6:23 But more importantly,…18:07 What would you rather…30:35 Don't look at others,…
GratitudeFrom the masjid's own video, Feb 6, 2026.

Respond to Allah's gifts with gratitude

Middle Ground

“Would you rather have a hundred camels or would you rather live in the same place and have the company of the Messenger of Allah?”

The khateeb, at 18:07

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah argues that believers should respond to Allah's gifts with honest self-reflection, gratitude, patience, repentance, and hope rather than envy or dissatisfaction with worldly differences.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Opens with taqwa and frames Surah At-Tawbah as a stern call to self-examination.
  2. Explains the Qur'anic account of people resenting the Prophet's distribution of zakah and gifts of camels.
  3. Uses the Ansar's reaction to expose envy, silent dissatisfaction, and misplaced worldly priorities.
  4. Contrasts worldly possessions with the lasting value of faith, companionship with the Prophet, and the Hereafter.
  5. Encourages hope through repentance, al-Hawd, Allah's generosity, and preparation for Ramadan.
  6. Calls the community to gratitude, increased worship, mutual support, patience, and unity.
Try this week
Read and contemplate the Qur'an with the aim of examining yourself, not only noticing others' faults.
Admit dissatisfaction honestly to Allah and ask for forgiveness.
Use Sha'ban to increase worship and seek forgiveness before Ramadan.
Practice greater gratitude every day and stop comparing yourself with others.
Help one another through patience and prayer, while resisting division and community fragmentation.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 9The passage about criticizing the Prophet's distribution of zakah was used to expose envy and dissatisfaction with worldly gifts.
Surah 31Allah's knowledge of even a tiny seed was used to show that He knows hidden dissatisfaction and inner intentions.
Surah 71Its call to seek Allah and give Him His due supported the khutbah's emphasis on hope and repentance.
Surah 108Its promise of al-Kawthar was connected to the Prophet's generosity and hope for believers.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“But more importantly, you will read the book and then look at yourself. And you will know that you are absent.”
Middle Ground · Upland, CA
Play from 6:23
“What would you rather have? Would you rather have a hundred camels or would you rather live in the same place and have the company of the Messenger of Allah?”
Middle Ground · Upland, CA
Play from 18:07
“Don't look at others, even in this dunya. I can never be envious, insha'Allah, bi'idhnillah, I can never be envious of another person, Muslim or not, and most assuredly never ever covetous or jealous of a non-Muslim.”
Middle Ground · Upland, CA
Play from 30:35
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

This khutbah reminds us that the Qur'an should make us look honestly at our own hearts, not only notice other people's faults. The speaker uses the Ansar's reaction to gifts of camels to warn us about envy and dissatisfaction with what Allah gives others. We are encouraged to choose patience, gratitude, repentance, and hope in Allah over despair and comparison. As Ramadan approaches, we should increase worship, ask forgiveness, and help one another with patience and prayer. Our goal is to live as grateful servants of Allah and hope to meet Him and drink from the Prophet's Hawd.

  1. What blessing did you notice today that you usually overlook?
  2. When do you find yourself comparing what you have with what someone else has?
  3. How can our family help one another stay patient and connected to Allah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Middle Ground Muslim Center870 N Mountain Ave, Suite 102, Upland, CA 91786Jumu'ah Khutbah 1:00 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at Middle Ground29 khutbahs
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ICI · Irving, TX · Oct 24, 2026Thank Allah in ease and hardship“Even in moments of difficulty, when it feels like there's nothing going your way, there is always something to be grateful for.”Either we're receiving a blessing, which calls for shukr, or we're going through a hardship, which calls for sabr.13:29Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA · Sep 19, 2026Gratitude and patience carry believers through lifeReal gratitude is not a feeling.16:14London Muslim Mosque · London, ON · Sep 11, 2026Gratitude means using blessings well