IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE FOURTH KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF RABI‘ AL-AWWAL
DATED: 26TH OF RABI‘ AL-AWWAL, 1447 AH
CORRESPONDING TO (19/9/2025 CE)
TOPIC: THE MUSLIM FAMILY BETWEEN CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, we thank Him, we seek His help and His guidance, we ask His forgiveness, and we repent to Him. Whoever Allah guides is truly guided, and whoever He lets go astray, you will never find for him a guiding protector.
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. O Allah, send Your blessings, peace, and mercy upon him, his family, his Companions, and upon all those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed: Dear Servants of Allah, I enjoin you and myself, first and foremost, with the fear of Allah (taqwā), both in secret and in public. For indeed, it is the very purpose of all acts of worship, commands, and prohibitions. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾ (البقرة: 21)
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous.” (Al-Baqarah 2:21)
Among the objectives of Islamic law (Sharī‘ah) is the establishment of Muslim families and a Muslim society that carries the methodology of Allah, implements His Sharī‘ah, submits to His commands and prohibitions, and lives by the religion of Islam. Hence, the eyes of the enemies of Islam have always been fixed upon the Muslim family. Indeed, Muslims suffered what they suffered after the fall of the Caliphate, yet the Muslim family has remained the factory of men and the storehouse of strength for the Ummah.
There is no doubt that some of these challenges are caused by ourselves, while others are the plots of our enemies, being part of their war against our creed and our morals.
O servants of Allah, here are some of these challenges that threaten the very existence of the Muslim family:
1. Weakness of Faith and Neglect of Trust
When faith is lost, there is no security, and there is no worldly life for the one who does not live with a religion. A woman is married for various reasons—for her beauty, her wealth, her lineage, and her religion. The Prophet ﷺ advised, as narrated in al-Bukhārī:
“So marry the one who is religious, may your hands be covered with dust (i.e., may you prosper).”
And he warned against the evil woman.
Weakness of faith, neglect of trust, and turning away from the remembrance of Allah are grave dangers that threaten families with destruction. Along with them, the beneficial upbringing of sons and daughters is lost, and the noble objectives behind establishing a Muslim family are forgotten. This leads to a life of distress and misery, whether caused by men or women. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا﴾ (طه: 124)
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life.” (Tā Hā 20:124)
Ibn Kathīr said: “That is, in this world—he will have no tranquility, nor will his chest be expanded. Rather, his chest will be tight and constrained due to his misguidance. Even if outwardly he enjoys luxuries, wears what he wishes, eats what he wishes, and resides wherever he wishes, his heart, so long as it does not attain certainty and guidance, will remain in anxiety, confusion, and doubt. He will constantly be in uncertainty, wavering. This is what is meant by a depressed life.”
Family happiness is attained through faith and righteous deeds. Allah says:
﴿ذَلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ﴾ (هود: 65)
“That is a promise not to be denied.” (Hūd 11:65)
And He, the Exalted, says:
﴿مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾ (النحل: 97)
“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” (An-Naḥl 16:97)
These are the travelers (on the path of Allah), and what has been mentioned of their deeds and states is their path. Since they trod the straight path with upright action, their journey ended at the best destination and station – the abode of eternal bliss, in the company of the Most Merciful, the Compassionate.
In the authentic report, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A thankful heart, a tongue that remembers (Allah), and a righteous wife who helps you in matters of your religion and your worldly life—these are better than all that people hoard.”
These three combine all that is required for worldly and hereafter success, and they aid one in both. The reason for this is that gratitude brings increase, remembrance spreads Allah’s friendship, and a righteous wife preserves a man’s religion and worldly affairs and assists him in them.
Evil Companionship
Bad companions pose a danger that threatens the family with collapse, whether by offering unlawful gifts, spreading poisonous speech disguised as advice, or through the exchange of presents. Whether it comes through a work colleague, a classmate, a corrupter engaged in gossip or slander, or simply through phone conversations, it is all a threat from which protection is necessary.
