Seeking knowledgeFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 21, 2026.
The Prophet’s unletteredness showed divine guidance
“We have to study his Sunnah and follow it.”
In one sentence
The Prophet Muhammad’s being unlettered was a mark of prophetic perfection, showing that his knowledge came from divine revelation and should therefore be studied and followed.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Uses the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah to support the Prophet’s inability to read or write.
- Explains that prophets receive knowledge directly through revelation, unlike ordinary human learning.
- Argues that the Prophet’s lack of worldly education clarified that his guidance came from Allah.
- Contrasts changing human science with enduring prophetic guidance, using eating and animal slaughter examples.
- Rejects reducing the Prophet to mere genius and calls listeners to study and follow his Sunnah.
Try this week
Seek knowledge through study or a knowledgeable teacher rather than remain illiterate.
Study the Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah.
Follow and emulate the Sunnah as the explanation and demonstration of the Quran.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 7Introduced the description “unlettered prophet” and the command to follow him.
Surah 26Supported the claim that revelation came through Jibreel directly to the Prophet’s heart.
Surah 29Argued that the Prophet neither read scripture nor wrote it before revelation.
Surah 53Supported the claim that the Prophet did not speak from personal inclination.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“for the prophets of Allah there's one more mode of learning that is special it's special and exclusive to them it's through wahey through revelation”
“being Ummi being unlettered is not the same as being you know not knowing or having no knowledge he has a different knowledge”
“we have to be proud of the prophet and we have to be proud of our religion and we have to study his sunnah and follow it”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah explained that “unlettered” means the Prophet Muhammad did not read or write, but it did not mean he lacked knowledge. The speaker said prophets receive knowledge through revelation, making the Prophet’s guidance dependable and lasting. Human ideas can change through trial and error, while the Sunnah shows how divine guidance is lived. We should honor the Prophet, learn his Sunnah, and follow it as an explanation and demonstration of the Quran.
- What is one Sunnah you could learn more about and practice this week?
- Why do you think the khutbah says being unlettered was part of the Prophet’s perfection?
Where it was given
The masjid
Islamic Center of Western Suburbs (ICWS)28W774 Army Trail Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185Jumu'ah “Khutbah 1 | 1:05 | pm; Jamaat 1 | 1:25 | pm; Khutbah 2 | 1:35 | pm; Jamaat 2 | 1:55 | pm” (Bartlett location). “Khutbah | 1:15 | pm; Jamaat | 1:35 | pm” (West Chicago location).ArchiveAll khutbahs at Islamic Center of48 khutbahs
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