Allah can appoint a child as leader
“A child of five becoming a leader of the Imams and the leader of the believers is not a foreign concept.”
A five-year-old can be the divinely appointed Mahdi because the Quran, Shia theology, and examples of exceptional children show that Allah can grant leadership and knowledge at any age; believers should therefore prepare now by keeping their hearts receptive and improving their deeds daily.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Introduces belief in the Mahdi and the question of how a five-year-old could lead believers.
- Uses the Quranic account of Jesus speaking as an infant to show Allah can grant authority to a child.
- Explains that prophethood and imamat are divinely appointed roles, not arbitrary positions.
- Uses examples of child prodigies, including Allama Hilli and Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, to support the possibility of extraordinary young ability.
- Remembers people suffering worldwide and marks the birth anniversary of Imam al-Askari.
- Reflects on Imam al-Askari's letter to Ali bin Hussain bin Babawai al-Qummi as an example of worthy character.
- Distinguishes the Imam's internal guidance from a prophet's external guidance and stresses the need for receptive hearts.
- Urges listeners to improve their faith, prayer, charity, kindness, and mercy incrementally each day.
In the khateeb's words
“And so what we understand is that nubuwah and imamah are not positions that are arbitrary. They are not positions that can be given to anyone. And this is something that is directly appointed by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
“That a child of five becoming a leader of the Imams and the leader of the believers is not a foreign concept. And it's established and it's entirely possible because God had willed it to be possible.”
“It's too late by then. It's honestly too late by then. Because by then, who I am will be identified. He will know who I am.”
“Therefore, we have a responsibility to not be satisfied with our faith. We have a responsibility to not be satisfied with our salah, to not be satisfied with our sadaqah, to not be satisfied with our kindness and generosity and mercy.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah asks how a five-year-old could be the Mahdi and leader of believers. It answers that Allah can grant extraordinary knowledge and leadership at any age, as shown by Jesus in the Quran, divinely appointed prophets and Imams, and examples of child prodigies. The sermon then turns to Imam al-Askari's guidance, teaching that the Imam knows our deeds and that guidance reaches hearts willing to receive it. We should not wait for the Imam's arrival to change; we should work on our faith, prayer, charity, kindness, and mercy each day. The goal is to become people whose hearts carry enough light to welcome divine guidance.
- What does it mean to keep your heart open to guidance?
- What is one small way you could become a little better this week?
- How would you act differently if you remembered that your deeds are seen?
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