IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE FIFTH KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF ALLAH, AL-MUḤARRAM
DATED: 30TH MUHARRAM, 1447 AH (25TH JULY, 2025 CE)
TOPIC: THE OBLIGATION OF SELF-REFORMATION AND PURIFICATION
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, ask His forgiveness, and repent to Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils within ourselves and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomever He allows to go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah send peace and abundant blessings upon him, his family, and his companions.
To proceed:
O servants of Allah! Fear Allah the Exalted, in accordance with His saying:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” (Surah Āli ‘Imrān, 3:102)
Strive to rectify both your inner and outer selves, and draw closer to your Lord through sincere intentions and righteous secrets. Allah the Exalted said:
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا (9) وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا﴾
“He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who instills it [with corruption].” (Surah ash-Shams, 91: 9–10)
And He also said:
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى (14) وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى﴾
“He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself and mentions the name of his Lord and prays.”
(Surah al-A‘lā, 87:14–15)
Allah has thus linked true success to the one who purifies his soul, cleanses his heart of base traits, remembers his Lord, performs prayer, and adorns himself with virtues. And He has decreed loss and failure for the one who defiles his soul with evil.
O noble Muslims! This is the fifth and final gathering in the month of Allah, al-Muḥarram. Today, we shall focus our discourse on: “The Obligation of Self-Reformation and Purification.”
O brothers in faith, Allah has made success for the one who purifies his soul because it is a noble and significant act. When a person attains self-purification, all forms of abundant goodness are completed for him.
May Allah have mercy on the servant who takes pride in purifying his heart—cleansing it from showing off to people, refining it with sincerity and truthfulness for the sake of the Truth. He purifies it from conceit, arrogance, and pride over others, and adorns it with the ornament of humility, the best of garments. He cleanses it from deceit, envy, and hatred, and beautifies it with the will to do good and sincere advice for all. He purifies it from inclinations toward sins—the disease of desires—and from the diseases of doubts, skepticism, and misconceptions. He beautifies it with sound reasoning inclined toward righteousness, a firm and honest withdrawal from prohibitions, and a pursuit of beneficial knowledge that leads to certainty, and sound evidence and proofs. (Tafsir as-Sa‘di)
When a servant adheres to this path, Allah heals him from whims and spiritual ailments. Through that, he attains success, remains steadfast upon guidance, and none of this is possible except by the help and grace of Allah. Allah the Exalted said:
﴿وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾
“And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever; but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Surah an-Nūr, 24:21)
The Prophet ﷺ would supplicate earnestly to his Lord, seeking piety and purification of the soul from every evil. He would say:
“O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the best to purify it. You are its Guardian and Master.” (Reported by Muslim)
O Muslims, the purification of the soul consists of two essential pillars without which it is incomplete:
- Emptying and freeing the soul from everything that does not concern or benefit it; and
- Adorning and occupying it with what is beneficial, meaningful, and leads to salvation.
O Muslims! A person must give utmost attention to what guarantees his salvation and deliverance. He should limit his focus to what ensures his happiness and success—namely, what brings him benefit in both his worldly life and the Hereafter, and what repels harm from both realms. So it is truly upon you, O servant, to strive earnestly in purifying your soul so that you may attain success. Seek the help of Allah in reforming your heart, for He is the Most Generous, the Opener of hearts. Indeed, Allah does not look at your outward appearance or wealth, but rather, by His mercy, He looks at pure hearts and sincere deeds.
O servants of Allah! A person cannot enter Paradise or be saved from Hellfire except through the purification and discipline of his soul. Whoever desires to purify and perfect his soul must take two major steps in nurturing it:
The first step is to compel the soul—even if it is reluctant—to perform the obligatory duties and religious obligations. He must immediately abandon everything Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have forbidden. He must command his soul with strength and firmness in both doing good and abstaining from evil. Thereafter, he should adorn it with noble manners and beautiful conduct.
