6:40 next year's Ramadan is…8:15 we have been given a…15:08 we need to be able to…
Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, Jun 6, 2026.

Use Dhul-Hijjah’s first ten days well

ICCI

“We have been given a gift and a blessing.”

The khateeb, at 8:15

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah urges listeners to treat the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah as a merciful opportunity for worship, gratitude, repentance, and compassionate support before an uncertain future.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Introduces the special virtue of righteous deeds during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
  2. Reflects on Ramadan regrets and warns that another Ramadan or Friday prayer is not guaranteed.
  3. Calls listeners to fast, give charity, make dhikr, seek forgiveness, and appreciate their opportunities.
  4. Uses a recent San Diego tragedy to emphasize mortality, vulnerability, and distorted portrayals of Muslims.
  5. Challenges Muslims to stop judging struggling believers and instead offer practical support.
  6. Uses Umar ibn al-Khattab and the speaker’s conversion story to illustrate Allah’s power to guide people.
  7. Closes with gratitude for freedom, access to the masjid, communal prayer, and preparation for death.
Try this week
Fast during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Give charity during these ten days.
Increase dhikr and seek forgiveness.
Remain steadfast after leaving the khutbah.
Avoid judging Muslims who are struggling; ask what help they need.
Support and welcome people returning to Islam or seeking guidance.
Recognize and give thanks for freedom, the masjid, and communal prayer.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“next year's Ramadan is not guaranteed for any one of us it's not guaranteed that we're gonna make it to next week's Jum'ah”
ICCI · Dunning, IL
Play from 6:40
“we have been given a gift and a blessing and we need to take advantage of that and appreciate that be grateful for that”
ICCI · Dunning, IL
Play from 8:15
“we need to be able to look at our brothers and treat them like our brothers regardless of their flaws”
ICCI · Dunning, IL
Play from 15:08
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah reminds us that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are a special mercy and another chance to draw close to Allah. We should not wait for next Ramadan, because none of us is promised tomorrow; instead, we can fast, give charity, make dhikr, pray, and seek forgiveness now. The speaker also asks us to respond to Islamophobia and tragedy by looking honestly at our own behavior and refusing to judge Muslims who are struggling. Like Umar ibn al-Khattab and the speaker himself, people can be guided from difficult pasts into strong faith, so we should offer support and hope. We should be grateful for freedom, the masjid, and the chance to worship together while preparing for the day Allah calls us back.

  1. What is one good deed you can do during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah?
  2. How can we help someone who feels far from the masjid instead of judging them?
  3. What blessing do you notice today that you might usually take for granted?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Community Center of Illinois6435 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634Jumu'ah 1st prayer 12:15 PM · 2nd prayer 1:30 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at ICCI7 khutbahs
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