13:12 So here they…21:51 Allah subhanahu wa…
Seeking knowledgeFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 25, 2026.

Study revelation in context and with scholarship

Al-Sabereen

“Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala was alone by Himself.”

The khateeb, at 21:51

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Sound faith requires studying Quran and hadith in context, relying on qualified scholarship, and reconciling apparent contradictions rather than isolating individual texts.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Introduces Imam al-Tabari's history and cautions that its narrations are not all authentic.
  2. Explains hadith transmission, chain criticism, and the three forms of Sunnah.
  3. Examines competing views on the first creation and places the throne, water, tablet, and pen in sequence.
  4. Uses the narration of Imran ibn Husayn to support the chronology of creation.
  5. Reconciles apparently conflicting texts about kinship ties, lifespan, and divine decree.
  6. Distinguishes Allah's preserved tablet from angelic and Laylatul Qadr records.
  7. Addresses conditions for consuming food from Jews and Christians and returns to divine wisdom about lifespan.
Try this week
Consult qualified hadith scholars and examine chains rather than relying on isolated reports.
Read Quran and hadith in context and seek scholarly reconciliation when texts appear to conflict.
Maintain ties of kinship.
Repent and seek Allah's forgiveness.
Verify that meat from a Jewish or Christian source was actually slaughtered before eating it.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariUsed for the narration that the pen was created first and commanded to write.
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to establish the sequence involving Allah, water, the throne, the preserved tablet, and creation.
Surah 5Used to discuss the permissibility and conditions of food from the People of the Book.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“So here they complained, they didn't agree with Imam Tabari concerning his opinion that the first creation was the pen.”
Al-Sabereen · Harrisburg, PA
Play from 13:12
“Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala was alone by Himself. And after that, what He created, the water, and on top of it, His throne, His arsh, or His chair, His holy chair.”
Al-Sabereen · Harrisburg, PA
Play from 21:51
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today we learned that faith grows when we study the Quran and Sunnah carefully, in context, and with qualified scholarship. The sermon used the order of creation to show that Allah was alone, then created the water and throne, the preserved record, the pen, and the heavens and earth. It also reminded us that texts that seem to disagree should be brought together rather than used to discard one another. Allah's complete knowledge is in the preserved tablet, while other records show how repentance and good actions matter in our lives. At home, we can strengthen family ties, seek forgiveness, and ask careful questions about what we eat.

  1. How can we keep family ties strong this week?
  2. What should we do when two religious explanations seem to disagree?
  3. What questions should we ask about the food we eat?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Al-Sabereen1403 S Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17104Jumu'ah First Athan 12:15 PM, Iqamah 12:35 PM · second Athan 1:15 PM, Iqamah 1:35 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at Al-Sabereen56 khutbahs
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