This is the Prophetic method of self-reformation and purification. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Indeed Allah has said: ‘My servant does not draw nearer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. And My servant continues to draw nearer to Me through voluntary acts until I love him. And when I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely grant him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.” (Reported by al-Bukhārī)
The second step in purifying the soul is to seek out a righteous servant who is knowledgeable of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and acquainted with the way of the righteous predecessors (salaf). He must be insightful regarding the faults of the soul, experienced in its states, and one who can assist him in righteousness and piety, offer sincere advice, and help him train his soul and guide it to the obedience of Allah. The person should make a sincere commitment to obey this guide in matters of the religion, bearing patience in doing so.
Dear brothers, the destruction of nations occurs due to the spread of sins, transgressions, and evils. This is clearly mentioned in the Noble Qur’an, where Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُواْ وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا﴾
“And those cities – We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time.” (Surah al-Kahf, 18:59)
Meaning: We destroyed them due to their disbelief and defiance. Allah the Almighty also said:
﴿وَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُواْ فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا الْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَـٰهَا تَدْمِيرًا﴾
“And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word [i.e., decree] comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.”
(Surah al-Isrā’, 17:16)
So, when the corrupt affluent ones conspire and spread evil and immorality among the Muslims, and the people remain silent, failing in their duty to enjoin good and forbid evil, Allah’s punishment befalls them all. Then they may call upon Him, but their supplication will not be answered. And truly, Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَاتَّقُواْ فِتْنَةً لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنكُمْ خَاصَّةً وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ﴾
“And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty.” (Surah al-Anfāl, 8:25)
Dear brothers, in the path of purifying the souls of its children, the Ummah must adhere to important steps—among them: selecting people of faith and piety from among the scholars, callers to Islam, preachers, and admonishers—so that the nation may be taught, guided, and nurtured through them. As Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَلْتَكُنْ مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾
“And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.” (Surah Āli ‘Imrān, 3:104)
Among the essential means for nurturing the Ummah is that its guidance, teaching, and upbringing must stem from two complete and sufficient sources with no third: The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. All other books containing innovation and falsehood must be discarded—so that the Ummah grows upon knowing the truth, practicing it, and abandoning everything else. As Allah the Most High says:
﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion.” (Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:3)
Muslims must rid themselves of desires, doubts, and lusts. When a Muslim purifies himself from these inner corruptions, it becomes easier for him to know his Lord, Creator, and Provider. Then he welcomes divine rulings and commands with love, knowledge, and faith. He delights in fulfilling them and rejoices in performing them. Allah says:
﴿الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ﴾
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Surah ar-Ra‘d, 13:28)
We ask Allah for guidance and success.
O servants of Allah! Success and triumph in this world and the Hereafter are in the Hands of Allah alone, without any partner. With Him are the treasures of all things. He does whatever He wills with His power, and He is in no need of anyone. He, Glorified is He, has made success and triumph for anyone who obeys His commands according to the path of the Prophet ﷺ.
Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fulfills His commandments, avoids the prohibitions, and remains steadfast upon that path until he meets his Lord—he will have attained Paradise and will be saved from the Fire. As Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ﴾
“And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger – He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein; and that is the great success.” (Surah an-Nisā’, 4:13)
On the other hand, whoever disbelieves in Allah and disobeys Allah and His Messenger—He will admit him into the Fire. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَلَهُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ﴾
“But whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.” (Surah an-Nisā’, 4:14)
Thus, Allah has made entrance into Paradise conditional upon obeying Him and His Messenger, and He has made entrance into the Fire the result of disobedience to Him and His Messenger.
O noble ones! Among the most beneficial means for purifying and refining the soul is contemplating the Qur’an and focusing deeply on its meanings, rulings, manners, and sciences. The Qur’anic verses open before the servant the realities of good and evil in full detail, clarify their paths, outcomes, and the fate of their people. They place in his hands the keys to the treasures of happiness in this world and the next. The Qur’an refines the mind with beneficial knowledge, affirms the foundations of faith in the heart, displays to him the fleeting nature of this world and the everlasting Hereafter. It shows him the image of Paradise and Hell, places him among past nations, presents the Days of Allah in their lives, teaches him about Allah—His names, attributes, actions, justice, and grace—and clarifies to him what Allah loves and is pleased with, as well as what He hates and detests among words and deeds.
