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Eid In The Park, Ipswich (2026)

30/10/2026

Todays Jumu’ah Khutbah at Murrayside, Friday 30 October 2026

The Importance of Taqwa, Sincerity and Preparing for the Hereafter

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His forgiveness and ask for His guidance. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from our wrongdoings.

We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and that our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is His servant and Messenger.

Allah sent His Messenger with guidance, truth and light, to remind mankind of their responsibilities and to guide them towards righteousness.

May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his noble companions.

Today's khutbah reminds us of the importance of Taqwa, being conscious of Allah, fearing His displeasure and remembering that one day we will return to Him.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, reminded us that the Day of Judgement is approaching and that every person will be held accountable for their actions.

He warned us that the passing of time, the appearance of trials and the increasing distractions of worldly life should encourage us to strengthen our relationship with Allah.

We should never become so occupied with this temporary world that we forget the everlasting life of the Hereafter.

The Importance of Taqwa

Taqwa means living with an awareness of Allah in everything we do, whether we are alone or in the company of others.

It means obeying His commands, avoiding what He has forbidden and remembering that Allah knows what is hidden within our hearts.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, advised us to fear Allah wherever we may be.

This is a reminder that our faith should not be limited to the mosque or our daily prayers. It should guide our behaviour at home, at work, in our dealings with others and in every aspect of our lives.

A person who truly fears Allah will think carefully before speaking, acting or making decisions, knowing that every action carries consequences.

Remembering Death and the Hereafter

The khutbah reminds us that our lives in this world are temporary and that death can come at any moment.

We should therefore prepare ourselves through sincere worship, good deeds, repentance and kindness towards others.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged believers to remember death frequently, as it reminds us of the reality of this world and the importance of preparing for what comes afterwards.

Our wealth, possessions and worldly achievements will eventually be left behind.

What will remain with us are our deeds and the account we must give before Allah.

We should therefore ask ourselves whether we are making the best use of the time Allah has granted us.

Are we fulfilling our prayers, treating others fairly, seeking forgiveness and remembering Allah in our daily lives?

The Importance of Sincerity and Good Character

The khutbah also reminds us that true righteousness is not simply about outward appearances.

A believer must strive to develop sincerity, humility, honesty and good character.

We should avoid arrogance, injustice, dishonesty and causing harm to others.

Our actions should reflect our faith, and our intentions should be directed towards pleasing Allah rather than seeking praise or recognition from people.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, taught us that our actions are judged by our intentions.

This reminds us that even the smallest good deed can carry great reward when performed sincerely for the sake of Allah.

Likewise, we should never underestimate the harm caused by our words or actions towards others.

Seeking Forgiveness and Returning to Allah

No human being is free from mistakes or shortcomings.

However, Allah, in His infinite mercy, has given us the opportunity to repent and seek His forgiveness.

The khutbah reminds us that we should not delay repentance, assuming that we will always have more time.

We should regularly examine our actions, recognise our mistakes and make sincere efforts to correct them.

True repentance involves regretting our wrongdoing, turning away from it and making a genuine commitment not to repeat it.

Where we have wronged another person, we should also seek to put matters right.

The Importance of Trusting Allah

The khutbah reminds us that everything happens by the knowledge and permission of Allah.

We may face difficulties, uncertainty, hardship or disappointment, but we must never lose hope in His mercy.

A believer should place their trust in Allah while continuing to make sincere efforts to fulfil their responsibilities.

Trusting Allah does not mean abandoning our duties. It means doing what is right and accepting that the final outcome rests with Him.

We should remember that Allah knows what we do not know, and that His wisdom extends beyond our understanding.

Being Mindful of Our Responsibilities Towards Others

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, taught us that our faith should be reflected in how we treat other people.

We should strive to be truthful, compassionate, patient and fair.

We must avoid oppression, dishonesty and taking advantage of others.

The khutbah reminds us that Allah is fully aware of everything we do, including those actions that may remain hidden from other people.

