3:29 If we don't know who…6:58 And if he experiences…14:38 So Allah subhanahu wa…
Patience & trialsFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 17, 2025.

Knowing Allah turns hardship into hope

ICNYU

“If we don't know who Allah is, how can we have hope?”

The khateeb, at 3:29

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Knowing Allah through His names and trusting His wisdom transforms hardship into hope, patience, gratitude, and calm.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces hope in Allah as especially relevant to students facing stress, while emphasizing that hope requires knowing Allah.
  2. Explains that every form of hardship, including minor physical pain and emotional or mental distress, can purify a believer.
  3. Presents gratitude during ease and patience during difficulty as two ways believers benefit in every circumstance.
  4. Introduces Allah's names and explains how names such as Al-Latif reveal hidden wisdom in events.
  5. Illustrates Allah's subtle planning through the story of Yusuf and a personal anecdote about meeting Khabib.
  6. Concludes with Al-Wakeel, urging listeners to entrust their affairs to Allah and prioritize the hereafter.
Try this week
Learn Allah's names and use them when making dua.
Respond to ease with gratitude and hardship with patience while continuing to strive.
Entrust worries and affairs to Allah as Al-Wakeel.
Make the akhirah the central priority rather than focusing only on worldly gain.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 33Taqwa and truthful speech lead to righteous deeds and forgiveness.
Sahih al-BukhariHardship, illness, sorrow, and even minor pain can expiate sins and purify believers.
Surah 39Those who patiently endure receive reward without limit.
Surah 14Gratitude leads to increase and blessing.
Surah 12Yusuf's trials illustrate Allah's subtle planning and wisdom.
Sahih al-BukhariAllah is as His servant thinks of Him, supporting hopeful trust in Allah.
Sunan Ibn MajahPrioritizing the hereafter brings richness and order, while prioritizing worldly life produces anxiety and scattered affairs.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“If we don't know who Allah is, how can we have hope?”
ICNYU · Greenwich Village, NY
Play from 3:29
“And if he experiences harm, he shows patience and that is good for him.”
ICNYU · Greenwich Village, NY
Play from 6:58
“So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala He can do what our minds cannot comprehend.”
ICNYU · Greenwich Village, NY
Play from 14:38
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that knowing Allah helps us have hope, especially when life feels stressful. He explained that even small hurts and worries can be a means of purification, and Allah knows the struggles we keep to ourselves. When things go well, we can thank Allah; when things are difficult, we can practice patience and keep trying. Learning Allah’s beautiful names helps us understand whom we are calling upon in dua and trust His knowledge and care. He also encouraged us to make the hereafter our priority and entrust our worries to Allah, whom he described as the ultimate trustee.

  1. What is one thing you can thank Allah for today, and one thing you need patience with?
  2. What would you like to ask Allah for using one of the names mentioned in the khutbah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center at NYU238 Thompson St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10012ArchiveAll khutbahs at ICNYU22 khutbahs
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