Taqwa must shape every part of life
“When I speak, people should benefit from my speech.”
A believer should seek Allah’s help to speak beneficially, practice deepening taqwa, pursue excellence and divine pleasure, and remain steadfast on the path of the Ahlul Bayt until death.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Continues Dua Makarimul Akhlaq by explaining the request to speak with guidance.
- Distinguishes recognizing right and wrong from actually practicing taqwa.
- Explores levels of taqwa, divine tawfiq, and striving for purity and excellence in every area of life.
- Explains that Allah’s pleasure is greater than Paradise and asks for lifelong guidance on the best path.
- Presents the Ahlul Bayt and Fatima al-Zahra as criteria for testing genuine guidance and taqwa.
In the khateeb's words
“When I speak people should benefit from my speech Not just enjoy Not just stories Not just about politics Even if you talk about any topic Even the story Even the politics It should benefit someone who is listening”
“Many people know what is right and what is wrong But still they go towards the wrong They do not do the things that are right”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah finished a short paragraph from Imam Zainul Abidin's (a) Dua Makarimul Akhlaq. The paragraph is like a ladder of requests, and each step asks for more than the one before. First we ask Allah to help us speak words that guide and benefit others, and not just chatter. Then we ask for taqwa, the strength to actually practise the good we already know, and then for the ability to do our very best in everything, from prayer to school to work. After that we ask Allah to use our whole selves in what pleases Him most, because Allah's pleasure is even greater than Paradise, and to keep us on that best path until the end of our lives. The khateeb reminded us that none of this happens by our own power alone, so we should thank Allah instead of feeling proud. He also said that the Ahlul Bayt, and especially Sayyida Fatima (s), are the measure we can use to check whether we are truly on the right path.
- Can you remember something you said this week that really helped someone?
- What is one good thing you already know you should do but find hard to actually do?
- What is something you did well recently that you can thank Allah for instead of feeling proud?
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