True freedom means serving Allah
“Although we see no chains on our hands and legs, we still have chains in our hearts and souls that we think we're free.”
True freedom is not the license to do whatever one desires, but perfect servitude to Allah, and Muslims must free themselves from the internal tyrants of society, Satan, and their own desires.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Opening reflection on July 4th weekend: Americans celebrate freedom while Muslims must remember the oppressed and recognize that external liberty can hide chains on the heart.
- Redefining freedom: doing whatever one wants is a beautified trap; only servitude to Allah liberates the heart from every other master.
- The Sahaba's declaration to Rustum contrasted with American independence: they moved from servitude to creation to servitude to the Creator.
- Islamic definition of dhulm: putting anything where it does not belong, time, money, love, or obedience, so every sin is a form of self-oppression.
- First oppressor: society, which pushes people toward sin through majority pressure and small, incremental steps.
- Second oppressor: Satan, who whispers and deceives but has no power to force anyone.
- Third oppressor: the nafs, whose desires command evil, open the door to habitual sin, and can become one's lord; the khutbah closes by calling listeners to identify and remove one personal tyrant this week.
In the khateeb's words
“Although we see no chains on our hands and legs, we still have chains in our hearts and souls that we think we're free.”
“The heart not enslaved to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is enslaved to something else. Wealth, status, image, a person, a craving, and that's a misery.”
“Find a tyrant that's in your life. What is it? Is it your anger? Is it your constant spending? Is it the time on your phone?”
For the dinner table
The khutbah asked us to think carefully about what freedom really means. Being able to do whatever we want can still leave us chained to wealth, status, society, shaitan, or our own desires; true freedom is serving Allah alone. The khateeb explained that dhulam includes putting time, money, love, health, or other blessings where they do not belong, so everyday choices can become oppression of ourselves. He encouraged us to identify one personal “tyrant”, such as anger, overspending, phone time, or harmful social media, and declare independence from it for one week. We should also remember oppressed people around the world, make dua for them, and support them in ways we can.
- What is one thing that can quietly control us, and how could we put it back in its proper place?
- What would serving Allah look like in one choice you make this week?
- How can our family remember and help people who are suffering around the world?
More on Prayer & worship
The remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is something very powerful.9:18ISCN · Corona, CA · Oct 24, 2026Knowing Allah makes worship joyful
Ali Khan Center · Suitland, MD · Oct 10, 2026Give the weekly prayer your full attention“Don't just time it so you get maybe five-minute kutbah and a five-minute salat, and you're out in 10 minutes.”
Don't set your floor at your peak time, like in Ramadan.19:52Al-Noor · Santa Clara, CA · Oct 24, 2026Build a sustainable spiritual floor