Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.
Plan your worship for the Day of Arafah
“Prepare your list of dua and prepare the list of the people you want to make dua for and have it ready before Thursday.”
In one sentence
Because the Day of Arafah is uniquely sacred and offers an exceptional opportunity for forgiveness, Muslims should deliberately plan to spend it fasting, worshipping, making dua, and serving others.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- The khutbah opens with prayers for sick community members and deceased believers.
- Sebastian’s detailed shopping strategy illustrates planning for worldly gains.
- The speaker explains Arafah’s virtues, including forgiveness, fasting benefits, and divine mercy.
- Listeners receive a practical schedule for tahajjud, suhoor, Fajr, Quran, dhikr, and Ishraq prayer.
- He urges helping others, asking Hajj pilgrims for dua, and making a sincere plan for Hajj.
- The khutbah closes with prayers for Gaza and the Muslim community, followed by a brief donation announcement.
Try this week
Fast on the Day of Arafah if not performing Hajj.
Wake before Fajr for tahajjud, suhoor, and istighfar.
Pray Fajr in congregation, remain for Quran, dhikr, or learning, then pray two rak'ahs after sunrise.
Keep the tongue busy with dhikr and lower the gaze during work.
Prepare a list of personal requests and people to remember in dua.
Help someone with a need, listen to another person’s problem, or reconcile people.
Ask those going to Hajj to remember you in their duas and make a sincere plan for Hajj.
Donate what you can during the remaining blessed days.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 5:3Cited to explain that the religion was completed and perfected on Arafah.
Surah 85Used with companion interpretations to present Arafah as the witnessed day Allah swore by.
Sahih MuslimExplicitly named as the source for Arafah being the day Allah frees the most people from Hell.
Quran 51:18Used to connect pre-dawn repentance with those praised for seeking forgiveness before dawn.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“For dunya gain, we plan and plan and plan, and it's good to plan, absolutely.”
“prepare your list of dua and prepare the list of the people you want to make dua for and have it ready before Thursday.”
“Look for something to help others. Look, get yourself busy. What can I do in these days? Because this could be my last time.”
Keep listening
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