Give responsibility to the able and trustworthy
“Strength means you have the ability to act and perform.”
The khutbah teaches that every responsibility should be entrusted to people who combine relevant competence with trustworthiness, and applies that standard to leadership and Muslim civic participation.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces strength and trustworthiness as Quranic qualifications through Musa, Sulayman’s servant, and Jibril.
- Defines strength as relevant ability, knowledge, and experience rather than physical power, and trustworthiness as avoiding betrayal.
- Explains that strength must be governed by justice and trustworthiness by fear of Allah.
- Uses Abu Dharr and Imam Ahmad’s leadership examples to show that responsibility is a trust, not an honor.
- Applies the principle to elections by urging voting, community participation, and issue-based evaluation while keeping imams neutral.
- Warns about election-related Islamophobia and urges collective engagement while relying on Allah.
In the khateeb's words
“Strength means you have the ability to act and perform And finish the duties that have been thrown at you”
“So we have to make sure That We do engage And vote And participate To make sure That we are part Of this community”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that people should be chosen for responsibilities because they are both capable and trustworthy. Strength means having the knowledge, experience, and ability needed for a particular task, not merely physical power. Trustworthiness means not betraying the responsibility, and both qualities must be guided by justice and fear of Allah. Leadership is a burden and accountability, not a decoration or status symbol, so we should not seek positions we cannot handle. The imam also urged Muslims to participate in civic life, including voting, while keeping imams neutral and letting community institutions handle candidate research and endorsements.
- What responsibility do you have this week, and what knowledge or practice would help you do it well?
- How can justice guide someone who is strong or influential?
- How can our family participate in the community while respecting different political choices?
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