33:00 Because you're Allah…35:18 No, read it so that…
Seeking knowledgeFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 24, 2026.

Worship begins with knowing Allah

ICPC Paterson · Yasir Fahmy

“The Qur'an is, if you will, a love letter from the divine to His creation so that we can get to know Him.”

The khateeb, at 35:18

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

True worship is an intimate knowledge of Allah, developed through Qur'an, reflection, and remembrance, that transforms hardship, love, and obedience.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Reframes worship as knowing Allah, drawing on Abdullah ibn Abbas.
  2. Distinguishes meaningful dhikr rooted in understanding from empty repetition.
  3. Explains ilm versus ma'rifah through revelation, reflection, and divine attributes.
  4. Uses the Prophet's response at Ta'if to show ma'rifah producing resilience and trust.
  5. Connects intimate knowledge of Allah with love, obedience, and steadiness in hardship.
  6. Calls listeners to read Qur'an reflectively and discuss Allah regularly with their children.
Try this week
Read two to five Qur'an verses daily to learn about Allah, not merely to complete a checklist.
Pause every three or four verses to reflect on what they reveal about Allah.
Study Allah's names, attributes, and signs in creation and within oneself.
Reduce social media time and spend that time reading the Qur'an.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 55Invites reflection on Allah's signs and attributes.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Because you're Allah and I love you so much. Because I know you very well. You mean everything to me. You mean the world to me.”
ICPC Paterson · Paterson, NJ
Play from 33:00
“No, read it so that you get to know of Allah. The Qur'an is, if you will, a love letter from the divine to His creation so that we can get to know Him.”
ICPC Paterson · Paterson, NJ
Play from 35:18
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that Allah created us for worship, and that worship grows from truly knowing Him. Saying Allah's name is not meant to be empty repetition; learning His names, mercy, care, and signs can give the heart steadiness. The Prophet's response at Ta'if shows how knowing Allah's compassion can keep a person grounded in severe hardship. We are encouraged to read a few Qur'an verses daily slowly, pausing to notice what they teach about Allah. Families should make time each week to talk about Allah with their children and let them see that love in everyday life.

  1. What is one quality of Allah you discovered in a Qur'an passage this week?
  2. When has remembering Allah changed how you handled a difficult moment?
  3. If our family spent time getting to know Allah this weekend, what would you want to learn or discuss?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Passaic County152 Derrom Ave, Paterson, NJ 07504Jumu'ah 1st khutbah 12:00 PM · 2nd khutbah 1:15 PMKhateebYasir FahmyMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICPC Paterson38 khutbahs
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