A believer should therefore behave with integrity, whether anyone is watching or not.

We should also remember that our relationships with family, neighbours, colleagues and the wider community are opportunities to earn Allah's pleasure through kindness and good conduct.

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Central Message of Today's Khutbah

The central message of today's khutbah is that we must live our lives with Taqwa, sincerity and a constant awareness that we will one day return to Allah.

This world is temporary, and every person will ultimately be accountable for their actions.

We should not allow worldly distractions, personal ambitions or material possessions to make us forget our obligations towards Allah and His creation.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, reminded us to fear Allah wherever we are, to seek His forgiveness and to prepare for the Hereafter through righteous deeds.

We should regularly reflect upon our lives, correct our mistakes, strengthen our prayers and treat others with compassion and justice.

True success is not measured by what we accumulate in this world, but by the faith, sincerity and good deeds with which we return to Allah.

May Allah grant us sincere Taqwa and strengthen our faith.

May He forgive our sins, guide our hearts and protect us from arrogance, injustice and wrongdoing.

May Allah help us to remember Him in all circumstances and grant us the wisdom to make the right decisions.

May He grant us the ability to fulfil our responsibilities towards our families, neighbours and communities.

May Allah protect us from the trials of this world, grant us a good ending and make us among those who receive His mercy and forgiveness on the Day of Judgement.

May He unite our hearts upon goodness, grant us peace in this life and bless us with Jannatul Firdaus in the Hereafter.

Ameen.

16/10/2026

This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise belongs to Allah, who has explained wisdom in His Book and called His servants towards reflection, contemplation and understanding. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. We bear witness that our master and leader, Muhammad, is His servant and Messenger, the one who guided us to the Quran. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, his family and his noble companions.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Allah, the Most High, has commanded us to reflect upon His creation and contemplate the signs of His greatness. Through reflection and understanding, we are able to recognise the wisdom, power and mercy of our Creator.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for people of understanding."

This reminds us that the world around us is not without purpose. Every aspect of creation contains signs that point towards the greatness and wisdom of Allah.

Allah also says:

"Do they not look at the sky above them, how We have built it and adorned it?"

We are encouraged to look beyond our daily concerns and recognise the extraordinary creation that surrounds us.

Allah has created the heavens and the earth, the mountains, the seas and the many wonders of nature. He has provided us with countless blessings, many of which we take for granted.

He has made the earth a place of settlement for us, provided rivers and pathways, and placed mountains upon it. He has given us the night for rest and the day for our activities and livelihoods.

Allah has also sent down rain from the heavens, bringing life to the earth and producing fruits, vegetation and provisions for His creation.

These are not merely natural occurrences. They are reminders of Allah's mercy, generosity and absolute power.

Allah says:

"And We made the night as a covering, and made the day for livelihood."

He also reminds us of the rain that descends from the clouds, through which He brings forth vegetation and sustenance.

Reflecting upon the creation of the human being

Allah calls upon mankind to reflect not only upon the heavens and the earth, but also upon our own creation.

He says:

"We have certainly created man in the best of stature."

The human being is itself an extraordinary sign of Allah's power. From our earliest beginnings, Allah develops and shapes us through stages until we become complete human beings.

Allah reminds us of these stages of creation, beginning from a small drop, followed by the development of the human form, until life emerges by His will.

Every stage demonstrates the knowledge, wisdom and power of our Creator.

We should therefore never allow pride or arrogance to make us forget our humble beginnings.

Our intelligence, abilities, strength and achievements are all blessings granted by Allah.

The importance of reflection and gratitude

Dear brothers and sisters, the purpose of reflecting upon creation is not simply to admire its beauty.

It is to strengthen our faith, increase our gratitude and bring us closer to Allah.

When we look towards the heavens, observe the changing seasons, witness the growth of plants or consider the complexity of our own bodies, we should remember the One who created and sustains everything.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged reflection upon the creation of Allah.

