Love of Allah means following the Messenger
“The test of that claim is, are you doing it following the messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?”
True love of Allah and sincerity in worship are proven by following the Messenger's teachings, even when obedience is inconvenient, rather than adopting standardized practices for convenience or social approval.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Uses Qur'an 3:31 to define love of Allah as following the Messenger.
- Argues that sincere claims must be tested by actual practice.
- Warns, through a hadith, against imitating previous communities step by step.
- Uses grooming and qibla examples to emphasize distinct Islamic practice.
- Critiques the convenience and uniformity of the 'McDonaldization' of Islam.
- Applies the critique to Ramadan timing, calculations, and zakat usage.
- Closes by urging sincerity, learning individual obligations, and worshipping for Allah.
In the khateeb's words
“Allah's love is conditional. We don't have the belief of these other people that, well, Allah loves everybody because He created us.”
“The test of that claim is, are you doing it following the messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam? Or are you doing something opposite of that?”
“What you do with that is individual, that's on you. But on the Day of Judgment, you can't say, "Well, nobody told me this."”
For the dinner table
The khateeb taught that saying we love Allah is not enough; our love must appear in following the Messenger. He warned that convenience and uniformity can gradually pull Muslims away from distinct Islamic practice. He encouraged listeners to examine communal habits, especially Ramadan timing and the use of zakat, against revelation. He also urged everyone to learn their individual religious obligations. The goal is to worship Allah sincerely, not to gain people's approval.
- What is one good action you do because Allah asks you to, even when it is inconvenient?
- How can we notice when convenience is changing the way we practice Islam?
- What Islamic responsibility would you like to learn more about?
More on Prayer & worship
The remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is something very powerful.9:18ISCN · Corona, CA · Oct 24, 2026Knowing Allah makes worship joyful
Ali Khan Center · Suitland, MD · Oct 10, 2026Give the weekly prayer your full attention“Don't just time it so you get maybe five-minute kutbah and a five-minute salat, and you're out in 10 minutes.”
Don't set your floor at your peak time, like in Ramadan.19:52Al-Noor · Santa Clara, CA · Oct 24, 2026Build a sustainable spiritual floor