Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 19, 2026.

Avoiding sin protects spiritual growth

“The actual attack of shaitan, where the danger lies, is where he mentally attacks a person.”

The khateeb, at 6:29

In one sentence

Spiritual growth depends first on avoiding sin and heedlessness, using continuous dhikr, focused worship, practical effort, and tawakkul to resist Shaytan’s whispers.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Contrasts increasing good deeds with the greater priority of avoiding sins.
  2. Explains Shaytan’s primary attack as mental whispers during heedlessness.
  3. Uses Surah al-Falaq and Surah al-Nas to emphasize seeking Allah’s protection.
  4. Defines tawakkul as combining personal effort with reliance on Allah.
  5. Recommends daily dhikr routines and focused remembrance during prayer.
  6. Encourages patiently refocusing in worship until concentration becomes habitual.
Try this week
Begin with a baseline such as 100 istighfar or 100 repetitions of la ilaha illallah.
After each salah, recite Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times.
Keep the heart consciously connected to Allah during dhikr and prayer.
When distracted in salah or dhikr, immediately refocus and continue trying.
Take practical precautions against sin, then seek Allah’s protection and rely on Him.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“That latter person is significantly better than the former. The effect of sins on a person is, for example, when a person is in the car with winter approaching, he has the heater on.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 3:47
“The actual attack of shaitan, where the danger lies, is where he mentally attacks a person. Where he injects, whispers into a person's mind.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 6:29
“We make this effort, then, eventually, while you're at work, while you're at home, while you're walking, you'll constantly be in a state of zikr as well.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 18:40
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that doing extra good deeds is valuable, but avoiding sins is even more important for protecting our spiritual progress. Shaytan often attacks through quiet thoughts when we are distracted or heedless. Regular dhikr keeps the heart aware of Allah and makes it harder for harmful thoughts to take root. We should build simple habits such as morning and evening remembrance, post-prayer dhikr, and refocusing during salah. Tawakkul means making a sincere effort and then trusting Allah to guide and protect us.

  1. What is one time of day when remembering Allah would help you avoid distraction?
  2. How can you refocus when your mind wanders during prayer?
  3. What is one effort you can make this week before placing your trust in Allah?