0:24 Islam started out as…6:36 These are the days…
Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 22, 2026.

Use Dhul-Hijjah for extra worship

Al-Noor Masjid

“Islam started out as something strange and it will soon return to the way that it started.”

The khateeb, at 0:24

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are an opportunity to strengthen Islam through voluntary righteous action and renewed commitment to its universal standard of mercy.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Describes Islam as increasingly strange in a drifting society and cites the Prophet’s teaching about Islam returning to strangeness.
  2. Explains defensiveness and justification as responses to feeling inadequate before Allah’s standard.
  3. Cites hadith about righteous deeds being especially beloved during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
  4. Contrasts obligatory worship with voluntary deeds, arguing that spiritual excellence comes from doing more than the required minimum.
  5. Encourages accessible acts such as salawat, zikr, and extra prayer, and urges listeners to remember and practice Islam before Eid.
  6. Concludes by presenting the Prophet as a mercy to all creation and praying for sincere commitment to his path.
Try this week
Perform extra voluntary prayer during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Recite salawat and zikr regularly, even in small amounts.
Use the days before Eid to reflect on one’s beliefs, practices, and commitment to Islam.
Act upon and follow Islam rather than merely identifying with it.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to establish that righteous action is especially beloved during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Islam started out as something strange and it will soon return to the way that it started.”
Al-Noor Masjid · Hillcroft / Gulfton, TX
Play from 0:24
“These are the days where you remind yourself what you're on, what you're standing on, what you believe in, what you practice.”
Al-Noor Masjid · Hillcroft / Gulfton, TX
Play from 6:36
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are especially precious days for good deeds. He encouraged us to help our faith grow, keeping our required worship as the foundation and adding acts we freely choose for Allah. Even when life is busy, small acts of remembrance, blessings upon the Prophet, and extra prayer can go a long way. These days also invite us to remember our Islamic way of life and renew our intention to follow it. The khutbah reminded us that the Prophet was sent as a mercy to all creation and ended with prayers for Allah's help in following his path.

  1. What small act of worship would you like to make time for during Dhul-Hijjah?
  2. When you feel defensive about a mistake, what helps you pause and learn?
  3. How could you show mercy to a person or animal tomorrow?
Where it was given

The masjid

Al-Noor Masjid (Al-Noor Society of Greater Houston)6443 Prestwood Dr, Houston, TX 77081Jumu'ah 2:00 PM & 3:00 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at Al-Noor Masjid12 khutbahs
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