Civic engagementFrom the masjid's own video, Nov 14, 2025.

Muslims must serve through civic action

“The best among people are the most beneficial to the people.”

The khateeb, at 24:45

In one sentence

Muslims must actively and lawfully engage in civic life, develop their strengths, serve others, and trust Allah with the results.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. The khutbah highlights shifting American opinion on Palestine and recent election results.
  2. It calls Muslims to vote, contact politicians, and support leaders who serve the public good.
  3. Qur’anic commands to act and change oneself frame civic engagement as a religious duty.
  4. A hadith about the strong believer is explained through excellence, planning, usefulness, reliance on Allah, and perseverance.
  5. The example of Sulh al-Hudaybiyyah shows that apparent defeat can become victory.
  6. The khutbah closes by urging continued hope and praying for Gaza, Sudan, and the community.
Try this week
Vote and encourage greater participation from the Muslim community.
Email politicians about education, healthcare, roads, transportation, and public spending.
Support suitable candidates through lawful civic participation and financial contributions.
Identify personal strengths and improve them through workshops, research, practice, and listening.
Make a plan to benefit oneself, family, community, society, and humanity while seeking Allah’s help.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 9:105Uses the command to act as a divine mandate for communal work.
Quran 13:11Argues that communities must begin changing themselves before conditions change.
Sahih MuslimUses the hadith about strength, pursuing benefit, seeking Allah’s help, and refusing helplessness.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“you have to strive to get the best of yourself and by the way the the best of everything is not something that is inherited”
FMCCNJ · Paramus, NJ
Play from 20:56
“the best among people the best among people are the most beneficial to the people”
FMCCNJ · Paramus, NJ
Play from 24:45
“results are not in our hands results are in the hands of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala”
FMCCNJ · Paramus, NJ
Play from 27:29
“always when we see a little hope we have to blow on it to make it so big so we can take achievement”
FMCCNJ · Paramus, NJ
Play from 32:09
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today’s khutbah reminded us that faith asks us to be active, not helpless. We should use lawful ways to help our community, such as voting, contacting public officials, and supporting better education, healthcare, transportation, and peace. Each person has a strength to develop, and we should make plans, seek Allah’s help, and keep trying even when results are slow or disappointing. The story of Hudaybiyyah showed that an apparent setback can later open the door to great good. We ended by praying for people in Gaza and Sudan and for the safety and guidance of our community.

  1. What is one strength you could practice this week to help someone else?
  2. What is one fair and lawful way our family could improve our community?
  3. When something feels like a failure, what might help you keep going?