Muslims must engage in civic life
“Things are happening and laws are being passed by and our community idly sits by, not even aware of what's going on and what's happening.”
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Establishes Islam’s universal message and concern for justice and governance.
- Uses Hilf al-Fudul to show the Prophet’s commitment to protecting rights.
- Uses Sulh al-Hudaybiyyah to illustrate pragmatic compromise for greater benefit.
- Connects prophetic guidance to laws and civic responsibilities affecting Muslims today.
- Calls listeners to educate themselves, stay aware, and support civic and justice organizations.
In the khateeb's words
“That was the level of how pragmatic our Messenger was, how practical he was, how aware he was that the world is not black and white.”
“Things are happening and laws are being passed by and our community idly sits by, not even aware of what's going on and what's happening.”
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah reminded us that following Islam includes caring for our neighbors and helping make our community more just. The imam shared how the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, joined an alliance to oppose injustice even before becoming a prophet. He also described how the treaty of Hudaybiyyah involved difficult compromises that opened the way for peace and greater good. He encouraged us to stay involved rather than assume our efforts cannot make a difference, and to care about the well-being of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We can begin by learning what is happening around us and supporting people who work to protect others’ rights.
- What could you do when someone at school is treated unfairly or ignored?
- When have you given up something you wanted to help bring about a better outcome?
- What is one thing about our neighborhood you would like us to learn about together?
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