Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 15, 2025.

Victory begins with waking for Fajr

“Make the dua to Allah while you are certain of the answer.”

The khateeb, at 18:48

In one sentence

Allah’s promised victory begins with believers reforming themselves and their homes through rising before Fajr, trusting Allah’s response, engaging the heart in worship, and persisting in abundant remembrance.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. The khutbah presents Allah as the source of guidance, provision, forgiveness, and hope.
  2. It explains that divine victory is conditional on giving victory to Allah through obedience in oneself, home, and family.
  3. It introduces four practices: timing, conviction, engagement, and abundance.
  4. It applies these practices to waking before Fajr, making dua with certainty, engaging the heart, and persisting in dhikr.
  5. It closes with supplications for guidance, healing, the dead, Gaza and Palestine, and reminders about justice, family care, forgiveness, and prayer.
Try this week
Wake before Fajr and do not miss the prayer.
Adjust work, sleep, and daily habits to support waking before Fajr.
Make dua with certainty that Allah will answer and care for your affairs.
Keep the heart engaged with the words of dua, dhikr, and salah.
Persist in abundant remembrance of Allah instead of giving up when prayers are delayed.
Practice justice, kindness toward family, seeking forgiveness, and maintaining the prescribed prayers.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to teach that Allah calls people to supplicate and seek forgiveness during the last third of the night.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Change your work schedule. Change your sleep schedule. Change your habits. If you want victory.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 18:21
“Make the dua to Allah while you are certain of the answer.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 18:48
“Your heart needs to be engaged with whatever your tongue is saying.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 19:46
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Sheikh Ahmed reminded us that we depend on Allah for guidance, provision, and forgiveness, and encouraged us to keep asking Him for help. He connected the community’s hopes for victory with obeying Allah and following His messenger, beginning with ourselves and our homes. He offered four practices: waking before Fajr and protecting the prayer, making dua with conviction, engaging our hearts, and remembering Allah often. He urged us to keep praying and remembering Allah even when what we hope for has not yet arrived. He closed by reminding us to be fair and just, care for our family members, and seek Allah’s forgiveness.

  1. What small change could help our family prepare for Fajr?
  2. What helps you mean the words you say when you make dua?
  3. How could we encourage each other to remember Allah throughout the day?