Reflecting over the Qur’an introduces the servant to the path that leads to his Lord, and what honors await him upon reaching Him. It also acquaints him with Satan—what he calls to, the path that leads to him, and the humiliation and punishment awaiting his followers on the Day of Judgment. How beautiful is the contemplation of the Qur’an, the taking of its admonitions to heart, adopting its etiquettes, following its paths and rulings, and reflecting over the meanings of its verses! Allah says:
﴿كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ﴾
“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” (Surah Ṣād, 38:29)
O Allah, guide us to the best of character and deeds. May Allah bless me and you through the Noble Qur’an, and benefit us with its verses and wise reminders. I say these words of mine and seek Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you. So seek His forgiveness and repent to Him.
THE SECOND SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. He is the One who says in His Glorious Book:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾
“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Surah al-Mā’idah, 5:51)
We praise Him, glorify Him, believe in Him, rely upon Him, and send blessings and peace upon the best of Allah’s creation—our master and leader Muhammad ﷺ, and upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed…
O servants of Allah, it is important to mention in the face of this ongoing humiliation and suffering, the plight of our weak and oppressed brothers in Glorious Gaza, at the hands of the Israeli occupation and their supporters across the East and West. And Allah is the one whose help is sought against what they describe.
وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ
“And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.”
— Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:227)
Al-Azhar’s Post and Its Withdrawal Minutes Later
On Tuesday, 22 July 2025, His Eminence Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyib, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, issued a global appeal and heartfelt plea to all people of conscience for an immediate movement to save the people of Gaza from a deadly famine.
Al-Azhar Al-Sharif raised its anguished voice and global cry—full of pain—calling upon people of conscience, the free, the wise, and the noble across the world, who still feel the prick of conscience and who believe in the sanctity of humanitarian responsibility and the rights of the oppressed, to move urgently and immediately to rescue the people of Gaza from this deadly famine imposed by the occupation with force, brutality, and unparalleled indifference—unmatched in history, and likely unmatched in the future as well…
Al-Azhar Media Center Explains Why the Statement Was Withdrawn
On Wednesday afternoon, 23 July 2025, the Media Center of Al-Azhar issued a statement explaining the reasons behind the withdrawal of its prior post regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The statement responded to various reactions on social media and clarified that the decision stemmed from the responsibility that Al-Azhar Al-Sharif bears before Allah the Almighty toward the causes of our Arab and Islamic nations—at the forefront of which is the Palestinian cause and the support of the oppressed people of Gaza.
“Prioritizing the Greater Good”
The statement continued:
“Al-Azhar has prioritized the greater interest of preserving lives, which are shed daily in Gaza, hoping that the negotiations would result in an immediate cessation of the bloodshed and provision of the most basic necessities of life that this oppressed Palestinian people have been denied.”
It concluded with the words:
“While Al-Azhar confirms this matter with all honesty and a deep sense of responsibility before Allah, it prays that Allah Almighty grants the people of Gaza more patience, steadfastness, and tranquility, and that He protect them with His ever-watchful eye. Verily, He is their Guardian and All-Capable over all things.”
Supplication (Duʿā’)
O Allah, forgive us our sins, our errors, and our transgressions against ourselves. You are more aware of our sins than we are. None forgives sins except You.
O Allah, grant us a good ending, and make us among the people of Paradise, and save us from the Hellfire — by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.
O Allah, grant glory to Islam and the Muslims, and disgrace to disbelief and the disbelievers.
O Allah, we seek refuge in You from them and ask for Your protection against their evil.
O Allah, unite the hearts of the Muslims upon the truth.
O Allah, grant victory, honor, dominance, strength, awe, and fear (in the hearts of their and our enemies) to the people of Palestine.
O Allah, heal their wounded, free their prisoners, and relieve them from the siege.
O Allah, lift their suffering and remove their hardship.
O Allah, grant victory to their Mujāhidīn through Your power and by Your soldiers, O Lord of the worlds.
O Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, rectify our leaders, and guide them to what You love and are pleased with.
O Allah, forgive our deceased and the deceased among the Muslims.
O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds.