3:51 hope without…5:13 we are those who give…
Qur'an & tafsirFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 30, 2026.

A purposeful life begins with Allah

Ibn Taymiyah

“We are those who give ourselves to Allah because Allah knows what's best for us and He has told us the best way to live.”

The khateeb, at 5:13

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah argues that a faithful, purposeful life begins with Allah and is navigated through the understood and practiced Quran, with gratitude, hope, accountability, and discernment.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Opens with praise, testimony, blessings, and calls to taqwa.
  2. Presents the Quran as the source of answers, moral clarity, and upright guidance.
  3. Unpacks a life path of foundation, gratitude, hope, accountability, destination, and direction.
  4. Uses Abu Bakr’s example and a Google Maps analogy to explain self-examination and purposeful living.
  5. Urges listeners to understand the Quran in a language they know and follow prophetic role models.
  6. Maps the seven themes onto Surah al-Fatiha, emphasizing communal worship and continual need for guidance.
  7. Closes with supplications for guidance, mercy, parents, and oppressed people in Palestine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere.
Try this week
Read the Quran in a language you understand.
Make a serious effort to understand and apply the Quran’s guidance.
Before decisions or actions, ask what Allah says about them.
Hold yourself accountable by examining your intentions and purposes.
Follow the prophets, messengers, and righteous as role models while avoiding harmful examples.
Seek forgiveness, repent, rectify wrongs, and reconcile with others.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 1Used as the framework for foundation, gratitude, hope, accountability, worship, guidance, role models, and discernment.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“hope without accountability is useless there has to be the element of fear there has to be something that we fear that keeps us in check”
Ibn Taymiyah · Columbus, OH
Play from 3:51
“we are those who give ourselves to Allah because Allah knows what's best for us and He has told us the best way to live”
Ibn Taymiyah · Columbus, OH
Play from 5:13
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today we were reminded that a meaningful Muslim life starts with Allah: we ask what He wants before we act. The Quran is not only something to recite; it is a guide we should understand and use to tell right from wrong. Gratitude is shown through worship, and hope in Allah’s mercy should be balanced with honest accountability for our choices. Our destination is Allah, and we need the prophets, righteous people, and our community to help us stay on the straight path. This week, we can read the Quran in a language we understand, reflect before making decisions, and turn back to Allah with hope.

  1. What is one action you can take this week to show gratitude to Allah?
  2. What helps you remember your destination and purpose when making a difficult choice?
  3. How can our family understand and live the Quran more deeply?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Ibn Taymiyah2334 Mock Road, Columbus, OH 43219ArchiveAll khutbahs at Ibn Taymiyah26 khutbahs
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