel pain, confront injustice, and still remain connected to Allah. Instead of telling ourselves that we control everything, we remember that we belong to Allah and will return to Him. The khateeb also urged us not to become numb to the suffering in Gaza and Palestine, but to use our voices, resources, gratitude, and truthful storytelling to care and act.
- When something difficult happens, what could help you move closer to Allah instead of pulling away?
- What is one blessing you often forget to notice or thank Allah for?
- How can our family use something we have, our time, voice, or resources, to help people who are suffering?
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