3:32 the strong believer is…9:06 what Allah subhanahu…
Health & wellbeingFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 30, 2025.

Faithful effort matters more than outcomes

ICC · Saheb Ashrafi

“What Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants from us is that we make the effort.”

The khateeb, at 9:06

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah argues that Muslims should cultivate spiritual and physical strength, learn perseverance from Gaza’s steadfastness, develop their God-given abilities, and focus on faithful effort rather than regret over outcomes.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Opens with Quranic calls to taqwa and introduces the hadith of the strong believer.
  2. Connects Gaza’s spiritual and physical endurance to the hadith, describing hunger, displacement, disease, and deprivation.
  3. Urges listeners to strengthen iman and physical fitness for worship and hardship.
  4. Reassures weaker believers that everyone has useful qualities to develop and share while relying on Allah through setbacks.
  5. Calls for sustained work toward personal, community, and ummah goals, including Palestine’s freedom, then closes with supplications.
Try this week
Strengthen iman through prayer, dua, and righteous deeds.
Maintain physical fitness and train the body to handle hardship.
Identify a God-given skill or quality, improve it deliberately, and use it to benefit others.
When setbacks occur, avoid dwelling on “if only” thinking and continue working.
Use your capacity to pursue personal, community, and ummah goals, including Palestine’s freedom.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the strong believer is better and more beloved in the sight of Allah SWT than the weak believer”
ICC · Pomona, CA
Play from 3:32
“what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants from us is that we make the effort whether it's a personal goal once again a goal for the community and a goal for the ummah”
ICC · Pomona, CA
Play from 9:06
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today’s khutbah taught that strength in Islam includes both faith and the body. The speaker reflected on the suffering and steadfastness of people in Gaza, who continue praying and turning to Allah despite terrible hardship. He reminded us that every person has a useful quality or ability that can benefit others. We should develop those abilities, stay physically and spiritually prepared, and keep working toward good goals without being trapped by regret. Our responsibility is to make sincere effort, even when we may not live to see the final result.

  1. What is one way you can become stronger in faith or character this week?
  2. What is one ability you have that could help someone else?
  3. How can our family respond when something does not go as planned?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Claremont3641 N Garey Ave, Pomona, CA 91767KhateebSaheb AshrafiMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICC38 khutbahs
Keep listening

More on Health & wellbeing

All on this topic
If a brother comes to us and admits that they have a gambling problem, do not look down upon them or cast them out.31:21Brand Lane Islamic Center · Stafford, TX · Jul 18, 2026Gambling apps can destroy Muslim familiesSeeking a therapist, a psychiatrist, a counselor, or a crisis service doesn't contradict tawakkul.4:19Masjid Subhan · Scarborough, ON · Oct 3, 2026Protect life with hope and supportIAGD · Rochester Hills, MI · Sep 11, 2026Protect the mind from addiction“It's a gift from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and we are also told not only to use that gift but also to protect that gift.”