Remembering Allah must lead to action
“When we remember Him, we must couple that with action.”
As Ramadan approaches, Muslims should remember Allah through regular worship and turn that remembrance into welcoming, justice-oriented community action.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Opens with global and domestic injustice, arguing that turmoil should strengthen belief and prepare hearts for Ramadan.
- Calculates how little discretionary time people truly have, urging worship and patience toward young Muslims.
- Explains human forgetfulness through Musa, regular prayer, fasting, and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
- Connects remembrance to rejecting injustice, Quranic creation imagery, and contemporary oppression and legal threats.
- Calls for remembrance expressed through anti-Islamophobia action, community engagement, social-media da'wah, and monthly support for CARE.
In the khateeb's words
“Even if they don't have the most eloquent speech. Even if they don't have the most eloquent attire. Don't turn them away. Be an opening, a welcoming structure for them. Because inshallah, they will improve.”
“Why do you think Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala asked us, commanded us to pray five times a day and to fast 30 days in a month? Because if we didn't, we would forget Him.”
“But when we remember Him, we must couple that with action. Or else the remembrance is of no use.”
For the dinner table
Bilal Zaheen’s khutbah prepares the congregation for Ramadan by focusing on remembering Allah in a world filled with confusion and injustice. He says our time is shorter than we imagine and that regular prayer and fasting keep us from forgetting our Creator. He encourages the community to welcome young people patiently, because worship and growth develop over time. He also teaches that remembrance must lead to action: speaking up against Islamophobia, serving the community, and supporting organizations addressing these harms. The khutbah closes with a call to stay engaged and give monthly support to community work.
- What is one way we can make better use of the time Allah has given us?
- How can our family make young people feel more welcome at the mosque?
- What is one helpful action we can take when we see injustice or Islamophobia?
The masjid
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