18:59 Reliance, brothers and…26:57 doing the right thing…36:57 Real freedom, brothers…
The Prophets & seerahFrom the masjid's own video, Jun 19, 2026.

The Hijrah teaches trust through hardship

Worcester Islamic Center · Muhammad Xhemali
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In one sentence

The Hijrah teaches Muslims to pursue goodness with planning and trust in Allah, endure hardship, and leave whatever threatens their faith in order to attain true freedom through submission to Allah.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Muharram and the Hijrah are presented as the deliberate foundation of the Islamic calendar.
  2. The Prophet did not write off corrupt Mecca, teaching Muslims to maintain positive influence in society.
  3. Noble goals require planning, reliable companions, guidance, and practical means alongside reliance on Allah.
  4. Hardship may accompany truth and does not prove that a righteous path has failed.
  5. Preserving faith may require leaving hostile environments, sins, harmful friendships, or impermissible wealth.
  6. Ashura, emancipation, and true freedom are connected to liberation from all worship besides Allah.
Try this week
Do not write off corrupt society; seek ways to contribute positively and call people toward guidance.
Plan noble goals carefully, choose good companions and guidance, and use available means while relying on Allah.
Remain firm in avoiding riba, zina, and other prohibited choices even when obedience brings loneliness or poverty.
If necessary to preserve your family's faith, consider moving after exhausting available local opportunities.
Practice Hijrah by abandoning sins, harmful friendships, and impermissible wealth.
Fast Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, as encouraged in the sermon.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:102The command to maintain taqwa and die only in Islam.
Quran 4:1Humanity's shared origin, taqwa, and maintaining kinship ties.
Quran 33:70-71Truthful speech is linked to rectified deeds, forgiveness, and success.
Quran 9:40The cave episode supports trusting Allah after using available means.
Quran 4:97Supports migrating when faith cannot be preserved in a particular environment.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Reliance, brothers and sisters, is saying, the rest is upon Allah.”
Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA
Play from 18:59
“doing the right thing does not mean that hardship is over”
Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA
Play from 26:57
“Real freedom, brothers and sisters, is not just the freedom of the body, it is the freedom that surrenders to Allah.”
Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA
Play from 36:57
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today’s khutbah invited us to learn from the Prophet Muhammad’s migration to Medina, the Hijrah. The Prophet kept calling people toward Allah even in a society with serious wrongs, reminding us not to give up on people. He prepared carefully for the journey and trusted Allah with what happened after taking the means available to him. The khateeb reminded us that doing the right thing can still bring hardship, and that protecting our faith may require leaving something we love. Each of us can practice the meaning of hijrah by leaving what Allah has forbidden, and the khutbah described true freedom as worshiping Allah instead of being ruled by our desires.

  1. How could we show kindness to someone other people have given up on?
  2. What good goal could we prepare for this week while trusting Allah with the outcome?
  3. What everyday habit could we change to make more room for what pleases Allah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Worcester Islamic Center248 East Mountain Street, Worcester, MA 01606KhateebMuhammad XhemaliMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Worcester Islamic Center39 khutbahs
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