Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 1, 2026.
Remember Allah to stay spiritually alive
“The likeness of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not, like that of the living and the dead.”
In one sentence
Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is central, not marginal, to Islamic life, as shown by the one message Prophet Ibrahim chose to send to this ummah from the heavens: plant your trees in Paradise through 'subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar.'
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening praise, shahadah, and command to taqwa
- Narrative hook: an astonishing documented meeting between the two greatest figures of the Islamic world
- Reveal: Ibrahim meeting Muhammad during the Isra wal-Mi'raj (Sahih al-Bukhari), at the seventh heaven
- Ibrahim's single message to the ummah: Paradise's plantations are the four phrases of dhikr
- Why the message matters: it comes from our father Ibrahim after death, across the barzakh
- Quranic proofs for the centrality of dhikr and the danger of heedlessness
- Uwais al-Qarni's parable of the soldier who cast off his armor, those who abandon dhikr and sunnah defeat themselves
- Closing exhortation: dhikr costs nothing, can be done anywhere, and shields from shaytan
Try this week
Regularly say subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar to plant trees in Paradise
Keep the tongue moist with dhikr continuously, while walking, driving, or doing anything
Teach friends and relatives the virtue of this remembrance so both of you earn reward
Do not neglect the regular sunnah prayers or delay obligatory acts of worship
Seek Allah's forgiveness as the speaker modeled at the end of the first part
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariThe Isra wal-Mi'raj account in which the Prophet met Ibrahim, who said: convey my greetings to your nation and tell them Paradise's plantations are subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar
Surah 22Ibrahim is our father by the text of the Quran, so his greeting of peace to the ummah carries the weight of a father's concern
Quran 18:28Warning against obeying one whose heart is heedless of Allah's remembrance and follows his desire
Quran 20:124Whoever turns away from Allah's remembrance will have a depressed, constricted life and be raised blind
Quran 33:41-42The command to remember Allah abundantly morning and evening proves dhikr's centrality
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“O Muhammad, convey my greetings to your nation and inform”
“The likeness of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not, like that of the living and the dead.”
“That may your tongue remain moist with the remembrance of Allah.”
“Because you could do it while you are walking, while you are driving, while you are anything you do.”
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