16:37 when we hear something…34:52 If we hold on to the…
Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 2, 2026.

Muslims should honor their own holidays

ICA East Orange

“If we hold on to the Quran, we would be together and united.”

The khateeb, at 34:52

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In one sentence

Muslims should preserve their religious identity by grounding their holidays, beliefs, and communal unity in the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah rather than adopting non-Muslim festivals or compromising their guidance.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Explains the Islamic stance toward reports from Jews and Christians: neither blanket acceptance nor rejection, while affirming original revelation.
  2. Establishes that Muslims have divinely guided holidays, including Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Jumu'ah, Arafah, and the days of Tashriq.
  3. Contrasts these holidays with pre-Islamic and other holiday practices, warning against celebrating non-Muslim holidays.
  4. Connects religious honor and communal unity to holding fast to the Qur'an and Sunnah.
  5. Urges learning, understanding, practicing, teaching, and sharing Qur'anic guidance while resisting compromise.
  6. Closes with repentance, supplication, and instructions to straighten the rows for prayer.
Try this week
Learn, understand, believe in, and practice the Qur'an.
Teach other Muslims and call people to Allah through Qur'anic guidance.
Hold to the Qur'an and Sunnah and avoid celebrating non-Muslim holidays.
Seek Allah's forgiveness and remain united upon Islamic guidance.
Treat Jumu'ah and the prescribed Eids as Muslim occasions of worship and joy.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to teach neither affirming nor denying unverified reports from the People of the Book.
Sahih al-BukhariIdentifies Jumu'ah as the guided Muslim weekly holiday after earlier communities differed over it.
Sunan an-Nasa'iUsed to establish Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as Muslim festivals replacing earlier celebrations.
Jami` at-TirmidhiNames Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of Tashriq as Muslim holidays.
Sahih al-BukhariThe statement that religion is easy is used to reject compromising Islamic guidance as necessary ease.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“when we hear something about the religion from the Jews and the Christians, we don't deny it, because it might be the truth. And we don't believe in it, because it might be falsehood.”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 16:37
“If we hold on to the Quran We would be together and united”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 34:52
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that Islam gives Muslims a clear religious identity and its own sacred celebrations. He explained that Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Jumu'ah, Arafah, and the days of Tashriq are honored through Qur'an and Sunnah. He encouraged us to learn, understand, practice, and teach the Qur'an so that our families and communities stay united. The message was also a call to seek forgiveness, resist pressure to compromise our faith, and make worship a source of dignity and joy.

  1. Which Muslim holidays do we celebrate, and what makes them special to our family?
  2. How can we learn and practice one Qur'anic teaching together this week?
  3. What could we do to make Friday feel like a joyful day of worship and community?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of America215 N Oraton Pkwy, East Orange, NJ 07017ArchiveAll khutbahs at ICA East Orange54 khutbahs
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