Build communities for those who come after
“We build in the present while trusting God with the future.”
Returning to God means using the wisdom, gifts, and relationships shaped by life's transitions to faithfully build beneficial communities and foundations while trusting God with outcomes beyond our sight.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Defines returning as remembering belonging to God beyond changing roles and achievements.
- Connects purpose with worship, inner transformation, life seasons, and hardship.
- Uses Hajar, Ibrahim, Ismail, and the Kaaba to illustrate unseen foundational work.
- Applies the lesson to rebuilding the Women's Mosque of America after loss and transition.
- Calls listeners to build communities marked by access, knowledge, mercy, leadership, and shared responsibility.
- Closes with three questions about returning, purpose, and what God is asking each person to build.
In the khateeb's words
“There is no expiration date on purpose. Sometimes purpose becomes clearer with age, because experience teaches us the difference between what is important and what just appears to be urgent.”
“Returning quickly and returning faithfully are not necessarily the same thing.”
“The Women's Mosque of America is not simply a program, a website, a Juma gathering, or a collection of events. It is a community and it is a legacy.”
“We build in the present while trusting God with the future.”
For the dinner table
The sermon reminds us that returning to God means remembering that we belong to Him, even when our roles and circumstances change. Our purpose does not expire, and our experiences can prepare us for new kinds of meaningful work. Like Hajar and the builders of the Kaaba, we may need to act faithfully before we can see the results. We are also called to build communities where people share responsibility, ask for help, and help others. We should build carefully in the present while trusting God with the future.
- What is one small foundation you could begin building this week?
- When has someone helped you carry something, and how could you help someone else?
- What gift or lesson from your life might benefit people who come after you?
The masjid
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