7:56 every act of worship…10:13 we have to ask…18:32 don't pray because…
Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 3, 2026.

Worship matters when the heart is sincere

ICCP · Tarek Elgawhary

“Don't pray because somebody told you to pray, don't fast because somebody told you to fast, don't give because somebody told you to give.”

The khateeb, at 18:32

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Allah's acceptance of worship depends not only on its outward form or quantity but on taqwa, sincere inner intention and a heart connected to Him, so believers must examine their motives and avoid judging others by appearances.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Introduces Cain and Abel to contrast outwardly identical sacrifices with different inward motives and acceptance.
  2. Explains taqwa as the inner awareness and sincerity Allah accepts beyond quantity or visible performance.
  3. Applies the outward-inward distinction to prayer, fasting, charity, teaching, and service, warning against performing for reputation.
  4. Turns the lesson toward self-accountability and cautions against judging others by appearance, including racial profiling.
  5. Calls listeners to ask why behind worship and ethics, then closes with community announcements and supplication.
Try this week
Ask why you are praying, fasting, giving, reading Quran, or avoiding wrongdoing.
Examine whether the inner obligations of worship are being fulfilled, not merely the outward rules.
Offer your best in worship rather than treating religious acts as boxes to check.
Focus on correcting your own heart instead of acting as a bean counter for others.
Avoid judging people’s faith or character by their appearance.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariWarns that a Quran reciter or scholar who acts for reputation may be condemned despite impressive outward deeds.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“every act of worship that we have been given has an outward and has an inward”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 7:56
“we have to ask ourselves have we really prayed have we fulfilled the inner obligations of the prayer”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 10:13
“don't pray because somebody told you to pray don't fast because somebody told you to fast don't give because somebody told you to give”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 18:32
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that worship is not only about what people can see. Allah looks at the taqwa and sincerity within the heart, as shown by the different sacrifices of Cain and Abel. We should ask ourselves why we pray, fast, give, and avoid wrongdoing, rather than doing these things only for praise or habit. We should also be careful not to judge other people by their appearance, because only Allah truly knows what is inside them.

  1. Why do you think intention matters when we do something good?
  2. What is one good action you can do this week for Allah rather than for praise?
  3. How can we avoid judging someone before knowing their story?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Community Center of Potomac10601 River Rd, Potomac, MD 20854Jumu'ah Adhan 1:15 PMKhateebTarek ElgawharyMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICCP96 khutbahs
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