“Seek companions with certain qualities according to what [you] want to get out of the relationship.” Citing the Quran, Hadith, and statements of the pious, Ustadh Yusuf Weltch explains the three reasons that cause one to sin and their cure. Included in the discussion is the importance of making sincere dua (supplications) and how to do so, as well as the necessity of good companionship.The weekly Jumua, or Friday, Congregational prayer is livestreamed from Al-Maqasid from 1:15pm-2:10pm. Connect...
Jun 24, 2022•40 min
“We have windows that open up in our lives, doors that open up, and you have to go through them—because sometimes those doors might not ever open up again.” In Chapter 10 of Riyad al-Salihin (Gardens of the Righteous), Imam Nawawi discusses the virtues of hastening to good deeds and being steadfast in doing so. In this khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus focuses on a well-known Hadith mentioned in this chapter which encourages one to hasten to good deeds before trials and tribulations come like successi...
Jun 17, 2022•34 min
“The beauty of Islam and the beauty of the revelation that we have and the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is that…we are always able to understand objectively what is good in the sight of Allah ﷻ and what is disliked and forbidden in the sight of Allah ﷻ.” The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us that at the end of time there will be an inversion and reversal of realities. We now live in a society defined by desire, where modesty (haya) is seen as something strange. In this khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin...
Jun 10, 2022•29 min
“Shaytan is calculating. He will take a route of 1000 miles only to get you into a hole which is 3 feet away from you.” In this extremely instructive khutba based on numerous verses in the Quran and Hadith, Shaykh Alaudeen Us’Sutteri discusses how Muslims should deal with (1) Allah and (2) Creation – specifically self, shaytan, parents, spouses, children, Muslims, non-Muslims, and animals.
Jun 03, 2022•40 min
“The way that we look at the world is the way that the world looks at us.” In a Hadith Qudsi (where the meaning is from Allah, but the phrasing is from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), Allah the Exalted says, “I am in the opinion of My servant.” In this uplifting Khutba based on numerous hadith and stories of the righteous, Ustadh Hasan Petrus explains why it is paramount—and indeed one of the secrets of life— to have a good opinion of Allah in both times of ease and in times of difficulties. He also de...
May 27, 2022•28 min
“[Adab] is the gathering point; it is that one reality within the human being, that one dimension that includes all aspects of good.” Adab is an Arabic word that contains such a richness of meaning that makes it difficult to translate. Words such as etiquette, good manners, and comportment are often used in an attempt to convey its meaning, though they still fall short in capturing its full depth. One of the righteous said that the crisis of our time is a lack of adab. In this extremely importan...
May 20, 2022•38 min
“O My servants, I have forbidden wrongdoing for Myself and I have made it forbidden for you. Therefore, do not wrong one another. O My servants, all of you are lost except for those whom I have guided. Therefore, seek guidance from Me and I will guide you…” In his compilation of Forty Hadith, Imam Nawawi chose the most important and central hadith that comprehensively provide an understanding of the essential aspects of the religion. In this Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin discusses Hadith #24, a Ha...
May 13, 2022•29 min
“One of the things that the end of Ramadan teaches us is … about the nature of death itself.” On this last Jumua in Ramadan, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin asks us to reflect upon how Ramadan has brought us nearer to Allah the Exalted so that we continue to seek His good pleasure and nearness after the month ends. Ustadh Amjad also tells of the allegory of the generous king and the final request made by the individual who stayed behind.
May 06, 2022•28 min
“The eternal Home in the Hereafter We reserve only for those who seek neither tyranny nor corruption on the earth.” Shaykh Yahya Rhodus relates the story of Qarun—who was from the people of Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, but a close associate of the Pharaoh—as a reminder of the proper attitude towards receiving Divine gifts in this life (see Sura al-Qasas, 28:76-83). He uses this Quranic account to explain the importance of seeking the Hereafter and how to use blessings in ways that increase u...
Apr 29, 2022•32 min
“If you don’t cry, force yourself to cry.” The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Seven [categories of people] will be shaded by Allah in His shade on the Day of Resurrection when there will be no shade except His shade.” In this Khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses the seven categories of people who will be shaded and explains how each of us has an opportunity to fall within at least one of those categories. The weekly Jumua, or Friday, Congregational prayer is livestreamed from Al-Maqasid from 1:15pm-...
