Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Mar 20, 2026.
True prayer shapes a believer’s character
“People have to be safe around you.”
In one sentence
True al-musallin are not merely people who perform prayer, but believers whose constant prayer produces accountability, charity, fear of Allah, chastity, trustworthiness, truthful witness, and sustained moral conduct, leading to Allah’s honor and Jannah.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Explains Surah al-Ma'arij 70:19-22 and prayer-observers’ exemption from anxiety and selfishness.
- Establishes prayer as obligatory in every condition and introduces the defining traits of al-musallin.
- Explains constant prayer, zakat, belief in accountability, fear of Allah, and the need for knowledge.
- Addresses chastity, avoiding immoral pathways, and marriage as the sanctioned channel.
- Expands amanah to include oneself, family, body, worship, youth, profession, and work.
- Calls believers to be trustworthy, safe for others, and truthful witnesses through speech and conduct.
- Returns to maintaining prayer between salah times, then concludes with Jannah and self-improvement.
Try this week
Maintain the five daily prayers consistently and preserve connection with Allah between prayer times.
Calculate and give zakat, including attention to needy people who do not openly ask for help.
Before acting, ask whether the choice will please Allah and prepare for accountability in the Hereafter.
Increase religious knowledge to strengthen appropriate fear of Allah.
Avoid early steps toward immorality and preserve chastity through the lawful channel of marriage.
Keep promises and trusts involving oneself, family, body, worship, youth, and work.
Represent Islam truthfully through speech and behavior.
Assess which qualities of al-musallin are lacking and work deliberately to develop them.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 70:19-22Used to contrast anxious, impatient, withholding human tendencies with prayer-observing believers.
Quran 70:23-35Used to define al-musallin through prayer, zakat, accountability, fear of punishment, chastity, trustworthiness, testimony, and their reward.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Yes, we have the right to do whatever we want, but we have no right and no option in accepting the punishment and the recompense that comes with it.”
“People have to trust you. People have to be safe around you.”
“The point of Salat is to prevent from Fahsha and Munkar.”
“And if we fall short on some of them... Work hard to fill in those gaps and it's a goal to achieve.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah taught that being one of the people of prayer means more than standing for salah. Prayer should keep us connected to Allah and shape our choices: we give others their rights, remember the Day of Recompense, fear wrongdoing, protect chastity, keep trusts and promises, and speak and act as truthful witnesses. Our own selves, families, bodies, worship, youth, and work are trusts Allah will ask us about. We should thank Allah for the qualities we have and work patiently on the gaps, hoping for His pleasure and the honor of Jannah.
- What is one way prayer can change how we act after we leave the masjid?
- Who might need help quietly, without asking, and how could we notice?
- What trust, our time, body, schoolwork, family, or promises, can we care for better this week?
Where it was given
The masjid
Islamic Center of Western Suburbs (ICWS)28W774 Army Trail Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185Jumu'ah “Khutbah 1 | 1:05 | pm; Jamaat 1 | 1:25 | pm; Khutbah 2 | 1:35 | pm; Jamaat 2 | 1:55 | pm” (Bartlett location). “Khutbah | 1:15 | pm; Jamaat | 1:35 | pm” (West Chicago location).ArchiveAll khutbahs at Islamic Center of48 khutbahs
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