The community builds the masjid
“How do I build the community that will contain tomorrow's masjid by building it today?”
A masjid's lasting growth is driven not primarily by buildings or wealthy donors but by a community that invests in shared faith, values, worship, and belonging today.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Frames the recurring question about leaving the basement through the human love of stories.
- Reframes “when are we moving?” as a question about what drives a masjid and community forward.
- Uses Surah al-Tawbah 9:108 to emphasize taqwa rather than buildings, materials, or wealthy donors.
- Points to the Prophet’s example and argues that community-building comes before the finished product.
- Explains Surah al-Tawbah 9:18 and the meaning of ya'muru as sustaining mosques across generations.
- Calls listeners to identify and invest in values that will make tomorrow’s masjid welcoming and enduring.
In the khateeb's words
“Allah highlighted the process before He highlighted the product. Allah highlighted that the community had to be taken care of first.”
“How do I build tomorrow's masjid? How do I build the community that will contain tomorrow's masjid by building it today?”
“The question isn't when are we moving out of the place, the question becomes how do I become part of the driving force?”
For the dinner table
The khutbah begins with a familiar question: when will the growing community move out of its basement? It says the deeper question is not when the building changes, but how each person helps build the community that will sustain tomorrow’s masjid. The Qur’an describes a mosque as founded on taqwa and says those who maintain Allah’s masajid are people of faith, prayer, zakah, and reverence for Allah. The Prophet’s example and the sermon’s discussion of process remind us that people and shared values come before a finished building. We are encouraged to choose the values we want our children to inherit and practice them now by helping create a welcoming community.
- What value would you want our community to pass on to the next generation?
- How can our family help someone feel welcome at the masjid?
- What does building a community look like before the building is finished?
The masjid
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