Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 18, 2026.
Wildfire smoke should awaken us to repentance
As-Salaamah · Hamse Al Jawhari
“What will I do to save myself from the fire of the day of judgment?”
In one sentence
The wildfire smoke darkening the sky is a sign and warning from Allah meant to wake people from heedlessness, push them to repentance, and remind them of the far greater fire of Jahannam.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Earthly smoke that blocks the sun and chokes the chest is a reminder of the smoke and blaze of Hellfire
- Human power, progress, and technology remain weak before Allah's might, cities halted and flights cancelled by unseen smoke
- When seeing Allah's signs, the first question should not be 'when will the smoke end' but 'when will my sins end'
- The true calamity is not smoke in the sky but a heart hardened by heedlessness, a dry eye, and a soul comfortable with sin
- Calamities are sent to awaken servants ('la'allahum yarji'oon'), not merely to destroy them
- Real success is salvation from the Fire, not wealth, positions, degrees, or fame
- Parents must teach their children that Allah alone sends the winds, drives the clouds, and raises the smoke
- Duties during afflictions: abundant repentance and istighfar, du'a, prayer and dhikr, returning wrongs to their owners, abandoning sins, and gratitude for well-being
Try this week
Increase repentance (tawbah) and seeking forgiveness (istighfar) when calamities and signs descend
Make abundant du'a and humble supplication to Allah
Turn to prayer and dhikr more consistently
Return wrongs and injustices to their rightful owners
Abandon sins and disobedience
Thank Allah for the blessing of well-being ('afiyah)
Teach children that Allah is the one who sends the winds, drives the clouds, and raises and lifts the smoke, not nature acting alone
Increase prayer, dhikr, and zakah in response to Allah's warning signs
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 104:8The Fire will be closed in upon its people, like smoke engulfing them
Quran 39:16Layers of fire above and below the people of Hell, sent as a warning to Allah's servants
Quran 6:91Humanity's weakness before Allah's power despite all its advancement
Quran 22:74Humanity's weakness before Allah's power despite all its advancement
Quran 76:30Nothing is willed except by Allah's will
Quran 3:185True triumph is being distanced from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, not worldly gains
Quran 24:31Collective repentance as the required response to affliction
Quran 17:59Signs such as smoke, earthquakes, and fires are sent only as warnings
Quran 32:21The lesser worldly punishment precedes the greater one so people may return to Allah
Sahih al-BukhariThis worldly fire is only one part of seventy parts of the fire of Jahannam, if one part causes this much distress, imagine the Hellfire
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“And that you should wake up and that you should pray more and give zikr more and give zaka'ah more etc.”
“That this fire of yours is only one part out of 70 parts of the fire of Jahannam.”
“Rather it makes the person think about what will I do to save myself from the fire of the day of judgment.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah uses smoke reaching us from distant fires as a reminder that Allah’s signs should awaken our hearts. It contrasts temporary worldly smoke with the far greater danger of Jahannam and the lasting safety of being saved from the Fire. Trials should move us away from heedlessness and toward repentance, prayer, dhikr, charity, and correcting wrongs. The khateeb also urges parents to teach children that the world operates by Allah’s will. We can respond with humility, gratitude, and sincere actions that bring us closer to Allah.
- When something difficult happens, what helps you remember Allah instead of focusing only on when it will end?
- Which practice could you strengthen this week: prayer, dhikr, repentance, charity, or making things right with someone?
- How would you explain to a younger child why smoke and other natural events can remind us of Allah?
Where it was given
The masjid
Keep listening
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