Community & unityFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 2, 2026.
Build faith and community with excellence
In one sentence
The khutbah argues that Muslims should begin 2026 with sincere intentions and build their faith, character, families, and communities with excellence as an active witness to humanity.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Begins the new year by emphasizing intentions and purposeful resolve.
- Defines excellence as part of humanity’s divine design and religious obligation.
- Calls Muslims to become active witnesses amid social and global uncertainty.
- Presents the masjid as a center for worship, learning, refuge, justice, and peacebuilding.
- Uses Islam’s five pillars and construction imagery to explain intentional spiritual and communal formation.
- Urges believers to build, protect, and complete their faith while educating future generations.
Try this week
Begin the year by grounding intentions in faith, responsibility, and resolve.
Pursue excellence in worship, work, relationships, institutions, and social responsibilities.
Actively serve the community through education, feeding, reconciliation, uplift, and peacebuilding.
Build, protect, and complete faith while continuing to educate children.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 95Humanity’s creation in the best form supports the claim that excellence is innate.
Quran 2:143The balanced community’s witness to humanity frames an active communal responsibility.
Sahih al-BukhariIslam is built upon five pillars, supporting the sermon’s construction metaphor.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“A witness is not passive. Being a witness is active.”
“Communities without values, they fracture. Faith, faith without structure, weakens.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khateeb welcomed the new year by reminding us that beginnings and intentions matter. He explained how our thoughts can grow into actions and habits that shape our character. He urged us to practice excellence in worship, work, and relationships, even when life is difficult. He described the masjid as a place for learning, feeding people, justice, and peace building. Like a strong building, our families and communities need firm values, good examples, and continued care, including attention to our children’s education.
- What small habit would help you become the person you want to be?
- How could we help someone at school, at the masjid, or in our neighborhood this week?
- What do you learn from the examples people set in our family?
Keep listening
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