It is reported that he said:

"Reflect upon the creation of Allah."

Such reflection reminds us that nothing in this world exists independently of Allah's knowledge and power.

We should not become so occupied with worldly affairs that we neglect the signs of our Creator.

Instead, we should use our intellect, our senses and our hearts to recognise His blessings and fulfil our responsibilities towards Him.

The Quran calls us to think and understand

Allah repeatedly invites mankind to observe, reflect and use reason.

He asks us to consider the heavens and the earth, the movement of the sun and moon, the changing of night and day, and the life that emerges from the earth.

These signs are present before us every day, yet we often overlook them.

It is narrated that Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, reflected upon the verses concerning the creation of the heavens and the earth.

This teaches us that contemplation is an important part of faith.

The more sincerely we reflect upon Allah's creation, the more we recognise our dependence upon Him.

We come to understand that our lives, our provisions and our very existence are entirely within His control.

Remembering Allah's mercy and the resurrection

The khutbah concludes by reminding us of another important sign of Allah's power.

Allah says:

"So observe the effects of Allah's mercy, how He gives life to the earth after its death. Indeed, that same One will give life to the dead, and He is Most Capable of everything."

Just as Allah revives barren land through rainfall, He has the power to resurrect mankind after death.

The changing condition of the earth is therefore a reminder not only of Allah's mercy in this life, but also of the reality of the Hereafter.

We should reflect upon this and prepare ourselves through faith, gratitude, obedience and righteous deeds.

===

Central Message of Today's Khutbah

Today's khutbah reminds us that the entire creation is filled with signs of Allah's greatness, wisdom and mercy.

The heavens, the earth, the mountains, the rain, the changing of night and day, and even our own existence are reminders of the One who created and sustains everything.

Islam encourages us to think, observe, question and reflect, because sincere reflection strengthens our faith and deepens our understanding of Allah.

We must not become so consumed by our daily lives that we overlook the countless blessings surrounding us.

True reflection should lead to gratitude, humility, stronger faith and greater obedience to Allah.

Just as Allah brings life to the earth after its death, He will resurrect us and hold us accountable for how we lived.

May Allah grant us hearts that recognise His blessings, minds that reflect upon His creation, and tongues that remain grateful for His mercy.

May He protect us from arrogance, heedlessness and ingratitude, strengthen our Imaan, guide us towards righteous deeds and grant us success in this life and the Hereafter.

Ameen.

25/09/2026

*This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside*:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, who bestowed upon His servants His Prophet and Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and revealed to him His Book, so that people may reflect upon its stories and accounts, follow the upright path and the straight way, and distinguish through its rulings between what is lawful and what is unlawful.

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that our master Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, upon whom the Qur’an was revealed so that he may be a warner to all creation.

May Allah send His prayers and peace upon him and upon his companions, those who remembered the Qur’an and reminded the people through it.

As for what follows,

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an, recite and ascend, and recite with measured recitation as you used to recite in this world, for your position will be at the last verse that you recite.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“Indeed, the one who has nothing of the Qur’an within him is like a ruined house.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah will have one good deed for it, and each good deed is multiplied tenfold.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“Whoever recites the Qur’an, regards what it declares lawful as lawful, and regards what it declares forbidden as forbidden, Allah will admit him into Paradise and accept his intercession for ten members of his household for whom the Fire had become due.”

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

“So I swear by the positions of the stars, and indeed, it is a tremendous oath, if only you knew. Indeed, it is a noble Qur’an, in a well protected Book, which none touch except the purified.”

===

Central message of the khutbah

The central message is the importance of having a genuine and active relationship with the Qur’an.

The khutbah teaches that the Qur’an is not merely a Book to possess. A Muslim should learn it, teach it, recite it, reflect upon it, and live according to its guidance.

It highlights the great virtues associated with the Qur’an. Those who learn and teach it are praised, every letter recited carries reward, the Qur’an raises the rank of its companion in the Hereafter, and a heart without anything from the Qur’an is compared to a ruined and empty house.

