Perseverance means guarding the community
“The fort needs to be guarded.”
On Eid al-Adha, true sacrifice means perseverance, and the believers must obey the four commands of Surah Aal Imran 3:200, be patient with yourselves, patient against enemies, and 'hold down the fort' by actively guarding the masjid, families, and community from external and internal threats.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Eid al-Adha extends three days, with takbir continuing until the fourth day
- The story of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Ismail and what real sacrifice means
- Abdul Muttalib's vow, the drawing of lots, and the origin of hundred-camel blood money
- The Prophet as 'son of the two sacrificed ones', Ismail and Abdullah
- The four commands of Surah Aal Imran 3:200: sabr, musabarah, ribat, taqwa
- Ribat explained: Muslim cities began as border fortresses guarding the community
- A recent attack inside a masjid during Dhul Hijjah demands vigilance, not passivity
- Guard against internal enemies (takfiri hypocrites) and protect women and children as soft targets
In the khateeb's words
“And if you don't care about something, it's not a sacrifice. Like if you don't care about it, you could have whatever.”
“Keep doing what is right. Even if the results that you expect to see from good or what is right is not apparent.”
“The protection needs to be taken. The fort needs to be guarded. From not only external enemies. But the internal enemies.”
“When you go out, try not to let your soft targets go out by themselves. Soft targets? Your women. Your children.”
For the dinner table
This Eid khutbah reminded us that real sacrifice means giving up something you truly love, just like Prophet Ibrahim was willing to do. The Imam told the story of the Prophet's grandfather, whose vow led to the tradition of one hundred camels as blood money. He then explained a verse from Surah Aal Imran with four commands: be patient with yourself, be patient against your enemies, guard the community like soldiers at a frontier fortress, and have taqwa. Because a masjid was recently attacked during the sacred days of Dhul Hijjah, he said we cannot be sleepy or slow, we must protect our mosques, our families, and each other. He warned that danger comes from outside haters and also from inside, from people who claim other Muslims aren't real Muslims. The message: hold down the fort, stay patient, stay united, and keep each other safe.
- What's something you love so much that giving it up would be a real sacrifice?
- If our masjid is like a fort, what's one way you can help 'guard' it?
- Why do you think the Imam said we should never let family members be easy targets?
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