Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.
Good deeds need humility and repentance
“O Allah, forgive us our sins.”
In one sentence
True worship requires humility, sincere motives, and continual repentance rather than confidence that one's good deeds have already been accepted.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Reflects on confidence after Ramadan, Hajj, prayer, charity, and other worship.
- Warns that pride and insincerity can undermine otherwise good deeds.
- Uses Aisha's question to explain that believers fear their worship may not be accepted.
- Highlights believers in battle who first asked forgiveness before asking for victory.
- Urges humility, sincere intentions, repentance, and hastening toward good deeds.
Try this week
Examine and purify the intention behind acts of worship.
Ask Allah for forgiveness instead of assuming good deeds are accepted.
Continue hastening toward good deeds while remaining humble about them.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 23:60-61Used to show that sincere believers give, worship, and still fear that their deeds may not be accepted.
Quran 3:146-147Used to show that believers in battle first asked Allah for forgiveness before asking for victory.
Surah 103Used as a closing reminder that people are in loss except through faith, good deeds, truth, and patience.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“This work Get accepted. Did Allah accept the worships that we have just done?”
“But did you pay attention to what first came to their mind? O Allah, forgive us our sins.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Imam Omar Habib reminds us not to assume that a good deed is automatically accepted by Allah. Even people who fast, pray, give charity, and strive sincerely should remain humble and ask forgiveness. The khutbah points to believers in battle who first asked Allah to forgive their sins before asking for victory. This week, we can do good, examine our intentions, and depend on Allah's mercy rather than our own record.
- When have you done something good but still felt you needed Allah's help and forgiveness?
- What can help us notice when pride is entering a good deed?
- Why might asking forgiveness come before asking for success?
Keep listening
More on Repentance & taqwa
First, practice humility by accepting correction.28:46Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Oct 31, 2026Arrogance hardens the heart against guidance
2:40Islamic Association of · Flower Mound, TX · Oct 24, 2026Repentance begins a life of self-discipline“Whilst you are alive, whilst you are reading, whilst you are even sitting in the masjid now, you can do Tawba with Allah.”
I want to be quick to apologize.29:24Lighthouse · Temescal · North Oakland, CA · Oct 17, 2026Move steadily in life, rush to forgiveness