Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 22, 2026.

Prepare for Eid through sacrifice

“The least we can do is sacrifice with our time and effort.”

The khateeb, at 16:34

In one sentence

The special days of Dhul-Hijjah, especially Arafah, should be used for simple acts of worship and sacrifices of time, effort, and ego in preparation for a spiritually meaningful Eid.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Explains the special status of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and especially the Day of Arafah.
  2. Describes the virtues of fasting Arafah and making abundant du'a.
  3. Recommends practical worship including dhikr, qiyam, fasting, the Arafah declaration, and reading Surah Al-Kahf.
  4. Connects these practices to Ibrahim's tests and sacrifices during the Hajj season.
  5. Calls listeners to make Eid a celebration of spiritual sacrifice, not merely food and animal sacrifice.
Try this week
Fast on the Day of Arafah.
Consider fasting the seventh, eighth, and ninth days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Increase dhikr, including tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, and takbir.
Perform extra qiyam and make abundant du'a, especially on Arafah.
Recite the recommended declaration of tawhid on Arafah, aiming for repeated recitation.
Read Surah Al-Kahf and sacrifice time, effort, and ego for worship.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 18Recommended as a beneficial act during these days.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“So this is an easy sunnah fast. That you do. To make up for all the mistakes that they have made in the past year.”
ICBCS · College Station, TX
Play from 11:35
“All of these are directly correlated to the season of Hajj and these ten days. And Alhamdulillah, Allah Azawajal does not test us in those ways.”
ICBCS · College Station, TX
Play from 16:25
“But the least we can do is sacrifice with our time and effort and may Allah give us the tawfiq to do so.”
ICBCS · College Station, TX
Play from 16:34
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are special, especially the Day of Arafah. He encouraged fasting Arafah, making du'a, increasing dhikr and qiyam, and reading Surah Al-Kahf. He connected these simple acts with the much greater sacrifices of Ibrahim, who gave up comfort and followed Allah's command. Before Eid, we can sacrifice some time, effort, and selfishness so Eid celebrates spiritual growth, not only food or an animal sacrifice.

  1. What is one small act of worship you could do on the Day of Arafah?
  2. What could you give up, time, comfort, or selfishness, to prepare your heart for Eid?
  3. What would make our Eid celebration meaningful beyond food and the animal sacrifice?