Allah’s gifts call for gratitude, not entitlement
“When someone else has been given more gifts then we cannot complain.”
Allah is perfectly just because He owns and sustains all creation, never wrongs anyone, fulfills His promises, and holds people accountable for their intentions and deeds, while mercy and blessings exceed what justice requires.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces divine justice through the hadith qudsi that Allah forbids oppression upon Himself and among people.
- Establishes Allah’s ownership, independence, sustaining power, and authority over all creation.
- Defines justice, oppression, mercy, and bounty using lawn payment and retaliation examples.
- Explains that Allah rewards good deeds, punishes intentional wrongdoing, and holds people accountable within His decree.
- Applies the framework to unequal worldly gifts, urging gratitude instead of entitlement.
- Closes by calling for submission, gratitude, repentance, and reliance on Allah’s mercy.
In the khateeb's words
“and so we understand then on the negative side zulm is to give more punishment than is due adl is to punish as he ought to be and rahmah is to forgive better than justice”
“for giving us these gifts when we did not deserve them and when someone else has been given more gifts then we cannot complain”
“rather the only option is submission to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and that is Islam and whoever then recognizes this truth”
For the dinner table
The khutbah explains that Allah cannot be unjust because He owns and sustains all creation. Justice means giving what is due, while injustice means giving less or more punishment than is deserved; mercy and gifts go beyond what is owed. Allah does not waste sincere good deeds and holds people accountable for intentional beliefs and actions. Since everything we have is a gift, we should respond with gratitude, seek forgiveness and guidance, and submit to Allah’s decree. The speaker closes by reminding us that gratitude brings increase, while ungratefulness has serious consequences.
- What is one gift you often forget to thank Allah for?
- How can we show gratitude when someone else has more than we do?
- What should we do when we make a mistake intentionally or accidentally?
The masjid
More on Gratitude
ICI · Irving, TX · Oct 24, 2026Thank Allah in ease and hardship“Even in moments of difficulty, when it feels like there's nothing going your way, there is always something to be grateful for.”
Either we're receiving a blessing, which calls for shukr, or we're going through a hardship, which calls for sabr.13:29Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA · Sep 19, 2026Gratitude and patience carry believers through life
Real gratitude is not a feeling.16:14London Muslim Mosque · London, ON · Sep 11, 2026Gratitude means using blessings well