Seek sound knowledge and honor its teachers
“The more humble you are, the more lower you are, the more knowledge you're able to receive and benefit from your teachers.”
The khutbah argues that seeking, respecting, practicing, and supporting sound Islamic knowledge and its scholars is a religious responsibility.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Establishes the elevated status of knowledge and scholars through examples of devoted classical scholars.
- Contrasts knowledge with voluntary worship and describes rewards for scholars and teachers.
- Explains communal duties toward elders, youth, teachers, and scholars, emphasizing humility.
- Warns against neglecting scholars and accepting religious guidance from uncredentialed social-media voices.
- Urges learning obligatory knowledge, attending mosque classes, strengthening mosque education, and supporting teachers and students.
- Closes with prayers for beneficial knowledge, scholars, the oppressed in Gaza, and the protection of the Muslim community.
In the khateeb's words
“if Muhammad ibn al-Hasan sleeps then who will be there for the people?”
“And the more humble you are, The more lower you are, The more knowledge you're able to receive and benefit from your teachers.”
“we need to be very careful that our online sources of knowledge are coming coming from credible people”
For the dinner table
The khateeb reminded us that beneficial knowledge is a great gift and that learning what we need for worship and daily life is our responsibility. He encouraged us to attend gatherings of knowledge, respect scholars and elders, show kindness to young people, and approach teachers with humility. Because social media can amplify unqualified voices, we should check who taught the people we learn from online. Mosques should be centers of learning, and communities should support teachers, students, and Islamic education. The khutbah closed with prayers for sincere knowledge, protection for the Muslim community, and relief for oppressed people in Gaza.
- What is one useful thing you could learn this week, and who could teach you?
- How can you tell whether an online Islamic source is trustworthy?
- How could our family help make the mosque a place of learning?
More on Seeking knowledge
IMAN Center · Kirkland, WA · Sep 19, 2026Knowledge matters only when it changes us“Sometimes the problem is knowledge without action.”
Daar-Ul-Islam · Ballwin, MO · Oct 3, 2026The first revelation calls us to learn and serve“Before any type of great transformation occurs outwardly, there must be deep reflection inwardly.”
CCIL-KBW · Laval, QC · Sep 26, 2026Protect your heart from information overload“Faire confiance à Allah ne signifie pas rester sans rien faire.”