Real success includes faith, family, and character
“The one thing that you need to do with your children is connection.”
True success is holistic: families must prioritize faith, loving connection, character, health, and community alongside education and career.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Uses Ahmed’s story to question whether academic and career achievement alone constitute success.
- Argues that children’s relationship with Allah is strongly shaped by their relationship with their parents, especially an engaged father.
- Emphasizes connection, trust, and presence over providing children with material possessions.
- Grounds parental responsibility in the Quranic command to protect families and the hadith that everyone is a shepherd accountable for those in their care.
- Introduces spiritual, physical, mental, financial, and social wealth as dimensions families should develop.
In the khateeb's words
“I want you, father. I want you. Because that's the one thing that we're not willing to give.”
“The one thing that you need to do with your children is connection.”
“They will not remember your words. They will not remember your words because your actions speak louder than your words.”
“And make that kind of environment in the masjid and get them engaged in the community because this will provide a safe environment for our children as they're growing, getting bigger and developing.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah asks us to rethink success. Education and careers matter, but real success also includes faith, healthy bodies and minds, strong marriages, loving parent-child connection, and a supportive Muslim community. Children often learn religion through the way parents treat them, so time, compassion, communication, and good example matter more than material gifts. Families are encouraged to learn Islam, attend classes and community events, care for one another’s wellbeing, and make the masjid a place where children build friendships. The goal is to help ourselves and our families succeed in this life and the hereafter.
- What does success mean to you besides getting good grades?
- What helps you feel comfortable talking with a parent when something is hard?
- What is one masjid activity or family habit that could help us connect this week?
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