14:09 This means He is the…20:39 before we lightly…
The Islamic calendarFrom the masjid's own video, Dec 26, 2025.

Surah al-Ikhlas rejects religious holiday greetings

ICF · David Haskins

“We should take the time to reflect deeply on just how serious Allah considers these matters.”

The khateeb, at 20:39

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In one sentence

The khutbah argues that because Surah al-Ikhlas establishes Allah's absolute oneness and rejects divine sonship, Muslims should not participate in or offer greetings for religious holiday celebrations.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces shirk as the gravest sin and links it to seasonal religious greetings.
  2. Describes Muslim objections to scholars as personal feeling rather than revealed evidence.
  3. Introduces Surah al-Ikhlas as a concise summary of tawhid.
  4. Explains Allah's uniqueness, self-sufficiency, and lack of peer, spouse, parent, or child.
  5. Uses Quranic warnings and hadith to stress the seriousness of attributing a son to Allah.
  6. Concludes by urging firm adherence to tawhid despite social pressure.
Try this week
Do not participate in Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, or other religious holiday celebrations.
Do not offer religious-holiday greetings.
Do not put up related decorations or host such celebrations at home.
Base religious choices on Quranic and prophetic guidance rather than personal feelings or social pressure.
Reflect deeply on Surah al-Ikhlas and the meaning of tawhid.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 31Used to teach that shirk is the greatest wrongdoing.
Surah 4Used to argue that Allah does not forgive shirk if someone dies in that state.
Surah 112Used to establish Allah's unique oneness, self-sufficiency, and lack of offspring or equal.
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to emphasize Allah's patience when people attribute a son to Him.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“This means He is the One, the singular, who has no peer. He has no assistant. He has no rival. He has no equal.”
ICF · Fayetteville, NC
Play from 14:09
“before we lightly write off giving seasons greetings as just a cultural concept to be sociable to people. We should take the time to reflect deeply on just how serious Allah considers these matters.”
ICF · Fayetteville, NC
Play from 20:39
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah centered on Surah al-Ikhlas and its teaching that Allah is uniquely One, self-sufficient, without parent, child, spouse, or equal. The speaker said this belief makes shirk, associating partners with Allah, the gravest sin, and urged Muslims not to take part in religious holiday celebrations or offer their greetings. He warned listeners not to let social pressure or personal feelings replace guidance from the Quran and Sunnah. The practical takeaway was to hold firmly to tawhid and think carefully about how our words and customs express what we believe.

  1. What does it mean to say that Allah is One and has no equal?
  2. How can we be kind to friends from other faiths while staying true to our beliefs?
  3. When might social pressure make it hard to follow what we believe?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Fayetteville2415 Rosehill Road, Fayetteville, NC 28301Jumu'ah 1:30 PMKhateebDavid HaskinsMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICF51 khutbahs
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