Knowledge must come before action
“The two conditions for your actions to be accepted are sincere intentions to Allah and correct knowledge in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah.”
Sound knowledge from the Quran and Sunnah must come before speech and action, and believers should seek, practice, and responsibly teach that knowledge.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces the importance of fearing Allah and continues the previous week's focus on knowledge.
- Uses Imam al-Bukhari's Book of Knowledge to establish that knowledge precedes speech and action.
- Explains that accepted deeds require correct knowledge and sincerity, while scholars transmit rather than legislate revelation.
- Emphasizes that knowledge is acquired through deliberate learning and deepens understanding and fear of Allah.
- Calls listeners to teach foundational knowledge, practice what they learn, and begin with belief and prayer.
- Concludes with supplications, congregational prayer, and a shahada for a new Muslim.
In the khateeb's words
“And the scholars, they are the inheritors of the prophets. They have inherited the knowledge. And whoever gains it, gains a great portion.”
“knowledge is only acquired by seeking knowledge, by learning the knowledge.”
“the two conditions for your actions to be accepted are sincere intentions to Allah and correct knowledge in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah.”
“Because if you don't have practice with your knowledge, you're ignorant.”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah was about the value of learning Islam from the Quran and Sunnah. The speaker explained that knowledge should come before what we say and do, and that true knowledge should lead to humility, fear of Allah, and good action. He reminded us to respect scholars as teachers of revelation, while remembering that scholars do not create the religion. We were encouraged to begin with the basics, keep learning, practice what we learn, and share beneficial knowledge with others. The gathering ended with prayer and a shahada.
- What is one Islamic thing you want to learn well enough to practice?
- Why do you think the speaker said we should start with the basics?
- How could you kindly teach someone one small piece of beneficial knowledge?
More on Seeking knowledge
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