Renew your intention throughout every deed
“The first intention, the pure intention that you had before work, is not guaranteed to continue.”
The khutbah teaches that Muslims purify their souls by regularly holding themselves accountable before, during, and after deeds, renewing sincere intention, and maintaining consistent worship without overburdening themselves.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces self-accountability as central to worship and purification of the soul.
- Urges believers to evaluate themselves before facing divine judgment.
- Uses sayings attributed to Umar and al-Hasan al-Basri to reinforce honest self-examination.
- Applies accountability to intentions before, during, and after charity, fasting, prayer, and other good deeds.
- Warns against pride, fame, and worldly motives corrupting worship.
- Encourages manageable, consistent good deeds and closes with prayers for sincere acceptance.
In the khateeb's words
“People said, "Count yourselves before you are counted." the people are being judged by themselves by Allah Almighty.”
“If it is for Allah, ask Allah to grant it. And take it from your intention. And take it again. And prove it. And continue your work.”
“The first intention, the pure intention that you had before work, is not guaranteed to continue.”
For the dinner table
This khutbah teaches that one of the best ways to purify the soul is to regularly examine ourselves. We should ask whether our charity, fasting, prayer, and other good deeds are truly for Allah, and renew our intention if pride, fame, or worldly motives appear. The speaker encourages us to keep doing manageable good deeds consistently instead of overwhelming ourselves. The message closes by reminding us to remember ourselves, seek Allah’s acceptance, and pray for sincere, accepted actions.
- What is one good deed you can do regularly, even if it is small?
- How can you check your intention before or after helping someone?
- What might remind you to hold yourself accountable each day?
The masjids
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