GratitudeFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 9, 2026.
All strength and success come from Allah
“We exist under the mercy of Allah.”
In one sentence
Because all strength, safety, provision, and ability come from Allah, believers should admit their helplessness, reject self-reliance, and practice gratitude and humility.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Badr shows that Allah supported Muslims who recognized their weakness and need for His help.
- Hunayn shows that numerical strength and confidence in worldly means did not guarantee success.
- Believers should attribute their wealth, health, skills, safety, and success to Allah.
- Human abilities can be taken away, so pride in the self is misplaced; Firaun and Qarun illustrate this danger.
- Each person faces a choice between the dependence of Badr and the self-reliance of Hunayn, requiring regular heart-checking and gratitude.
Try this week
When success occurs, stop self-admiration and attribute it back to Allah.
Explicitly thank Allah by recognizing that He made the achievement possible.
Examine whether you are relying on wealth, children, skills, safety, or possessions instead of Allah.
Treat health, abilities, and provision as Allah’s gifts and ask Him for continued help.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:123Used to show Allah granting victory at Badr despite the Muslims being few.
Quran 9:25Used to show that the Muslims' large numbers at Hunayn did not benefit them.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“we exist under the mercy of Allah we are nothing we cannot attribute anything to ourselves it all comes from Allah”
“we have nothing and cannot do anything without Allah's help and we are at Allah's mercy from the time of inception until the time we die in the grave and pass that to eternity”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khateeb reminded us that we need Allah in everything, even our next breath. He contrasted Badr, when the Muslims recognized their need for Allah’s help, with Hunayn, when confidence in their numbers did not protect them. Our health, abilities, safety, and provision are all gifts from Allah. Remembering this helps us stay humble and notice blessings we often take for granted. When something goes well, we can pause and thank Allah for making it possible.
- What is something your body did today that you would like to thank Allah for?
- When you do well at something, how can you remember Allah’s help?
- How could you use one of the abilities Allah has given you to help someone this week?
Where it was given
The masjid
Islamic Center of Western Suburbs (ICWS)28W774 Army Trail Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185Jumu'ah “Khutbah 1 | 1:05 | pm; Jamaat 1 | 1:25 | pm; Khutbah 2 | 1:35 | pm; Jamaat 2 | 1:55 | pm” (Bartlett location). “Khutbah | 1:15 | pm; Jamaat | 1:35 | pm” (West Chicago location).ArchiveAll khutbahs at Islamic Center of48 khutbahs
Keep listening
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