Most importantly, the khutbah connects recitation with action. The believer should not only read the Qur’an, but should recognise what Allah has made lawful as lawful, recognise what He has forbidden as forbidden, and allow the Qur’an to shape the way they live their life.

The overall message is therefore, keep the Qur’an close to your heart, learn it, recite it, teach it, and live by its guidance.

18/09/2026

This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, who perfectly manages all creation, who created the earth and the heavens, who sent down abundant rain from the clouds, and through it brought forth grains and plants. He has determined provisions and sustenance, and He provides nourishment for the animals and has bestowed good things upon us.

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that our master and master Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the one who supports the weak and distressed. May Allah send His prayers and peace upon him, upon his family and upon his companions, prayers and peace that will continue throughout the passing of time and remain until the Hour is established.

As for what follows,

Allah the Most High says, “Eat and drink, but do not be excessive.”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Abstaining from worldly things does not mean forbidding what is lawful, nor does it mean wasting wealth. Rather, abstinence in this world means that you should not place greater reliance upon what is in your own hands than upon what is in the hands of Allah.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth, he would wish for a third, and nothing fills the belly of the son of Adam except dust.”

So do not be excessive in seeking worldly things, and do not allow the pursuit of provision to overwhelm you. Indeed, the provision that has been decreed for you will not pass you by.

It is narrated that a man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “O Messenger of Allah, if I eat meat, my desire becomes intense.”

So he refrained from eating meat, and then the verse was revealed,

“O you who believe, do not forbid the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress.”

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The one who eats and is grateful is like the one who fasts and is patient.”

So seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

“And do not say, concerning the falsehood which your tongues utter, ‘This is lawful and this is unlawful’, so as to invent lies against Allah. Indeed, those who invent lies against Allah will not succeed.”

===

The central message of this khutbah is moderation, contentment and trust in Allah. Islam does not teach that a person must reject the lawful pleasures and provisions that Allah has given them. Rather, a Muslim should enjoy what Allah has made lawful while avoiding excess, greed and obsession with worldly possessions.

The khutbah also makes an important distinction regarding zuhd, often translated as abstinence or detachment from worldly things. True zuhd does not mean declaring lawful things forbidden or deliberately throwing away wealth. It means that your heart trusts what Allah possesses more than it trusts what you yourself possess.

It also warns against the endless nature of human desire. A person may acquire wealth and then immediately desire more. The believer should therefore seek lawful provision, be grateful for what Allah provides, avoid excess, and never declare something halal or haram without proper authority from Allah.

11/09/2026

*This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside*:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the All Knowing, the All Aware, who perfected the order of the universe with His wisdom and management. Glory be to Allah, whose creation demonstrates His greatness, whose blessings encompass every small and great matter, and whose signs bear witness to His power.

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, without partner, the One who is exalted above having any equal or likeness, and I bear witness that our master Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, whom Allah sent with a clear Book, as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner, calling people to Allah. May Allah send His prayers and peace upon him, and upon his family and his companions.

As for what follows,

Indeed, the creed of Ahl al Sunnah regarding the two testimonies of faith, which form the foundation of Islam, is that the first testimony means believing that Allah the Most High is the Creator of all creation, the One, the Unique, the Eternal Refuge, the Ever Living, the Self Sustaining, the All Powerful, the All Knowing, the All Hearing, the All Seeing, the One who wills, and the One who brings all things into existence.

Nothing resembles Him, nothing can overcome Him, and nothing is beyond His power. He is the Creator, the Provider, the One who gives life and causes death. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names, and to Him belongs the highest and most perfect description. He is the One of absolute greatness and wisdom.

The meaning of the second testimony, that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, is to believe him truthfully in everything that he brought concerning the news and teachings of Islam.

The Qur’an is the Speech of Allah the Most High, and everything contained within the Qur’an and the Sunnah is true.

