Use politics to serve justice
“The right question that we all need to ask is which kind of politics is the one that we need to get involved in?”
Muslims should engage civic life through prophetic higher politics, cultivating justice, character, spiritual formation, and human welfare, rather than pursuing power, partisan maneuvering, or mere deal-making.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces Zheng He and soft power through scholars, trade, culture, and diplomacy.
- Distinguishes Islamic governance from theocracy and frames it around protecting religious practice and worldly cooperation.
- Uses al-Mawardi to connect human interdependence, representative government, justice, and public welfare.
- Warns that proximity to wealth and political power can expose people to spiritual corruption.
- Defines prophetic politics as tarbiyah, moral formation, and character-building, illustrated through Zayn al-Abidin and al-Farazdaq.
- Applies the framework to Muslim civic participation in Maryland and closes with prayers for the community and those suffering.
In the khateeb's words
“Rather, what we have is ijtihad. We exert ourselves in matters of jurisprudence to live according to two ideals.”
“the only way that it works is if it is a representative government. That loyalty is due to the one who establishes justice and promotes the general welfare of the citizens.”
“What is the prophetic politics of bringing beauty and character to all of your interactions?”
“The right question that we all need to ask is which kind of politics is the one that we need to get involved in?”
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah taught that politics is not only elections, laws, or access to power. The higher, prophetic kind of politics shapes character, protects religious practice, builds just communities, and serves the general welfare. We should participate in civic life thoughtfully, ask whether our involvement uplifts people, and avoid being corrupted by wealth or closeness to rulers. The examples in the khutbah showed that knowledge, service, beauty, and good character can influence people deeply. The khutbah ended by asking Allah to bless our community, our children, and those who are suffering.
- What is one way our family can improve our community without chasing status or power?
- How can good character influence people more than money or authority?
- When can civic involvement help protect faith and serve our neighbors?
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