Power is a test, not proof of favor
“When I have power and might, am I being a good Muslim the way Allah wants me to be?”
Worldly power and defeat alternate as tests, so Muslims must remain faithful, just, active against oppression, and hopeful whether they are dominant or oppressed.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- The khutbah opens with taqwa and introduces Uhud as a lesson in Allah’s perspective on victory and loss.
- Surah Ali Imran is used to explain that power alternates among people and does not indicate Allah’s love or displeasure.
- The histories of Musa, Banu Israel, the early Muslims, and later Muslim states illustrate recurring cycles of oppression and supremacy.
- The speaker applies this pattern to Gaza and current ceasefire uncertainty, urging resistance to oppression without despair.
- The trench-boulder episode demonstrates hope and continued effort amid apparent impossibility.
- The khutbah closes by assigning duties in every condition: justice with power, patience under oppression, and help for the oppressed.
In the khateeb's words
“Not the win or the loss, but when you are now a winner, are you going to act like a good Muslim?”
“My job is still to say something and do something.”
“When I have power and might, am I being a good Muslim the way Allah wants me to be?”
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah reminded us that people and communities experience both victory and hardship, and neither worldly power nor defeat tells us how much Allah loves someone. What matters is how we respond: with prayer, honesty, justice, and faithfulness to Allah. When we have money or influence, we should use it well; when life is difficult, we should stay patient and keep doing good. The khateeb stressed that trusting Allah also means speaking up and taking action to help people facing oppression. He encouraged us to keep hope in Allah and the hereafter, even when we cannot yet see how things will improve.
- How could you use your influence to help someone be treated more fairly this week?
- What helps you keep doing the right thing when you feel worried or discouraged?
- What is one way our family could help people who are being mistreated?
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.”