The angels are true, the punishment of the grave is true, the questioning of the two angels is true, the Resurrection is true, the gathering on the Day of Judgement is true, the Reckoning is true, the Scale is true, the Bridge is true, Intercession is true, the believers seeing Allah the Most High is true, Paradise is true, and the Fire is true. Both Paradise and the Fire will remain and will not cease to exist.

So seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

“O you who believe, believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the Book which He has sent down upon His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down before. Whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.”

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The central message of this khutbah is Aqeedah, the foundations of Islamic belief. It explains the meaning of the two testimonies of faith, firstly, belief in the absolute oneness, perfection and attributes of Allah, and secondly, accepting the truth of everything brought by the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

It then emphasises belief in the unseen and the Hereafter, including the angels, the grave, resurrection, the Day of Judgement, the Reckoning, the Scale, the Bridge, Intercession, seeing Allah in the Hereafter, Paradise and Hellfire. The concluding Qur’anic verse reinforces that faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day are fundamental elements of Islamic belief.

04/09/2026

This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, who bestowed upon His servants His Prophet and Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and revealed to him His Book, so that people might be guided upon the path of reflection and take lessons from its stories and accounts. Through it He established the upright way and the straight path, containing clear rulings and distinguishing between what is lawful and what is unlawful.

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that our master and master Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, upon whom the Qur’an was revealed so that he might be a warner to all creation. May Allah send His prayers and peace upon him and upon his companions, those who remembered the Qur’an and reminded the people through it.

As for what follows,

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it."

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "It will be said to the companion of the Qur’an, recite and ascend, and recite with measured recitation as you used to recite in the worldly life, for indeed your position will be at the last verse you recite."

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Indeed, the one who has nothing of the Qur’an within him is like a ruined house."

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah will receive one good deed for it, and each good deed is multiplied tenfold."

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Whoever recites the Qur’an and acts according to what it contains, regarding what is lawful as lawful and what is forbidden as forbidden, Allah will admit him into Paradise and will accept his intercession for ten members of his household for whom the Fire had become due."

So seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

"I swear by the positions of the stars, and indeed, it is a tremendous oath, if only you knew. Indeed, it is a noble Qur’an, in a well protected Book, which none touch except the purified."

===

The central message of this khutbah is our relationship with the Qur’an. It is not simply a Book to possess or occasionally recite, rather the khutbah encourages Muslims to learn it, teach it, recite it regularly, understand its guidance, and live according to what it declares lawful and unlawful.

It also emphasises the immense reward associated with the Qur’an, every letter recited carries reward, the Qur’an raises the rank of its companion in the Hereafter, and a believer should strive to ensure that the Qur’an has a genuine place within their heart and their daily life.

28/08/2026

This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside:

All praise is due to Allah, we glorify Him, seek His forgiveness, seek His guidance, believe in Him, and place our trust in Him, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Allah sent him with guidance, the religion of truth, light and admonition, after a period in which there had been no messengers, when knowledge had diminished, ignorance had spread among the people, time had drawn near to its end, and the Hour had approached. May Allah send His prayers and peace upon him.

As for what follows,

Obey Allah and His Messenger, for whoever obeys them is rightly guided, and whoever disobeys them has gone astray and transgressed.

I advise you to have Taqwa of Allah, for it is the best provision for the Muslim to carry with him into the Hereafter. Whoever commands others to have Taqwa of Allah should first take heed of it himself.

So beware of that which Allah has warned you against. There is no advice better than this, and there is no reminder greater than the remembrance of Allah.

Indeed, Taqwa for the one who acts upon it is a means of honour, dignity, and truthfulness in both private and public. It is to maintain between oneself and Allah a relationship that is not seen by other people, but which Allah knows.

A person may remember Allah openly in gatherings, yet forget Him when alone. But death will come, and after death every person will return to Allah. There is no escape from that.

So let the servant fear Allah in private as he fears Him in public, for Allah watches over His servants and knows what is hidden within them. Allah is the Ever Living who never dies.

