13:41 Every single blessing…16:11 Shukur is a lifestyle.…25:11 Do shukr to Allah, and…
GratitudeFrom the masjid's own video, Mar 7, 2026.

Gratitude means using every blessing well

ICOI · Dirie Ahmed

“Every single blessing, brothers and sisters, needs to be used correctly.”

The khateeb, at 13:41

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

True shukr is a complete way of life involving the heart, tongue, and limbs, expressed by recognizing Allah’s blessings, praising Him, thanking people, and using every blessing correctly.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines shukr as deeper than saying alhamdulillah and introduces its three components.
  2. Explains gratitude of the heart as recognizing every blessing comes from Allah.
  3. Explains gratitude of the tongue through praise, mentioning blessings, valuing small blessings, and thanking people.
  4. Explains gratitude through the limbs by using sight, hearing, movement, wealth, and other abilities properly.
  5. Presents shukr as a lifestyle and categorizes blessings as worldly, religious, and hereafter blessings.
  6. Emphasizes iman as the greatest blessing and concludes that gratitude brings increase from Allah.
Try this week
Recognize and acknowledge specific blessings as gifts from Allah rather than personal entitlement.
Verbally praise Allah and mention blessings appropriately, while hiding them when pride or envy is a concern.
Thank people as part of showing gratitude to Allah.
Use eyes, ears, hands, feet, and other abilities only in permissible ways.
Give charity from one’s wealth and use financial blessings responsibly.
Show gratitude for faith and religious freedom by praying and coming to the masjid.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 2:152Introduces remembering Allah, thanking Him, and avoiding ingratitude.
Quran 16:53Establishes that every blessing originates from Allah.
Quran 93:11Supports mentioning and proclaiming Allah’s blessings.
Quran 14:7Promises increase for gratitude and warns of severe punishment for ingratitude.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Every single blessing brothers and sisters needs to be used correctly.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 13:41
“Shukur is a lifestyle. Shukur is not, you know, WhatsApp status. You edit your status and you say, grateful for life. That's not shukur.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 16:11
“Do shukr to Allah, and He'll give you more reasons to be grateful.”
ICOI · Irvine, CA
Play from 25:11
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Shukr, or gratitude, is more than saying “alhamdulillah.” It begins in the heart by recognizing that every blessing comes from Allah, continues on the tongue by praising Him and thanking people, and appears in our limbs through using blessings in the right way. The khutbah asks us to notice small gifts, health, water, safety, home, and faith, and not take them for granted. Our greatest blessing is iman, so we show gratitude by praying, coming to the masjid, and protecting our faith. When we are grateful, Allah promises to increase us, while gratitude ultimately benefits us, not Him.

  1. What is one small blessing you noticed today?
  2. How can you use one of your abilities in a way that shows shukr?
  3. Who is someone you should thank this week, and why?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Irvine2 Truman, Irvine, CA 92620Jumu'ah 12:30 PM & 1:45 PMKhateebDirie AhmedMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICOI69 khutbahs
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