Hijrah means leaving sin for Allah
“My migration is going to start today.”
Hijrah is not merely a historical relocation but a lifelong spiritual migration in which a believer leaves every sin, harmful attachment, and disobedience for the sake of Allah.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- The Islamic calendar begins with the Hijrah because it marks a shaping event, not the death of an individual
- The Prophet defined the true migrant as one who forsakes what Allah forbade, so spiritual migration continues today
- The story of an old, blind man who died just outside Medina shows that Allah Himself takes charge of the reward of one who migrates for Him
- Leaving sin is hard because people are attached to old friends, places, and temporary pleasures, but that detachment is the essence of migration
- The story of a Hajj pilgrim who gave up his hookah and died in sujood illustrates that actions are judged by their endings
- The khateeb calls the congregation to write down one thing they know displeases Allah and begin their migration today
In the khateeb's words
“a true migrant is a person who forsakes what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has forbidden upon him or her”
“if you decide one day to wake up in the morning and to quit smoking for Allah you are a migrant you are a muhajir wallahi you are a muhajir”
“write something that you know for sure of yourself don't ask anybody you know that this displeases Allah today I'm changing it I'm leaving it my migration is going to start today”
For the dinner table
The khateeb taught that hijrah is not just a journey from one city to another; it is a lifelong choice to leave what Allah dislikes in order to come closer to Him. He reminded us that the Prophet said the true migrant is someone who gives up what Allah has forbidden. He told the story of an old man who died almost reaching Medina and of a Hajj pilgrim who quit his hookah and died in sujood, showing that Allah rewards sincerity and that our end matters most. The speaker asked everyone to go home, think privately, and write down one thing they will stop doing for Allah. In our family, we can ask Allah to help each of us leave one small or big thing that pulls us away from Him.
- Why do you think the old man who died near Medina got such a big reward?
- If you could start one small migration today, what would it be?
More on Repentance & taqwa
First, practice humility by accepting correction.28:46Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Oct 31, 2026Arrogance hardens the heart against guidance
I want to be quick to apologize.29:24Lighthouse · Temescal · North Oakland, CA · Oct 17, 2026Move steadily in life, rush to forgiveness