Seeking knowledgeFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 18, 2026.
Learn broadly, excel, and serve others
“Learn, educate yourself, do the best in your field.”
In one sentence
Islam encourages Muslims to pursue any beneficial field of knowledge, excel in it, use it to serve others, and remain grounded in their faith and identity.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Rejects the religious-versus-secular knowledge divide, distinguishing only beneficial from non-beneficial learning.
- Uses Quranic examples, Bayt al-Hikmah, and Zayd ibn Thabit to affirm broad scholarship and language learning.
- Connects Islamic history and knowledge-sharing with reducing Islamophobia and recognizing Muslim contributions.
- Explains that intention determines whether education serves personal, family, community, and social good.
- Concludes with three duties: keep learning, pursue excellence, and preserve Muslim identity and ethics.
Try this week
Evaluate what you learn by asking how it benefits you and others.
Keep learning throughout life and ask Allah for increased knowledge.
Pursue excellence and mastery in your chosen field.
Encourage, spread, and support institutions that provide beneficial education.
Maintain Muslim identity through punctual prayer, truthful dealings, ethical conduct, and visible good character.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“The reality of the matter is, is the education that we are seeking, how does it benefit you and I, and how can I utilize it to benefit others.”
“Islamophobia, when we don't know about something, we fear it. But if we know about it, we don't have as much fear.”
“So learn, educate yourself, do the best in your field.”
“We don't forget Allah while we acquire the mastery of our fields. We are punctual with our salah.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that Islam values every kind of knowledge when it is beneficial. Learning should help us, help others, and serve our communities, whether it comes through religious study, science, medicine, languages, or another field. We should keep learning, aim for excellence, and share what we know. At the same time, education should strengthen rather than replace our Muslim identity, prayer, honesty, and good character.
- What is something useful you would like to learn, and whom could it help?
- What would doing your best look like in one area of your life?
- How can learning about one another reduce fear or misunderstanding?
Keep listening
More on Seeking knowledge
IMAN Center · Kirkland, WA · Sep 19, 2026Knowledge matters only when it changes us“Sometimes the problem is knowledge without action.”
Daar-Ul-Islam · Ballwin, MO · Oct 3, 2026The first revelation calls us to learn and serve“Before any type of great transformation occurs outwardly, there must be deep reflection inwardly.”
CCIL-KBW · Laval, QC · Sep 26, 2026Protect your heart from information overload“Faire confiance à Allah ne signifie pas rester sans rien faire.”