Civic engagementFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 3, 2025.
Build institutions and serve with justice
“We are called to be peacemakers.”
In one sentence
The khutbah argues that Allah's nearness, justice, and guidance obligate Muslims to respond to current crises with wise civic engagement, compassionate service, and institution-building rather than despair.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Opens with Allah's transcendence and nearness, urging trust in the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad.
- Interprets violence, shootings, a government shutdown, and threatened democracy as a moral test requiring justice.
- Calls Muslims to speak wisely, hold leaders accountable, help affected neighbors, and fill social gaps with mercy.
- Recounts African-American Muslim history as a rediscovered inheritance rooted in dignity, resilience, and freedom.
- Urges believers to think big, build institutions, raise excellent families, and offer moral leadership to the world.
- Closes with prayer and community announcements, educational invitations, service opportunities, and a new shahada.
Try this week
Monitor neighbors and local needs, then provide food and other support to people harmed by service or wage disruptions.
Speak up, organize, and hold leaders accountable, using wisdom, justice, and compassion.
Work with right-minded people across religious identities to build unity and solidarity.
Build institutions and raise families of excellence, contributing to education, culture, business, and science.
Attend the announced Islamic Heritage Month programs and community events, including the October 4 and October 11 gatherings.
Support the weekend school, volunteer where possible, and read or distribute the Muslim Journal.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 50:16Grounded Allah's nearness and the believer's reliance on divine guidance.
Quran 5:8Used justice as the required response during conflict and disagreement.
Quran 4:58Framed governance and public leadership as a trust for which people answer.
Quran 17:70Supported universal human dignity beyond race, wealth, or position.
Quran 3:139Supported resilience, moral leadership, and service to humanity.
Quran 3:110Supported resilience, moral leadership, and service to humanity.
Sahih al-BukhariThe shepherd hadith made every leader and individual accountable for their responsibilities.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“we have to understand that the people are the ones who are going to suffer.”
“We are called to be peacemakers. We are called to be truth tellers. We are called to be bridge builders.”
“leadership, when you read this, it's not about power. It's about responsibility.”
“We can still build institutions. We're building institutions. We built institutions. And we can build more institutions.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that Allah is above creation yet close to us, so we should trust His guidance. When violence, injustice, or a government shutdown harms people, faith calls us away from despair and toward wise action. We should help neighbors, speak for justice, hold leaders accountable, and fill community gaps with mercy. The speaker also celebrated African-American Muslim history as a source of dignity, resilience, and a responsibility to build. We are called to think bigger than fear, raise excellent families, strengthen institutions, and serve all humanity.
- What is one way our family could fill a gap for someone in need?
- What does it mean for leadership to be about responsibility instead of power?
- What is one fear you could face with faith this week?
Keep listening
More on Civic engagement
If you don't utilize your vote, you have no power.13:23MIC · Malden, MA · Oct 24, 2026Voting is an amanah for justice
CLIC · Clear Lake, TX · Oct 31, 2026Vote patiently for justice and less harm
The only way to change policies is through elections, through voting.24:31Medical Center Islamic · Houston, TX · Oct 30, 2026Voting helps protect religious freedom