Ihsan transforms worship and daily life
“One third of Islam is missing from our life, and that is Iqsan.”
The khutbah teaches that sincere Islamic practice requires ihsan, awareness that Allah sees us, which should purify the heart, humble the ego, shape daily conduct, and lead to repentance.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Defines iman, Islam, and ihsan, presenting ihsan as the missing spiritual connection.
- Explains ihsan as loving Allah’s attributes and living with awareness that Allah is always watching.
- Applies ihsan to worship, work, business, marriage, parenting, speech, patience, and private good deeds.
- Offers five practices: renew intentions, slow worship, maintain secret worship, remember Allah in relationships, and review the day nightly.
- Uses Surah al-Hujurat to warn against speaking ahead of Allah and His Messenger or weaponizing religion.
- Connects humility, apology, and correcting past harm with purification of the heart and readiness for taqwa.
- Calls listeners to seek maghfirah, recognizing that sins affect individuals and wider society, and closes with supplication.
In the khateeb's words
“One third of Islam is missing from our life, and that is Iqsan.”
“So iqsaan is twofold. One is loving Allah because of His attributes. And one is changing our character in light of that.”
“Number one, let us pause before every action And refresh the niyyah It's for Allah Number two, slow down the act of worship”
“Deen wasn't revealed for us to use it as a weapon to make everyone comply with what I feel”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that faith is not only beliefs and outward practices; it also needs ihsan, the awareness that Allah sees us and the desire to please Him. That awareness should shape our worship, work, honesty, family life, speech, and treatment of people when no one else is watching. We are warned not to speak for Allah without knowledge or use religion as a weapon to control others. When we humble ourselves, admit harm, apologize, and seek Allah’s forgiveness, our hearts are purified by His mercy. We can begin by renewing our intention, slowing down one act of worship, keeping one good deed private, and reviewing our day before sleep.
- What is one thing you do differently when you remember Allah is watching?
- What good deed could our family keep between ourselves and Allah?
- What does a sincere apology look like when we have hurt someone?
More on Repentance & taqwa
First, practice humility by accepting correction.28:46Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Oct 31, 2026Arrogance hardens the heart against guidance
2:40Islamic Association of · Flower Mound, TX · Oct 24, 2026Repentance begins a life of self-discipline“Whilst you are alive, whilst you are reading, whilst you are even sitting in the masjid now, you can do Tawba with Allah.”
I want to be quick to apologize.29:24Lighthouse · Temescal · North Oakland, CA · Oct 17, 2026Move steadily in life, rush to forgiveness