Raise children through attentive family care
“Paying attention is part of what Islam teaches us.”
The khutbah teaches that Allah-given responsibility requires attentive family care and that believers should use their finite lives to purify themselves and continually do good.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Uses Yusuf’s conversation with Ya‘qub to emphasize attentive parenting and accountability.
- Urges parents to put away devices, listen closely, and maintain regular conversations with children.
- Counsels families to choose spouses based on deen and their ability to support Muslim upbringing.
- Encourages teaching adab, akhlaaq, prayer, and digital responsibility through intentional family conversations.
- Calls believers to seize life and the sacred month of Dhul Qa‘dah as opportunities for good deeds.
- Defines exemplary believers as pure-hearted, truthful, free from envy, and unwilling to oppress others.
- Closes with prayers for families, oppressed Muslims, and the wider community, followed by masjid announcements.
In the khateeb's words
“That's not how you raise children. That's not according to the Quran. Paying attention is part of what Islam teaches us.”
“Choose a person who will pay attention to the child when they're with them. Choose a person that has the depth in the mind in what it means to be raised as a Muslim in the West.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that children are an amanah, or trust, and need our attention, listening, and guidance. It urged young people and parents to choose spouses by deen and character, not only by money, beauty, career, or culture. Families should teach prayer, good manners, and responsibility in both physical and digital spaces. The Arabic portion reminded us that life and the sacred month of Dhul Qa‘dah are opportunities to do good without delay. We should purify our hearts, guard our tongues, avoid injustice, and pray for suffering Muslims around the world.
- What helps you feel truly listened to by someone in our family?
- What does good character look like when using a phone or social media?
- What good thing could we start doing today instead of postponing it?
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