Time is a trust we must use wisely
“Every day is really a new lifetime.”
The new Hijri year should remind believers to treat time as a divine trust by spending it in gratitude, truth, righteousness, compassion, and preparation for accountability.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Introduces Muharram and the Hijri lunar calendar as an occasion to reflect on time.
- Explains time’s value through Quranic reminders, daily renewal, death, and accountability.
- Warns that health and free time are neglected blessings requiring remembrance and gratitude.
- Connects wise time use with opposing injustice, studying history, and seeking truth.
- Calls listeners to plan, review, and discipline their time before concluding with supplication.
In the khateeb's words
“every day is really a new lifetime every day we are blessed with a new opportunity to take advantage of the blessing of life”
“anything we lose in life we hope to retrieve it and we can oftentimes retrieve many things we can retrieve money we can retrieve opportunities items but time once it's gone there's no getting it back”
“let's resolve to make the best of our time let's keep track of how we're using our time with a planner”
For the dinner table
Imam John Ederer used the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar year, to remind us that time is a gift from Allah and a trust we will answer for. Each morning gives us a fresh chance to live with gratitude, remember Allah, and choose what benefits ourselves and others. He warned that health and free time are blessings people often neglect, and urged us to plan our days and review how we spend them. He also called listeners to seek truth, learn from history, stand for justice, and support people facing hardship. The goal is to reach the end of life prepared, with our time spent in worship, compassion, and meaningful service.
- What is one good use of your free time this week?
- How could a planner help you make room for prayer, school, family, or helping someone?
- What is one truth or lesson from history you want to understand better?
More on the Islamic calendar
7:52Dar Alnoor · Manassas, VA · Jul 11, 2026Use summer to grow closer to Allah“This opportunity can make me a great Muslim, a great human being, or it can make me a very bad person, depending on how we use the summer.”
Never miss a salah during this free time.16:04Muslim Neighbour Nexus · Mississauga, ON · Jul 25, 2026Use summer time for what matters
EPIC · Plano, TX · Jul 3, 2026Honor Muharram through fasting and justice“We cannot even enter into Jannah if I have violated someone else's rights.”