4:27 So the dabbur is that,…12:35 That you do something…14:26 The point is that…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Quran reflection breaks down arrogance and prejudice

ICCP

“The point is that you're shoulder to shoulder regardless of who you are.”

The khateeb, at 14:26

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Tadabbur, slowly contemplating the Qur'an and applying its guidance, deepens faith, produces ihsan, and helps Muslims dismantle arrogance and prejudice through humble worship and reconciliation.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces tadabbur as slowly reading, understanding, reflecting on, and studying the Qur'an.
  2. Explains how tadabbur nourishes the ruh and aligns thoughts, actions, time, and spending with Allah through ihsan.
  3. Uses Iblis's refusal to bow to Adam to trace arrogance into racism, supremacy, misogyny, and oppression.
  4. Connects these attitudes to contemporary and historical atrocities, including Palestine, the Uyghurs, Yemen, Sudan, Kashmir, Rwanda, and others.
  5. Presents shoulder-to-shoulder salah and Hajj as practices that erase distinctions of status, wealth, lineage, and skin color.
  6. Urges humility, reconciliation, handshakes, sincere dua, and resolving grudges before closing with supplication.
Try this week
Read the Qur'an slowly, understand its literal meaning, and reflect on deeper meanings; consult tafsir when possible.
Listen to knowledgeable Islamic lectures and reflect on hadith and Allah's creation.
During a drive or before sleep, contemplate one ayah or even one word of an ayah.
Carry the equality and respect represented by shoulder-to-shoulder salah into interactions outside the masjid.
Sit near someone with whom you have a conflict, greet them, shake their hand, and make sincere dua for reconciliation.
Make sincere dua in sujood for harms done to others, including people who have passed away.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2Cited for repeated accounts of Iblis refusing to bow to Adam and the wisdom gained through reflection.
Surah 18Cited for repeated accounts of Iblis refusing to bow to Adam and the wisdom gained through reflection.
Surah 15Cited for repeated accounts of Iblis refusing to bow to Adam and the wisdom gained through reflection.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“So the dabbur is that, contemplation and reflection, to gain deeper understanding, to increase our relationship with Allah .”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 4:27
“That you do something to your fellow human being because you feel that you can, because you feel you're better than them.”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 12:35
“The point is that you're shoulder to shoulder regardless of who you are.”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 14:26
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today’s khutbah invited us to slow down with the Quran and think about what its words mean. The khateeb compared understanding it to enjoying the refreshing juice inside an orange, and encouraged learning through tafsir and trusted teachers. He used the image of an umbrella to describe arrogance, racism, prejudice, and other ways people treat others as less worthy. Standing shoulder to shoulder in salah reminds us to respect people whatever their background, and that respect should continue at home and beyond the masjid. He also encouraged making dua for one another, offering salaam, and taking steps to mend strained relationships.

  1. What is one word or ayah from the Quran you would like us to understand better together?
  2. How could you help someone feel included at school or at the masjid?
Where it was given

The masjid

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