Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, who has made righteous children a comfort to the eyes of their righteous parents. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, the Protector of the believers.
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the best of the prophets and messengers. May Allah exalt and send abundant peace upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
O people, know that a righteous society is built upon righteous families and good homes, and good homes are built upon a righteous wife. For this reason, a Muslim must choose a righteous wife.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Seek the one who is religiously-committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust [i.e., may you prosper]”
Allah the Exalted says: “Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allâh and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allâh orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property).” [An-Nisa’: 34]
The righteous wife is chosen because she is the foundation of the home, the nurturer of the offspring, and the keeper of her husband’s secrets. “righteous women are devoutly obedient” means obedient to Allah; “guard in the husband’s absence” means if her husband is away, she protects him regarding her chastity, his wealth until he returns, and his children.
Among the supplications of the servants of the Most Merciful is: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes,…“ [Al-Furqan: 74] beginning first with the wives.
The poet says:
The mother is a school; if you prepare her well, You prepare a nation of noble character.
If one is blessed with offspring from her, he must care for their upbringing—both boys and girls—from a young age, cooperating with the mother in raising them upon goodness.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and discipline them for it when they are ten, and separate them in their beds.”
This is a gradual method of raising children from their youth.
Undoubtedly, this requires patience and exhaustion, but it is in the obedience of Allah. It is a rewarding patience, and the best outcome is for the righteous. The father and mother cooperate in raising the children. The mother focuses more on raising the girls upon good character, modesty, and shyness, while the father focuses more on his son, accustoming him to manhood and the manners of men, so that he may emerge as a righteous member of society who benefits him, by Allah’s permission, during his life and after his death.
The righteousness of offspring does not happen without effort. There must be exhaustion, patience, preparation, and supervision. Otherwise, this family will be lost, as is the reality now in many homes—especially in our times, which are filled with trials, evils, and distractions. Where are the fathers? Where are the mothers? Fathers are preoccupied with their worldly affairs, chasing after the world day and night, or chasing after late-night gatherings of gossip or worse. Mothers are busy roaming the streets and gathering under the guise of education, study, or employment. The children are thrown either to nannies or into daycare centers as if they were orphans or foundlings. Where is the trust, O people? Where is the trust of the children placed around your necks?
Fear Allah, for your children are a trust upon your necks, and you are responsible for them. They are your flock.
[The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said:] “A man is a shepherd in his home and is responsible for his flock.”
Whoever neglects his flock is threatened with a severe warning on the Day of Judgment.
In an authentic Hadith: “There is no ruler whom Allah entrusts with a flock, and he dies while deceiving his flock, except that Allah forbids Paradise for him.”
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, especially in this era that is surging with tribulations—tribulations in the streets, in the schools, and even inside the homes. Various trials have entered through modern communication devices and the internet. Through these precise means of knowledge, it is as if the one viewing them is living in Europe, America, or the lands of disbelief, while sitting in his own home in a Muslim country.
All evils enter his home—visually, audibly, and in writing—while he is on his bed. Worse than that, women and girls are on their beds; you see them physically in your home, but in their thoughts, minds, and even their honor, they are outside, due to these devices that have become available in many homes. They are tools of evil, destruction, and ruin for thoughts, morals, religion, and beliefs, yet you do not realize it. Your only concern is your worldly life, staying up late with friends, trips, or the relentless pursuit of trade, wealth, and fortunes. Your children are your true wealth; if you lose them, you lose your religion and your worldly life, and these children will become a source of deep regret for you, as Allah the Exalted says:
“So let not their wealth nor their children amaze you (O Muhammad ﷺ); in reality Allâh’s Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.” [At-Tawbah: 55]
Fear Allah, servants of Allah. The matter is severe, the danger is great in this time, and most of you are heedless. Watch your children, follow up with them, take them to the mosques, take them to good lessons and lectures. Bring them along to your gatherings so they can hear the speech of men and be raised upon the best of traits. Good upbringing does not happen spontaneously; it only happens through exhaustion, toil, and hardship, but the results are praiseworthy if it is a righteous upbringing.
[The Prophet ﷺ:] “Every child is born upon the fitrah (natural pure disposition)…“
They are born pure and good, like fertile soil, but upbringing can alter and corrupt them. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every child is born upon the fitrah, then his parents make him Jewish, Christian, or Magian.”
This happens through bad upbringing, either by the parents’ neglect or by allowing them to follow these destructive visual, written, and audible media available on phones, the internet, and Facebook—things I do not even fully know, which are tools for destroying homes, families, and societies. This is what the enemies of Islam want. Today, the enemies of Islam do not invade you with weapons; they invade you with bad ideas and destructive communication tools while you are completely unaware.
Fear Allah, servants of Allah. Fear Allah regarding your homes, your children, and your offspring.
When Noah, peace be upon him, boarded the ark with those who believed, his son stayed away and did not board. He (Noah) said: “‘O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbelievers.’ (The son) replied: ‘I will betake myself to some mountain; it will save me from the water.’ The father (Noah) said: ‘This day there is no saviour from the Decree of Allâh except him on whom He has mercy.’ And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.” [Hud: 43-44]
Later, when the Prophet of Allah, Noah, descended to the earth, he said: “O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true” [Hud: 46] Allah had promised to save his family. Allah replied: “O Nuh (Noah)! Surely, he is not of your family;…“ [Hud: 47] Why? “…verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you lest you should be one of the ignorant.” [Hud: 47]
Noah said: “O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I will indeed be one of the losers.” [Hud: 48]
Look at the fate of the son when he disobeyed his father and sided with the disbelievers—he drowned with them, and being the son of Noah did not benefit him.
