14:11 path towards Allah is…15:39 if you don't want your…
Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 3, 2026.

Obedience and taqwa draw Allah's love

ICC

“Fulfill your obligations, stay away from the prohibitions, and then you engage in that which is extra.”

The khateeb, at 14:11

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Becoming among Allah's awliya begins with faith and taqwa expressed through fulfilling obligations and avoiding prohibitions, after which voluntary worship and sustained effort draw Allah's love and protection.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines Allah as the wali of believers and believers as awliya through faith and taqwa.
  2. Explains wilayah as closeness to Allah expressed through immediate, humble obedience.
  3. Uses a hadith qudsi to prioritize obligations and avoiding haram before voluntary deeds.
  4. Applies this priority to prayer, zakah, fasting, character, family relationships, finances, and media.
  5. Describes Allah's protection and love for awliya while warning against harming pious people.
  6. Encourages gradual, persistent effort and concludes with prayers for sincere obedience and a blessed Ramadan.
Try this week
Audit and complete the five daily prayers, zakah, and Ramadan fasting.
Avoid haram, including impermissible transactions, inappropriate media, uncontrolled anger, backbiting, and mistreatment.
Prioritize humility, patience, generosity, and kindness toward parents, spouses, and children.
Add voluntary worship and charity after obligatory duties are secure, while avoiding showing off.
Take sustainable steps toward obedience and return to good routines after lapses.
Pray Fajr in congregation at the mosque to seek the protection described in the hadith.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2Allah guides believers from darkness into light as their close guardian and protector.
Surah 10Allah's awliya are believers who maintain taqwa and receive reassurance and glad tidings.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“path towards Allah is fulfill your obligations stay away from the prohibitions and then you engage in that which is extra”
ICC · Pomona, CA
Play from 14:11
“if you don't want your children to listen to it you shouldn't be listening to it as an adult”
ICC · Pomona, CA
Play from 15:39
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that being close to Allah begins with belief, taqwa, and obedience. We should first protect the obligations Allah gave us, prayer, fasting, zakah, and good character, and stay away from what He prohibited. Only after securing those foundations should we add extra worship and service. Allah's love brings guidance and protection, while sincere effort still matters when we stumble. We should keep trying, return to good routines, and ask Allah to prepare us for Ramadan.

  1. What is one good routine you want to strengthen this week?
  2. How can we make our words kinder at home?
  3. What should come before adding extra good deeds?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Claremont3641 N Garey Ave, Pomona, CA 91767ArchiveAll khutbahs at ICC38 khutbahs
Keep listening

More on Repentance & taqwa

All on this topic
First, practice humility by accepting correction.28:46Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Oct 31, 2026Arrogance hardens the heart against guidance2:40Islamic Association of · Flower Mound, TX · Oct 24, 2026Repentance begins a life of self-discipline“Whilst you are alive, whilst you are reading, whilst you are even sitting in the masjid now, you can do Tawba with Allah.”I want to be quick to apologize.29:24Lighthouse · Temescal · North Oakland, CA · Oct 17, 2026Move steadily in life, rush to forgiveness