Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Taqwa clears confusion and stops blame

“Don't ever say, if I had done this, this would have happened.”

The khateeb, at 24:19

In one sentence

Shaytan can blur perception and prompt sin or blame but cannot alter Allah's destiny, so believers should regain clarity through taqwa, repentance, forgiveness, gratitude, and rejecting counterfactual blame.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Reminds listeners to evaluate present deeds as preparation for the Hereafter.
  2. Explains that taqwa helps believers recognize Shaytan's whispers and regain clarity.
  3. Uses Adam's story to teach obedience, repentance, and acceptance without complaining.
  4. Uses Yusuf's story to show that Shaytan cannot redirect Allah's destiny; forgiveness and gratitude are proper responses.
  5. Uses Musa's journey in Surah al-Kahf to distinguish forgetfulness from responsibility.
  6. Applies the lesson to rejecting 'if I had...' and blaming others, urging apology, repair, and trust in Allah's decree.
Try this week
Evaluate your deeds as preparation for the Hereafter.
Strengthen taqwa and remember Allah when confusion or temptation appears.
When you sin, seek forgiveness and make tawbah.
Forgive others, express gratitude, and avoid complaining about Allah's decree.
Avoid blaming others or saying 'if I had'; apologize and repair harm when you catch yourself doing so.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 7Explains that people with taqwa remember Allah after Shaytan's influence and regain clarity.
Surah 2Uses Adam's story to frame humanity's placement on earth as Allah's prior divine will.
Surah 12Shows Shaytan sowing discord while Yusuf's destiny unfolds favorably, leading to forgiveness and gratitude.
Surah 18Uses Musa's journey to distinguish Shaytan-caused forgetfulness from an altered destiny.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The clarity is that when Allah commands something, I obey. Whatever the reason, whatever anything is around that situation, my only job as a slave is to obey, and that's it.”
Daar-ul-Ehsaan · Bristol, CT
Play from 10:16
“with Adam, seeking forgiveness, and Tawbah, with Yusuf, forgiving his brothers, being grateful to Allah, and not complaining about destiny.”
Daar-ul-Ehsaan · Bristol, CT
Play from 23:41
“don't ever say, if I had done this, this would have happened. Because that if, opens the door for the shaitan.”
Daar-ul-Ehsaan · Bristol, CT
Play from 24:19
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today's khutbah reminded us that Shaytan can cloud our judgment, but he cannot control Allah's destiny. When we recognize that we have sinned, we should turn to Allah with repentance instead of complaining. Like Yusuf, we should forgive, be grateful, and trust that Allah's wisdom is greater than what we can see. We should also avoid blaming people or replaying every setback with 'if I had.' When we make a mistake, we can apologize, repair what we can, and move forward with clarity.

  1. When have you felt confused or upset and later regained clarity?
  2. What is one way we can practice gratitude after something difficult?
  3. How can we replace blaming words with an apology or a helpful action?