Fear Allah regarding your children. Righteousness does not come by chance without exhaustion.
Whoever seeks glory without toil, Has wasted his life seeking the impossible.
It does not happen without effort and exhaustion. So be patient, for this is a form of Jihad in the path of Allah; this is the greatest Jihad—to strive with your children by commanding them to obey Allah, enduring the hardship, and persisting in this until they grow up. You are responsible for them, and Allah will ask you about them on the Day of Judgment. Know that you are currently like someone grazing sheep in a valley of predators; if you neglect them, they will be eaten.
Whoever grazes sheep in a land of predators, And sleeps on the job, the lion will take over their grazing.
This is how your children will be taken over by your enemies—either directly by bad caretakers and nannies, or indirectly through these destructive devices that you have overlooked while filling your children’s pockets and homes with them. Look at your situation today. Look at the trials around you—countries are being destroyed and peoples displaced. These are punishments from Allah the Exalted. Beware lest what befell your neighbors befalls you, “…and they are not ever far from the Zâlimûn (polytheists, evil-doers).” [Hud: 83]
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan: “O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allâh, but do that which they are commanded.” [At-Tahrim: 6]
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quran and benefit us with the verses and wise remembrance it contains. I say this and ask Allah’s forgiveness for me, for you, and for all Muslims from every sin. So ask His forgiveness and repent to Him; indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Second Khutbah
Praise be to Allah for His bounty and goodness, and thanks be to Him for His guidance and blessings. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah exalt and send abundant peace upon him, his family, and his companions.
To proceed:
O people, fear Allah the Exalted. The school year has now begun, and parents have shown great concern for enrolling their children in schools. A father might drive his son to school, hire a driver for him, or buy him a car to get there. He spares no worldly expense or effort. But did he show the same concern for him going to the mosque? Does he check on him if he is late for the mosque? Does he care about teaching him beneficial Islamic knowledge, either personally or through righteous teachers? Does he care about bringing him to gatherings of remembrance? He only cares that he goes to school and passes his classes. This is a good thing and is not blameworthy, but one should not stop there while neglecting what is more important and obligatory: taking him to the mosques, taking him to circles of knowledge, and protecting him from bad companions.
Malicious ideologies are circulating among you right now. Drugs and intoxicants are being distributed openly and secretly. Where are you regarding your children and your country? Your country is being ruined and destroyed morally, religiously, and intellectually while you merely watch or cast the responsibility onto others. The task begins with the individuals—with the fathers and mothers, with those in authority, with the men of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil, and with every individual Muslim cooperating together.
Allah the Exalted says: “Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.” [Al-Ma’idah: 2]
Someone might say, “Righteousness is in the hands of Allah, I have no power over it.” Yes, righteousness is in the hands of Allah, but have you taken the necessary steps? Righteousness does not come by chance; it requires a cause. You must make the effort, and Allah the Exalted “Surely, Allâh wastes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (those who do good, or the good-doers)” [At-Tawbah: 120, Hud: 115, Yusuf: 90] and He is “Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers).” [An-Nahl: 128]
If you made the effort, Allah would help you and bring benefit through your striving. But you neglect your children and your home and simply say, “Righteousness is in the hands of Allah,” while destruction enters your home and your street. Where are you?
By Allah, O brothers, if you see the youth in the streets exhibiting the worst of morals, drifting in cars, climbing sand dunes in vehicles with nothing to do but waste time—are these the youth of the Muslims preparing for the future and being raised upon Jihad in the path of Allah? Where is the proper upbringing?
Fear Allah, O servants, regarding your children before it is too late, before the reins slip from your hands and regret will be of no use. Know that the best speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ, the worst of matters are those newly invented, and every innovation is misguidance. Stick to the congregation (Jama’ah), for the Hand of Allah is over the congregation, and whoever isolates himself, isolates himself in the Fire.
“Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad ﷺ), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad ﷺ), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum ).” [Al-Ahzab: 56]
O Allah, send blessings and peace upon Your servant and messenger, our Prophet Muhammad. O Allah, be pleased with his Rightly Guided Caliphs, the guided Imams—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—and all the Companions, the followers, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.
O Allah, grant honor to Islam and the Muslims, humiliate polytheism and the polytheists, and destroy the enemies of the religion. Make this country safe and secure, as well as all the lands of the Muslims, O Lord of the Worlds.
O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the removal of Your blessings, the suddenness of Your vengeance, the alteration of Your granted well-being, and we seek refuge in You from all evil, harm, and tribulation.
O Allah, protect this country and all Muslim lands from the plots of the schemers and the plans of the disbelievers and the corrupt. O Allah, keep it safe and stable, O Lord of the Worlds. O Allah, rectify our young men, rectify our young women, and rectify our sons and offspring. “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [Al-Baqarah: 127]
O Allah, rectify our leaders and guide them to the paths of peace. O Allah, help them upon the truth, support them with the truth, and support the truth through them, O Lord of the Worlds. “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [Al-Baqarah: 127]
Servants of Allah, “Verily, Allâh enjoins Al-‘Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allâh Alone - Islâmic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsân [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allâh, totally for Allâh’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet ﷺ in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allâh has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help), and forbids Al-Fahshâ’ (i.e all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and Al-Munkar (i.e all that is prohibited by Islâmic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression). He admonishes you, that you may take heed. And fulfil the Covenant of Allâh (Bai‘ah: pledge for Islâm) when you have covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them - and indeed you have appointed Allâh your surety. Verily! Allâh knows what you do.” [An-Nahl: 90-91]
So remember Allah, and He will remember you. Thank Him for His blessings, and He will increase them for you. And the remembrance of Allah is greatest, and Allah knows what you do.