Youth & educationFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 25, 2026.
Honor comes from Islam, not people's approval
“Let us be Muslims that do not apologize for being Muslims.”
In one sentence
True honor comes from Allah and pride in Islam, so Muslims in the West must stop feeling inferior or ashamed of their identity, seek Allah's pleasure rather than people's approval, and raise their children firmly on the deen.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening taqwa formula and self-questioning: who are we truly, proud Muslims or those who hide their Islam?
- Diagnosis: many Muslims suffer a sense of defeat and inferiority, apologizing for their faith and imitating others
- Honor ('izza) is only from iman, not wealth, fame, or imitation, Umar ibn al-Khattab's saying that Allah honored this nation with Islam
- Islam began as strange and will return strange; ghurbah is a badge of honor, not shame
- The real danger is not living among non-Muslims but iman becoming strange in our own hearts and fearing people more than Allah
- Seek Allah's pleasure at people's expense, not the reverse, the divine principle that Allah then makes people pleased with you
- Second khutbah: raising the youth, instill sweetness of iman, keep them in the masjid, beware of trends, music, and prioritizing sports over religion
- Closing: be unapologetic Muslims, role models in character, law-abiding, and dua for the children and the ummah
Try this week
Do not be ashamed to show your Islamic identity, prayers, Eid, fasting, openly while respecting the law of the land
Bring your children to the masjid and keep them connected to it, rather than prioritizing sports and entertainment
Instill the sweetness of iman in children's hearts, not just the five pillars as rote teaching
Fulfill your covenants, do your work with excellence, and be good neighbors and productive citizens
Seek Allah's pleasure even at the cost of people's displeasure, and never compromise the deen to fit in
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:102Standard opening: fear Allah as He deserves to be feared and die only as Muslims
Quran 3:139'Do not falter or grieve, you will have the upper hand if you are believers', used to counter Muslim feelings of inferiority
Sahih Muslim'Islam began strange and will return strange; glad tidings to the strangers', ghurbah reframed as honor, not shame
Surah 5'Do not fear the people, rather fear Me', arguing fear of people must not exceed fear of Allah
Jami` at-Tirmidhi'Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure at people's expense, Allah is pleased with him and makes people pleased; whoever seeks people's pleasure at Allah's expense, Allah is displeased and makes people displeased', the divine principle against compromising faith for approval
Quran 39:36'Is Allah not sufficient for His servant?', if Allah suffices us, no one else remains to fear
Quran 13:11'Allah does not change a people's condition until they change what is in themselves', closing call to self-reform
Jami` at-TirmidhiA time will come when holding firmly to one's deen is like holding a hot coal, validating how hard steadfastness feels today
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“the real danger is that when iman, when faith, when our belief system becomes strange in our own hearts”
“but rather it requires of us to be influencers rather than being influenced”
“as if we are throwing them in the water but we tell them don't get wet”
“let us be Muslims that do not apologize for being Muslims”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us that Islam is not a source of embarrassment but a gift of honor from Allah. The speaker encouraged us to be proud of who we are, to avoid blindly copying trends just to fit in, and to be people who influence others toward goodness instead of being pulled along by the crowd. He also warned that the real danger is not living among people who differ from us, but letting faith become weak in our own hearts. For parents especially, he said our job is not just to teach children the rules, but to help them taste the sweetness of iman by keeping them connected to the masjid and to good company.
- When is a time you felt proud to be Muslim?
- What is one popular trend you see at school that doesn't match our values?
- What is one thing we can do as a family to feel closer to the masjid?
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