True success comes from faithful living
“You cannot just say I believe.”
True success belongs not to the materially wealthy but to believers who embody the qualities Allah lists in the opening verses of Surah al-Mu'minoon, and living by those ten verses earns entry into al-Firdaus.
The khutbah in 9 steps
- Opening praise, shahada, and command to reflect on the Quran
- Hadith of the ten verses: whoever lives by them enters paradise; Aisha's 'his character was the Quran'
- Redefining success: Qad aflaha al-mu'minoon vs. temporary worldly wealth
- Quality 1: khushu' in salah, the shaytan Khanzab, salah as first thing judged
- Quality 2: avoiding vain talk and vain action (backbiting, endless scrolling)
- Quality 3: zakah as purification and growth of self and others
- Quality 4: guarding chastity, lowering the gaze, protecting children from temptation
- Second part: recap, then amanat (trusts), keeping promises (misuse of 'in sha Allah'), maintaining all five prayers on time in the masjid
- Warning for those who neglect prayer, hope through repentance, reward of al-Firdaus, closing du'a
In the khateeb's words
“You cannot just say I believe And you don't even know What's the quality Of the believers”
“The first thing Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala Asked you Asked the believers Is about their salah And if the salah succeeded The rest is going to be easy”
“Try to avoid the beaches That have all this kind of nudity Around your family”
For the dinner table
Today the sheikh taught us about the opening of Surah al-Mu'minun, where Allah lists the qualities of the true believers. He reminded us that real success is not money, fame, or power, those are left behind when we die, but faith and good deeds that last. The believers Allah praises are humble in prayer, careful with their words and time, pure in heart, trustworthy with promises, protective of their private parts, and committed to their daily prayers. The sheikh also warned us about small dangers we might overlook: distractions in salah, wasting hours on social media, misusing 'in sha Allah,' and letting our eyes wander. If we try our best to live these qualities, Allah promises us Jannat al-Firdaus, the highest level of Paradise, where we will live forever.
- What is one thing that makes it hardest for you to focus during prayer?
- Can you think of a promise or 'in sha Allah' you said this week, did you mean it and keep it?
- What is one way our family can guard our eyes and hearts from things Allah doesn't like?
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