Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 15, 2026.
Seize the best days of the year
“An opportunity you either take advantage of it or you miss out and you lose.”
In one sentence
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year, a divinely sworn-by season in which good deeds outrank even jihad, so believers must seize them through worship, repentance, and rectifying their obligations before the opportunity passes.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Allah grants seasons of mercy; these ten days are an opportunity (fursa) you either seize or lose
- Life's purpose is worship (Quran 51:56); Ibn Taymiyyah's comprehensive definition of ibadah
- These days are the best days of the world and a test for the truthful, unlike Ramadan they get little attention
- Evidence of their status: Allah's oath in Surah al-Fajr and the hadith that deeds in them beat jihad (except total martyrdom)
- Why they are special: all major acts of worship converge, Hajj, fasting Arafah (expiates two years), dhikr, sadaqah, Quran
- Second khutbah: prioritize rectifying the fara'id (salah on time, in jama'ah, with khushu') before adding nawafil, per the hadith qudsi
- Closing: this is a deen of action not excuses; bring family along; supplications for the congregation and oppressed Muslims
Try this week
Fast the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah (day of Arafah) for expiation of two years of sins
Rectify the obligatory prayers first: pray on time, at the beginning of the time, in congregation at the masjid when possible, with khushu'
Then increase voluntary deeds: extra prayers, fasting, sadaqah, Quran recitation, and dhikr/takbir throughout the ten days
Identify and eliminate specific haram habits and sins in your life; use the days for repentance and a fresh start
Stop making excuses for not praying, attending the masjid, repenting, or seeking knowledge
Bring family and loved ones along to take advantage of the ten days together
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 89:1-2Allah's oath 'by the dawn and the ten nights'; per jumhur al-mufassireen it refers to these ten days, proving their magnitude
Sahih al-BukhariNo days are good deeds more beloved to Allah than these ten, better even than jihad, except a man who loses life and wealth entirely
Sahih MuslimFasting the 9th of Dhul Hijjah expiates the sins of the previous and coming year, basis for urging listeners to fast Arafah
Quran 2:203The 'appointed days' for remembering Allah are these days, per the cited mufassireen, grounding the call to dhikr
Quran 9:105'Say: work, for Allah, His Messenger and the believers will see your work', accountability for deeds, against excuse-making
Quran 103:1-3Mankind is at loss except believers who do righteous deeds, stakes of wasting the season
Quran 59:18'Let every soul look to what it has sent forth for tomorrow', striving language in the Quran points to the hereafter, not dunya
Sahih al-BukhariNothing is more beloved to Allah than the fara'id; nawafil draw the servant to His love, ordering obligations before voluntary deeds
Quran 18:107Believers who do righteous deeds earn the Gardens of Firdaws, closing motivation for action
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“forsa an opportunity you either take advantage of it or you miss out and you lose”
“the goal of doing as many good deeds as possible the goal of avoiding the bad deeds as much as possible the goal of obeying Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala”
“except a man who goes out in the way of Allah with his self and his wealth but does not return with neither of them”
“this is the pinnacle and the deeds in this month do not equate to that but they are better than all other forms of Jihad”
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