Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 16, 2026.
The first ten days call us to submit
“Being Muslims means we are submitting to Allah.”
In one sentence
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most beloved days of the year because they call the believer to the essence of Hajj and of Islam itself: complete submission to Allah on His terms, as modeled by the family of Ibrahim.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening: the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin, the days Allah swore by in 'Wal fajr wa layali al-ashr'
- Hadith that good deeds in these days are more beloved to Allah than in any others, even above jihad except the martyr who gives everything
- Hajj as the fifth pillar being fulfilled, and its single theme: submission ('Labbayk Allahumma labbayk', not partial belief)
- The family of Ibrahim: Hajar left in the desert, her sa'i between the two mountains commemorated forever
- Ibrahim's dream commanding the sacrifice of Ismail, and the son's submissive reply from Surat as-Saffat
- The sacrifice on the 10th day: Allah wants taqwa, not flesh or blood, rituals are not mechanical
- Meanings of Tawaf (life revolving around Allah's pleasure) and the Jamarat (declaring Shaytan your enemy)
- Life is tests and trials (Surah al-Anbiya, al-Ankabut); closing call to relive the story, fast Arafah, and excel in worship
Try this week
Fast as much as possible during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, especially the day of Arafah
Go back with your family starting today and study/relive the story of Ibrahim, Ismail, and Hajar
Do not reduce worship to mechanical acts to accumulate deeds; pursue the meanings of submission and reliance on Allah
Excel in reading Quran, prayer, dua, and coming to the masjid during these days
Declare Shaytan as your sole enemy and treat life's tests as trials from Allah, saying 'Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un' at calamity
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 89:1-2'Wal fajr wa layali al-ashr', Allah's oath used to establish the greatness of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
Sahih al-Bukhari'There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days', even above jihad except a man who gives his wealth and life
Quran 22:27-28Ibrahim's call to pilgrimage, people come from every corner, showing Hajj as global submission
Quran 22:78'Millata abikum Ibrahim', Ibrahim named you Muslims; being Muslim means submitting to Allah
Surah 37Ibrahim gently informing his son of the dream-command to sacrifice him; clarifies the son was not being given an option
Quran 22:37'Lan yanalallaha luhumuha wa la dimauha walakin yanaluhut-taqwa minkum', sacrifice is about taqwa, not blood or flesh
Quran 6:162'Qul inna salati wa nusuki wamahyaya wa mamati lillahi rabbil alameen', the meaning demonstrated by Tawaf
Quran 35:6'Inna shaytana lakum aduww fattakhidhuhu aduwwa', basis for the Jamarat stoning and declaring Shaytan the enemy
Quran 21:35Every soul tastes death; people are tested with hardship and ease to filter the truthful from the liars
Quran 29:2-3Every soul tastes death; people are tested with hardship and ease to filter the truthful from the liars
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Oh Allah, we are here to worship you on your terms, not on our terms”
“Being Muslims means we are submitting to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala”
“Relive the story of Ibrahim and Ismail and Hajar alayhi wasalam.”
“because it wipes out the sins of the past year and the next year.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the most special days of the year, when good deeds are especially beloved to Allah. The khutbah taught that Hajj, the story of Ibrahim, Hajar, and Ismail, and the sacrifice all point to one central meaning: submission to Allah. Submission means trusting Allah completely while still making sincere effort, as Hajar did when she searched for water. It also means making Allah the center of our lives, resisting Shaytan, and accepting that both ease and hardship are tests. Even if we are not going for Hajj, we can live these meanings at home through prayer, Qur’an, fasting, charity, family learning, and sincere worship.
- Which part of the story of Ibrahim, Hajar, or Ismail teaches you the most about trusting Allah?
- What is one good deed you would like to increase during these ten days?
- How can we remember Allah and stay patient when something difficult happens?
Keep listening
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