The truthful believer is the one whose words and actions are sincere, and who does not behave differently merely because other people cannot see him.

Allah the Most High says, "O you who believe, fear Allah, and let every soul consider what it has sent forth for tomorrow."

Taqwa of Allah is to obey Him and not disobey Him, to remember Him and not forget Him, and to be grateful to Him and not be ungrateful to Him.

Whoever fears Allah, Allah will forgive his sins and grant him a tremendous reward. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has achieved a great success.

Indeed, Taqwa brings light to the face, tranquillity to the heart, and elevation in rank.

So take account of yourselves, and do not fall short in your duty towards Allah. Allah has made His Book clear to you so that He may distinguish those who are truthful from those who are false.

Strive for the sake of Allah as you ought to strive, and hold firmly to Allah, for He is your Protector.

Remember Allah abundantly, and know that whoever rectifies what is between himself and Allah, Allah will rectify what is between him and other people.

Whoever fears Allah does not need to wrong people, nor does he depend upon people, for his trust and reliance are upon Allah.

There is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Almighty.

---

The central message of this khutbah is genuine Taqwa, particularly the difference between simply appearing religious before other people and remaining conscious of Allah when nobody else is watching. It teaches that true Taqwa means obeying Allah, remembering Him, being grateful to Him, and maintaining sincerity in both private and public. It also reminds the believer to regularly take account of themselves, because ultimately every person will return to Allah.

07/08/2026

This weeks Khutbah at Murrayside:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, we glorify Him, seek His forgiveness, seek His guidance, believe in Him, and place our trust in Him, and we bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, whom He sent with guidance, the religion of truth, light and admonition, after a period in which there had been no messengers, when knowledge had diminished, ignorance had spread, time had drawn near to its end, and the Hour had approached. May Allah send His prayers and peace upon him.

As for what follows,

Fear Allah, for whoever fears Allah is rightly guided, and whoever turns away from Him is deprived and goes astray. I advise you to have Taqwa of Allah, for it is the best provision for the Muslim to carry with him into the Hereafter.

Whoever fears Allah and obeys His commands will be saved, so beware of that which Allah has warned you against. Taqwa is not merely something that is displayed outwardly, rather it is a quality of the heart and of one's character, and it is to be truthful with Allah in private and in public.

A person should be mindful of Allah whether he is alone or among others, for Allah knows what is hidden and what is apparent. Do not be among those who remember Allah openly, but forget Him when they are alone, for death will come and every person will return to Allah.

Allah knows what a person conceals within himself, and He is the Ever Living who never dies. The truthful believer is the one whose words and actions are sincere for Allah, and whose conduct remains upright whether people see him or not.

Allah the Most High says, "O you who believe, fear Allah, and let every soul consider what it has sent forth for tomorrow."

Taqwa of Allah is to obey Him and not disobey Him, to remember Him and not forget Him, and to be grateful to Him and not be ungrateful to Him.

Whoever fears Allah, Allah will grant him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect. Taqwa brings light to the face, tranquillity to the heart, and goodness into a person's affairs.

So return to your Lord, take account of yourselves, and do not fall short in your duty towards Allah. Allah knows which of you are truthful and which are false.

Strive in the cause of Allah with the striving that is due to Him, and hold firmly to Allah, for He is your Protector, and there is no power and no strength except through Allah.

Remember Allah abundantly, and know that whoever reconciles what is between himself and Allah, Allah will reconcile what is between him and other people. Whoever fears Allah does not seek to wrong others, nor does he allow himself to be controlled by the opinions of people, for his reliance is upon Allah.

There is no god except Allah, the Most Great, and there is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Almighty.

===

The central message of this khutbah is Taqwa, particularly the importance of being conscious of Allah both publicly and privately. It stresses that genuine Taqwa is not an outward appearance, but sincerity, obedience, gratitude, self examination, and awareness that Allah knows what a person does even when nobody else is watching.