Human worth is more than status
“We have learned to measure people by what they have instead of who they are.”
Allah's lesson in Surah al-Abasa is that human dignity and belonging must not be measured by status, usefulness, or visibility, so Muslims should notice, include, and honor those society overlooks.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum and a story about day laborers seeking work in the rain.
- Explains Surah al-Abasa as a divine correction of status-based attention and classism.
- Expands the lesson to spiritual blindness, unseen harm, and the dignity of marginalized people.
- Uses Abdullah's participation in congregational prayer and role as a mu'adhdhin to affirm communal belonging.
- Calls listeners to read and reflect on the Quran, greet people after prayer, and examine whom they ignore.
- Concludes with a supplication for humble, welcoming communities and a prayer.
In the khateeb's words
“what classism is rooted in is the notion that those things determine somebody's worth and that their being a human is not enough to determine their worth”
“you don't know if the person that is working in finance or the person who sleeps outside of the building that that guy works in is close in proximity to the divine you just don't know”
“we have learned to measure people by what they have instead of who they are”
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah teaches that every person has dignity, regardless of wealth, disability, education, job, or social status. The imam used the story of Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum to show that spiritual insight may belong to people whom society overlooks. He reminded us that harm and exclusion can exist even when others fail to notice them. We should train our hearts to recognize people, welcome them, and listen humbly when corrected. Simple actions like greeting someone after prayer and reflecting on whom we ignore can help build a more compassionate community.
- Who is someone people often overlook, and how could we make them feel seen?
- What does it mean to value someone for who they are rather than what they have?
- How can we practice welcoming someone at the masjid or in our neighborhood this week?
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