Apr 22, 2022•35 min
“This is the way we should be navigating our path to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala – being careful of every step we take.” As we near the end of the first ten days of this most sacred month of Ramadan, Shaykh Alaudeen Us’Sutteri reminds us of the purpose of fasting and its many potential benefits to encourage us to make the most out of the time that is left. The weekly Jumua, or Friday, Congregational prayer is livestreamed from Al-Maqasid from 1:15pm-2:10pm. Connect with us online at https://www.al...
Apr 15, 2022•25 min
“The easiest part of Ramadan is leaving food and drink.” Ramadan is known as ‘Ramadan al-Karim’ or ‘The Generous Ramadan’ because of the numerous blessings it offers to believers. In this Khutba, Ustadh Hasan Petrus discusses several ways in which Ramadan is a unique opportunity to improve one’s character and gain the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. He also reads the Khutba that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ delivered on the last day of Shaban extolling the many blessings of this most sacred month. The ...
Apr 08, 2022•30 min
“Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west…” Islam is a comprehensive way of life, and we are expected to embrace the religion in its totality with the ultimate goal of coming to know Allah the Exalted. In this Khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus explains how Allah the Exalted defines true piety in verse 177 of Sura al-Baqara.The weekly Jumua, or Friday, Congregational prayer is livestreamed from Al-Maqasid from 1:15pm-2:10pm. Connect with us online at https://www.almaqasid.or...
Apr 01, 2022•34 min
“O Allah, through your knowledge of the unseen and your power over creation, give me life as long as you know that life is good for me…” Supplication is the essence of worship and an opportunity for an intimate conversation with your Lord. Supplication also teaches us what we need and how we should be. In this Khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus recites, translates, and explains a comprehensive Prophetic supplication ﷺ, of which it has been said: there is no angel who has been brought near, and no Proph...
Mar 25, 2022•33 min
“There is no [true] life after which there is death…and there is no true death after which there is eternal life.” According to a well-known hadith, Allah the Exalted does not look at our outward form but at our internal character and deeds. In this khutba, Ustadh Yusuf Weltch stresses that each person must carefully examine the state of his or her heart and provides four ways to discover one’s faults. He also relates examples of where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and later his great grandson Imam ‘Al...
Mar 18, 2022•42 min
“If we really want the Quran to enter our hearts, we have to be connected to the heart that received the Quran.” After turning to Allah the Exalted in repentance and cleansing our hearts of sin in the sacred month of Rajab, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains how sending abundant blessings (salawat) on the Prophet ﷺ in Sha’ban prepares us for the most blessed month of Ramadan. He also mentions many of the benefits of sending salawat and the smallest amount to do to be considered abundant.The weekly Jum...
Mar 11, 2022•27 min
“If we spend our life following our desires, that’s not your true self.” The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught the Companions (and us all by extension) the importance of loving him ﷺ more than anything else—not for his own benefit ﷺ, but for the immense blessings it brings them. In this timely reflection as Shaban, the month of the Prophet ﷺ, approaches, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus mentions three seminal Hadith and two verses in the Qur’an to explain why the degree to which we love the Prophet ﷺ is the degree t...
Mar 04, 2022•28 min
“The people of the Quran are the people of Allah and His elect. His special choicest of people. They are the ones [whom] Allah (Glorious and Exalted) loves uniquely.” One of the righteous, when reciting the Quran, tasted honey out of his love, reverence, and yearning for it. It has been said that if you want to gauge your relationship with Allah the Exalted, look at your relationship with the Quran. In this Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin relates inspiring stories of people of the Quran and tells us...
Feb 25, 2022•28 min
“There are eight Gates to Paradise. All of them open at certain times and close at others—except for the Gate of Repentance.” Imam Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, a great scholar and sufi during the time of the salaf (first three generations after the Prophet ﷺ) was once a feared and infamous highway robber. Upon hearing the recitation of verse 16 in Surah al-Hadid (57:16), he made a complete repentance. In this khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin relates the story of Imam Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad’s remarkable transformation...
Feb 18, 2022•24 min
“Allah has in His earth containers, hearts,…and the best of them are the purest, the firmest, and the most brittle.” We can either follow the footsteps of Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, and repent when we transgress against ourselves or others; or follow those of Shaytan, the accursed, the archetype of arrogance. In this reflection—which is especially relevant in this sacred month of Rajab, the month of repentance—Shaykh Yahya Rhodus quotes several verses from the Quran where Allah the Exalted...
