Dhul Hijjah calls us back to Allah
“Give more charity, more fasting, more dhikr, more dua, more Quran.”
In response to the San Diego mosque shooting, the khutbah urges Muslims to embody the faith, honor, mercy, and surrender exemplified by Ibrahim, Hajar, and Ismail, and to use Dhul Hijjah, especially Arafah, for renewed worship, repentance, forgiveness, and service.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Mourns the San Diego mosque victims and honors their courage, sacrifice, and protection of children.
- Uses Brother Amin’s final post to define success as returning to Allah with a pure soul.
- Connects the victims’ faith to Ibrahim’s trust, surrender, and steadfastness through fire and hardship.
- Explains Muslim identity as a source of mercy, goodness, justice, and safety for all people.
- Calls listeners to renew their covenant with Allah and teach faith through prophetic example.
- Urges intensified worship during Dhul Hijjah, including fasting Arafah, charity, Quran, remembrance, repentance, and forgiveness.
In the khateeb's words
“Wallahi thumma wallahi, it is returning back to Allah, our Creator. With the same pure soul He loaned me at birth.”
“All I need in this moment, effectively, is Allah is with me. Allah suffices me. And He is the best of those to be relied upon.”
“where you take your strength from, where you get your honor from, where you get your dignity from. It comes from La ilaha illallah Muhammadun Rasulullah. It comes from Hasbunallah wa ni'mal wakil.”
“Give more charity, more fasting, more dhikr, more dua, more Quran. Be better to your parents, better to your children, better to your siblings. Forgive people that you have enmity with. Forgive your loved ones.”
For the dinner table
This khutbah begins with grief over the San Diego mosque shooting and honors men whose courage protected children and neighbors. The speaker says their faith reflects Ibrahim, Hajar, and Ismail: trust Allah, surrender to Him, and remain patient and honorable in hardship. Muslims should be a mercy to the people around them, not merely believers in private. During the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, families should pray, fast, especially on Arafah, give charity, remember Allah, read Quran, forgive, repent, and treat one another better.
- What does relying on Allah look like when you feel afraid?
- Which good deed can our family increase during Dhul Hijjah?
- Who could we forgive or treat more gently this week?
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