Faith must shape how we live
“A peace treaty, or a ceasefire, is when Palestine ceases, and Israel continues to fire.”
A Muslim's submission to Allah must shape daily life through mindfulness, remembrance, blessings on the Prophet, and compassionate memory of victims of genocide and ongoing suffering.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Begins with praise of Allah, testimony of faith, taqwa, and holistic submission in life and death.
- Explains sending blessings and peace upon Prophet Muhammad as a believer's practice.
- Uses post-prayer remembrance and a visit to a Bosnian mosque to introduce communal memory.
- Remembers the 1995 Bosnian genocide, destroyed mosques, and enduring trauma.
- Connects Bosnia's broken safe-zone promise to Palestine and Gaza, urging attention, prayer, and remembrance rather than scrolling away.
In the khateeb's words
“To be fully and holistically Muslim, to truly and lovingly submit oneself upon the way towards Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, not just as how we die and return to Allah, but how we live.”
“a peace treaty, or a ceasefire, is when, Palestine ceases, and Israel continues to fire”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us that being Muslim is not only about how we hope to die, but how we choose to live every day with mindfulness of Allah and love for the Prophet Muhammad. The khateeb reflected on the Bosnian genocide, the suffering in Palestine and Gaza, and the lasting trauma carried by families and communities. He urged us not to scroll past painful images or let distant tragedies become invisible to us. We can remember victims, learn from these histories, pray for people who are suffering, and keep our worship and character connected to Allah.
- What could submitting to Allah look like in one ordinary choice this week?
- How can we remember suffering people without becoming numb or turning away?
- Why is remembering history important for a community?
More on the ummah & current events
Islam belongs to all of humanity.16:15FIC · Swartz Creek, MI · Oct 10, 2026Dawah must serve all of humanity
EPIC · Plano, TX · Aug 3, 2026The ummah must serve humanity“We have to engage the greater society and we have to better the greater society.”
18:19ICRR · Round Rock, TX · Aug 1, 2026Liberation depends on the next generation“The success of a project is not dependent on the physical completion of it, but it's dependent on if the next generation inherits your legacy or not.”