Feb 11, 2022•35 min
“There’s nothing wrong with asking, but where is the heart?” In the Quran, Allah the Exalted never commands us to outward means, but only to religious means. Ustadh Yusuf Weltch discusses four acts of worship where Allah the Exalted explicitly promises to help a believer in times of need. Ustadh Yusuf then ends with two specific prayers that should be done on a routine basis when seeking Allah’s help. The weekly Jumua, or Friday, Congregational prayer is livestreamed from Al-Maqasid from 12:15pm...
Feb 04, 2022•31 min
“The beginning of knowledge is silence.” Allah the Exalted praises those who listen attentively to the recitation of the Quran and warns those who have a cavalier attitude. In fact, he states that listening is the key to all effective communication. In this informative Khutba, Ustadh Hasan Petrus explains the three degrees of listening, the components of active listening and its benefits, signs of not listening, and the five steps to gaining knowledge. The weekly Jumua, or Friday, Congregational...
Jan 28, 2022•25 min
“O Allah, place light in my heart and light in my grave. Light in my hearing and light in my sight. Light in my hair and light in my skin. Light in my flesh and light in my blood…” Ustadh Amjad Tarsin recites and provides scholarly commentary on this powerful and comprehensive Prophetic Dua (supplication) seeking Allah the Exalted’s Light that should be done consistently before Fajr. This practice is especially important in these times of confusion, loss of morality, and inversion of realities.T...
Jan 21, 2022•24 min
“The means is just an appearance and actually Allah [the Exalted] is doing everything behind the scenes.” In this reflection, Ustadh Yusuf Weltch discusses the statement of Tawhid, la ilaha illallah (there is no god but God), and its opposite, shirk (associating partners with Allah the Exalted). He mentions several types of shirk, some of which take someone out of Islam, and others which are haram (impermissible). He then focuses primarily on one type of shirk—believing the means are the actual ...
Jan 14, 2022•37 min
“When you think of the deceased, consider yourself amongst them.” The definition of true success can be found in the Quran: “Whoever is spared from the Fire and admitted into Paradise will indeed triumph, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.” [3:185] In this reflection, Ustadh Yusuf Weltch discusses the four signs of wretchedness that lead to the Fire, which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us about, and explains their cure. He also mentions the biggest sign tha...
Jan 07, 2022•44 min
“Do whatever you can for Allah (Glorious and Exalted), but recognize that you have to do something.” Every Muslim has the responsibility to tell the Truth as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and conveyed to us. We should share the Message of Islam with wisdom and beautiful reminders. Ustadh Amjad Tarsin provides a beautiful example of the Companions‘ willingness to sacrifice all for the truth with the story of the Prophet’s cousin, Sayyidina Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him,...
Jan 05, 2022•31 min
In a well-known hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentions two qualities that Allah the Exalted loves, one of which is deliberation. In this Khutba, Ustadh Hasan Petrus explains its meaning in the Islamic context and gives three examples of it in the Quran. He also mentions several benefits that arise from deliberating. With today’s social media and the ability to pass on information instantaneously, it has never been so important to work towards acquiring this virtue.
Dec 24, 2021•26 min
Habib Ali al-Jifri identifies four ways to protect one’s family and their faith from today’s challenges. In this series, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains each of them, beginning with establishing the family on the love of Allah the Exalted and the awareness that He sees us at all times. He also provides numerous practical examples on how to implement these teachings immediately in one’s family.
Dec 17, 2021•30 min
“[The heart] is the locus of the gaze of the Real.” In this both enlightening and practical khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus gives a detailed discussion on Shaykh Ibrahim al-Khawas’s advice on how to rectify and purify one’s heart. Shaykh Ibrahim al-Khawas was among the elect of the righteous in the 3rd Islamic century and known for his complete trust (tawakkul) in Allah the Exalted.
Dec 10, 2021•34 min
“The things that are perceived at a sensory level, at a very superficial level, that’s not all of reality.” Ustadh Amjad Tarsin shares a profound hadith, which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described as “wondrous” (‘ajaban), that shows the benefits of performing righteous actions in this world which manifest and become a reality in the Unseen World.
Dec 03, 2021•27 min
