Your faith and deeds are your responsibility
“We are all responsible for what we do.”
Every Muslim is individually accountable for belief and deeds, and the community should honor its predecessors by continuing beneficial mosque work through Quran-and-Sunnah practice while rejecting religious innovations.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Establishes that each person bears responsibility for their own deeds, not another person's sins or ancestors' actions.
- Uses Quranic teachings and prophetic warnings to stress that lineage cannot replace faith and righteous deeds.
- Explains that beneficial guidance spreads reward, while deviant practices spread sin.
- Applies this principle to Imam Ahmad Burhani and the founding of the East Orange mosque.
- Distinguishes beneficial mosque-building from religious innovation and urges worshippers to follow the imam's movements.
- Calls the community to maintain the mosque, teach and learn Islam, and invite others to the Quran and Sunnah.
In the khateeb's words
“We are all responsible for what we do. Allah emphasizes this in another ayat”
“We're not okay simply because our forefathers did good. but we're okay if we have correct belief and righteous deeds.”
“Whoever practices a good way, a sunnatun hasanah, then he will get the reward of those who practice that way, and the reward will not be decreased at all.”
“The Imam is only placed to be followed. So don't differ from the imam.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that every person is responsible for their own faith and deeds; no family name or ancestor can do that work for us. It says we should honor earlier Muslims by learning from their good examples, especially the people who established the mosque in East Orange. A good community practice can keep earning reward when later people continue it. The speaker also warns against religious innovations and against delaying behind the imam in prayer. He asks the community to follow the Quran and Sunnah, maintain the mosque, and help Islam continue reaching new people in America.
- What is one good practice our family could start or strengthen?
- How can we help care for our mosque or community?
- What does it mean to follow the imam during prayer?
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