Choose a life that brings you closer to Allah
“Your closeness to Allah is not by accident.”
Muslims should continually return to foundational beliefs and make life choices that bring themselves and their families closer to Allah.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- The narration of Umm Hisham introduces the Prophet’s recurring Friday recitation of Surah Qaf.
- Surah Qaf’s focus on death, resurrection, and the hereafter explains its importance for Jumu'ah.
- The Prophet prioritized foundational beliefs, Allah’s oneness, prophethood, and the hereafter, before detailed religious rulings.
- The companions’ response to the prohibition of alcohol illustrates how strong faith produces willing submission.
- Modern choices about housing, marriage, work, and community affect spiritual growth and children’s access to Islamic learning.
- The khutbah closes with encouragement to make effort and prayers for mercy, the oppressed, and the Ummah.
In the khateeb's words
“you must always come back to the foundational teachings of our religion to what really really lies at the core of what it means to be Muslim”
“the decisions we make the environments we choose to put ourselves in will impact our relationship with Allah”
“your closeness to Allah is not by accident it's not by accident”
For the dinner table
The khateeb reminded us that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, lived with purpose and sincerity. He explained that the Prophet frequently recited Surah Qaf at Jumu'ah, bringing people back to reminders about death, the next life, and standing before Allah. Learning who Allah is and why we should trust Him helps us follow His commands with love. Ummu Hisham's experience of memorizing the surah through listening also shows how much we can learn by regularly being present. Our choices about where we live and whom we spend time with affect our spiritual growth and our children's opportunities to learn. When our circumstances make things harder, we can still do our best and remember that Allah sees our effort.
- What Quran passage would you like us to listen to regularly together, and why?
- Who helps you remember Allah, and what do they do that helps?
- What is one small effort our family could make this week to learn or worship together?
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