4:38 Rather, repentance is…8:18 It is not appearance.…8:47 First, he traps a…
Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Apr 10, 2026.

Repentance is every believer's path

ISCNY

“Repentance is the path of every believer and the need of every heart.”

The khateeb, at 4:38

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In one sentence

Repentance is a continual obligation for every believer, and sincere return to Allah should replace both despair after sin and complacency after good deeds.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Repentance is needed by every believer, not only publicly sinful people.
  2. Quranic and Prophetic teachings establish continual repentance as a path to success.
  3. Sincere tawbah requires regret, honesty, abandoning sin, and resolve not to return.
  4. Shaytan compounds sin by pushing people into despair, while Allah’s mercy remains open.
  5. Believers should avoid spiritual complacency and live with humility between hope and fear.
  6. Listeners are urged to begin genuine repentance before death or hardened hearts.
Try this week
Identify what in your life currently needs repentance.
Regret the sin, leave what angers Allah, and firmly resolve not to return.
Begin sincere tawbah today rather than delaying until habits harden or death arrives.
Maintain humility and examine obligations or sins that have been neglected or minimized.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:135Shows that those who sin should remember Allah, seek forgiveness, and avoid persisting in wrongdoing.
Quran 24:31Calls all believers to repent as a means of success.
Quran 66:8Defines the call to sincere repentance, or tawbah nasuhah.
Quran 39:53Counters despair by affirming Allah's wide mercy and forgiveness.
Quran 2:222Teaches that Allah loves those who constantly repent and purify themselves.
Quran 25:68-71Shows that sincere repentance and righteous deeds can replace evil deeds with good ones.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Rather, repentance is the path of every believer and the need of every heart.”
ISCNY · University Hill, NY
Play from 4:38
“It is not appearance. It is not a performance. It is a real turning way to Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.”
ISCNY · University Hill, NY
Play from 8:18
“First, he traps a person into committing sin. Then he comes in and makes him despair, subhanAllah.”
ISCNY · University Hill, NY
Play from 8:47
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that repentance is not only for people with public or major sins; every believer needs to return to Allah. Sincere tawbah means regretting sin, leaving what displeases Allah, and firmly deciding not to return. We should not let Shaytan turn our mistakes into despair, because Allah's mercy remains open and He loves those who repent. At the same time, we should not become proud of our outward worship; a believer keeps humility, hope, and fear. This week, each of us can identify one delayed obligation or harmful habit and begin turning back to Allah before our hearts grow hard.

  1. What is one small way we can practice sincere tawbah this week?
  2. What helps us avoid both despair after a mistake and pride after a good deed?
  3. How can our family remind one another gently to return to Allah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Society of Central New York925 Comstock Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210Jumu'ah Khutbah starts 1:00 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at ISCNY15 khutbahs
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