“A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem. Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.
Al hamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wanasta’eenahu, wanastagh-firuhu, wanatoobu ilayhi, wana’oothu Billaahi min shuroori an-fusinaa, wamin sayyi aati a’maalinaa. May- Yahdillahu fa huwal muhtad, wa may- yudlill falan tajidaa lahu waliyan murshida. Wa ash-hadu an Laa ilaaha ill-Alláh, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo warasooluh”
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In today’s khutbah I will be talking about the importance of worship in Islam. In the Quran Allah (SWT) reminds us of the purpose of our creation in Aayah 56 of Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat, which says:
“I created jinn and mankind to worship me”.
Worship purifies the self and nourishes the spirit. Man’s perfection and grace doesn’t lie in physical appearance or material well-being, but it pertains to the spirit. The spirit feeds on purity and piety and scales greater heights through remembrance, worship and glorification of Allah (SWT).
Therefore dear brothers and sisters heed the command of your Lord and you shall be saved and will find true meaning in your lives. Let us not be of the ones who are forgetful and disregard their true purpose, for they will fail and be doomed in this life and in the next.
Under difficult circumstances and when in pain and suffering, remembrance of Allah (SWT) gives us peace and comfort.
The Qur’an teaches us exactly that:
“We are well aware that your heart is weighed down by what they (mushrikeen and kaafireen) say. Celebrate the glory of your Lord and be among those who bow down to Him: Worship your Lord until what is certain comes to you.”
Worship is a proclamation of Allah’s (SWT) greatness and total sovereignty. Allah (SWT) says in Surah An-Nasr:
“When Allah’s help comes and He opens up your way [Prophet (SAW)], when you see people embracing Allah’s faith in crowds, celebrate the praise of your Lord and ask His forgiveness: He is always ready to accept repentance.”
The importance of the khutbah today is to highlight that worship is a source which nourishes the spirit, purifies and enlightens the heart, and is the source of peace and contentment.
Dear brothers and sisters let us make conscious efforts to improve the quality of our worship and prayers and to remember Allah (SWT), our creator at all times, good and bad.
“Allah humma aa innee ala zikrika wa shukrika wa husn-i-ibaadatik”.
Its close translation would be: O Allah! Help me to remember you, to thank you, and to worship you in the best of manners. Ameen!