Lessons from Jummah

Salaam alaykum!


The khutbah at Jummah was about faith and increasing our faith. The Quran says "He has written faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself" (58:22). The first thing we should acknowledge is that faith and belief in God is innate. It is not a made up human concept. It is a part of us, within us. Faith is an integral part of our being. We just have to realize this and grow and nurture it. Allah has made life easy for us. He is not asking us for something that is not natural to us. In fact, disbelief is not natural to us, it is NOT embedded in our hearts, it is externally acquired. "...But Allah has endeared the faith to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts and He has made hateful to you unbelief, wickedness and rebellion" (49:7). Faith is a part of us, we should nurture it and develop it. Allah has given us the foundation, we just have to work at building it. 


It is important that we actively build and maintain our faith. Again, Allah has made it easy for us. He has provided us with the tools for success. He has provided us with the guidance we need.  He has given us the Quran, a book of guidance for those who turn to it. He has given us an excellent example in Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and scores of other Prophets. Each time the Quran relates a story about one of the Prophet it usually says that the story is related in order that we understand. The life of the Prophets and their people, related in the Quran, is meant to help us. We need to use what Allah has given us. We need to study the Quran and the life of the Prophets in order that we might gain insight and understanding. 


We also need to ask Allah for guidance. He has promised to help us and lead us closer and closer to Him and make things easy for us. "...But to those who receive guidance, He increases the (light of) guidance and bestows on them their piety and restraint from evil" (47:17). Once, we ask Allah for guidance wholeheartedly, He will guide us and increase our faith and help us keep our faith. We need to always ask Allah for guidance and make Him first in our lives. 


Allah has made faith and belief easy for us. First, He made faith an innate characteristic of the human essence. Then, He provided us with the tools necessary to build and grow our faith. And, He has promised to help us in our journey if we call on Him to help. 


Now the question is, why do we find it hard to grow our faith, to keep our faith? People say its difficult, but in reality it is very easy. I often find my faith declining and it is usually because I am not using the tools Allah has provided for me. I am not connecting with my Lord. I am prioritizing this dunya and the things in it. I make those things my tools. But those tools are not instrumental in building faith. Sometimes they contribute to decreasing faith. We all need to utilize the tools that Allah has mercifully given us, we need to strive hard to grow each day and always remember that Allah had endeared this faith in our hearts and He is always there to help us. 


May Allah make it easy for us. May He guide us and continue to guide us. May Allah give us the best in this life and in the Hereafter. Amin






Inspired by khutbah at Masjid Al Quran (Mercy Community Center) in Houston, TX.