Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 28, 2026.
Repentance begins with remorse and resolve
IONA · Monir Islam
In one sentence
Because every person sins, believers should repent to Allah immediately through remorse, resolve, and repairing harm done to others.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Everyone needs Allah’s forgiveness and should not delay repentance.
- Repentance means a complete U-turn away from sin and back toward Allah.
- The first step is genuine remorse, even when sin has become normalized.
- The second step is a firm resolve not to repeat the sin.
- Persistent sinners and those facing addiction should respond immediately after falling.
- When another person is harmed, repentance also requires seeking their forgiveness and restoring their rights.
Try this week
Repent immediately after committing a sin.
Develop genuine remorse for the wrongdoing.
Make a firm resolve not to repeat the sin.
If another person was harmed, seek their forgiveness and restore their rights.
Persist sincerely even when changing feels difficult.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Your soul has returned, that door is shut, there is no going back.”
“You are not just feeling regret or feeling sorry about this. You're leaving whatever's in your ego. You're leaving it. And you're turning away from God.”
“There are those among us that are struggling with addiction. We have had this stuff, we have had it for years and years, and we find it hard to let go of these things.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that we all need to seek Allah's forgiveness and should take repentance seriously. The khateeb warned against putting it off, because we cannot assume we will always have more time. He compared repentance to a full U-turn: feeling sorry should lead us to stop the wrong action and sincerely resolve to change. He also explained that repeated wrongdoing can become so familiar that we stop feeling bad about it. Even when changing is difficult, we should remember Allah's mercy, keep returning to Him, and never give up hope.
- What would making a U-turn after a mistake look like in an ordinary school day?
- What could help you act on an apology and change what you do next?
- How can our family encourage each other to try again after a mistake?
Keep listening
More on Repentance & taqwa
First, practice humility by accepting correction.28:46Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Oct 31, 2026Arrogance hardens the heart against guidance
I want to be quick to apologize.29:24Lighthouse · Temescal · North Oakland, CA · Oct 17, 2026Move steadily in life, rush to forgiveness