Friday khutba – February 27, 2026 (9 Ramadan 1447 AH)
Encouraging Righteous Deeds
All praise is due to Allah. We worship Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and that Muhammad ((salla lláhu ʻalayhi wa sallam)) is His servant and Messenger.
“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak words of truth and correctness. He will rectify your deeds and forgive your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a tremendous success.”
Servants of Allah, fear Allah as He truly deserves to be feared. Hasten to perform righteous deeds before your appointed time comes to an end. Salvation lies only in righteous action, and on the Day of Judgment nothing will benefit a person except what he has sent forth of good.
Allah the Almighty says: “O you who believe, fear Allah, and let every soul consider what it has prepared for tomorrow.” (59:18)
Righteous deeds are provisions for the Hereafter. Through them we enter Paradise, and for them we were created. Allah, Glorified be He, says: “I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51:56)
And He says: “He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deeds.” (67:2)
How many people neglect good deeds, and when death approaches them, they wish for just a little more time, saying: “My Lord, return me to the world so that I may do righteousness in what I neglected.” (23:99–100)
But they will be told: “No.” The time for action will have passed, and the time for recompense will have begun.
In the Qur’an, Allah uses many ways to encourage righteous deeds. Sometimes He commands them directly: “O Messengers, eat from the good things and act righteously. Indeed, I am fully aware of what you do.” (23:51) And: “Say, ‘Work, for Allah will see your deeds, as will His Messenger and the believers.’” (9:105)
At other times, He joins faith and righteous action together and promises a great reward:
“Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous deeds shall have their reward with their Lord. No fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve.” (2:62)
“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds will have the Gardens of Paradise as their eternal home.” (18:107–108)
Allah even swears that mankind is in loss except those who combine faith with righteous action: “By time, indeed mankind is in loss, except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, and encourage one another to truth and patience.” (103:1–3)
Dear brothers and sisters, every word and every deed is recorded. Nothing is lost.
“Not a word does a person utter except that there is an observer ready to record it.” (50:18)
“Over you are noble recorders who know whatever you do.” (82:10–12)
“Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (99:7–8)
On the Day of Resurrection, deeds will be weighed on the scales of justice: “As for those whose scales are heavy, they will be successful. But those whose scales are light, they will have lost themselves.” (23:102–103)
On that Day, nothing will benefit a person except his efforts: “That man will have nothing except what he strives for, and his striving will be seen, then he will be rewarded in full.” (53:39–41)
However, deeds are only accepted if two essential conditions are fulfilled: sincere devotion to Allah alone and following the guidance of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Prophet (salla lláhu ʻalayhi wa sallam) said: “Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will have what he intended.”
He also said: “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our matter, it will be rejected.”
Therefore, purify your intentions and ensure your actions follow the Sunnah.
Remember that Allah knows what is apparent and what is hidden: “Indeed, I am fully aware of what you do.” (23:51) “And Allah is fully aware of all that you do.” (63:11)
“He knows what is within the hearts.” (67:11)
Our time in this world is short. Life is limited, and death is certain. Obstacles may prevent us from doing good later, so seize the opportunity now.
“Race toward good deeds.” (2:148)
“Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden as vast as the heavens and the earth.” (3:133)
“Compete for forgiveness from your Lord.” (57:21)
The Prophet (salla lláhu ʻalayhi wa sallam) warned:
“Hasten to good deeds before you are overtaken by overwhelming poverty, distracting wealth, debilitating illness, old age, sudden death, the Dajjal, or the Hour—and the Hour is even more severe and bitter.”
Obstacles will always come, and opportunities may never return.
Blessed are those who make the most of their days, who are sincere in their intentions, constant in their good deeds, and who stand before their Lord with righteous actions—hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment.
“As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, they will rejoice in a garden.” (30:15)
May Allah make us among them.