Ibn Bādīs said:
“If you want to know the worst of your companions, and the one most deserving of your abandonment and distancing, then look at what he encourages you towards and what he discourages you from. If you find him turning you away from the Qur’an and from what the Qur’an has brought, then beware of him, for that is the truest sign of his wickedness and the evil end of being close to him. Distance yourself from him in this world before you bite your hands in regret over his companionship in the Hereafter. But if you find him encouraging you towards the Qur’an and what it has brought, then he is the pure and truthful friend—hold on to him and preserve that bond. Indeed, a friendship built upon returning to the Qur’an, loving one another for the Qur’an, and advising one another through the Qur’an is a friendship that benefits both in this world and the Hereafter, because it is built on the foundation of taqwā.”
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿الْأَخِلَّاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾ (الزخرف: 67)
“Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other—except for the righteous.” (Az-Zukhruf 43:67)
The enmity of close friends will arise from the very bond they shared in life. In worldly life, they gathered upon evil, urging one another deeper into misguidance. But on that Day, they will blame each other, each throwing upon the other the burden of misguidance and the consequence of evil. Once they were intimate companions, whispering to one another; today, they will turn into adversaries, rebuking one another,
﴿إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾ except for the righteous. Their affection will remain, for their bond was built upon guidance, their advice was upon goodness, and their end is salvation. (Fi Ẓilāl al-Qur’an, 5/3201)
Surrendering the Leadership of the Family to the Woman
Since the man spends most of his time at work, he is no longer available to care for his family and raise his children, except for very little. The father returns home in the evening to eat and sleep, then leaves early in the morning for work. He does not know how his wife and children spend their time, where they go, or how they behave. He leaves them without supervision. All of this has led to catastrophic problems that threaten the family, due to the absence of the captain, leader, and guide of the family ship, and his failure to fulfill the role required of him.
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿الرِّجالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّساءِ بِما فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلى بَعْضٍ وَبِما أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ﴾ (النساء: 34)
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given one more (strength) than the other, and because they spend from their wealth.” (An-Nisāʾ 4:34)
Marital life is a social life, and every community must have a leader; for people living together will inevitably differ in opinions and desires regarding some matters, and their interests cannot be preserved unless they have a leader whose judgment is referred to in cases of disagreement. Otherwise, each would act against the other, leading to the breaking of unity and disorder.
The man is more deserving of leadership, because he is more knowledgeable of interests, more capable of execution with his strength and wealth. Hence, he is the one required by Sharīʿah to protect the woman and provide for her, while she is required to obey him in what is lawful and good.
Expanding the Circle of Disputes
Disputes between spouses without foresight, overburdening issues beyond their limits, magnifying trivial matters, widening the circle of discord, and involving multiple parties in disputes, all of these destroy families rather than build them, hasten their breakdown, and cause hostility among their members.
The strong one is not the one who overcomes others in wrestling, but the one who controls himself at times of anger. Forbearance, pardon, and forgiveness are noble morals to which the Qur’an calls, not signs of weakness nor evidence of defeat, as Satan may whisper. Indeed, the best of people are those slow to anger and quick to return (to calmness), while the worst of them are quick to anger and slow to reconcile.
THE SECOND SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, who commanded supporting the oppressed and promised relief to His patient servants. 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’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his Companions altogether.
Solutions
1 Effective Leadership (Qiwaamah):
The man’s responsibility over his family is not only by fulfilling their material needs. There are other matters he must follow and care for, namely, the moral and psychological aspects of his wife and children, monitoring their behavior and conduct, and feeling the greatness of the responsibility placed upon his shoulders. As the Prophet ﷺ said: “All of you are shepherds, and all of you will be asked about your flock.” (Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
2 Utilizing Time:
Especially during holidays, free times, and blessed seasons, the man should sit with his family, listen to their problems and address them, teach his wife and children a page from the Qur’an, read from Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, even if only one hadith each day, and ask his wife and children about their prayers, fasting, and daily devotions. All of this leads to the cohesion and righteousness of the family structure.
3 Monitoring the children:
Set a schedule for their use of the Internet and social media together with your wife — for example, one hour per day — because addiction to these media makes a person a captive of his desires and passions. It is the father’s duty to know his son’s real and virtual friends, for a person follows the religion of his close companion.
4 Strengthening the religious conscience:
Instill in the hearts of family members a religious restraint and plant seeds of love and harmony among them. Mention examples from the Prophet’s ﷺ behavior and from the righteous predecessors in their dealings with their wives and children. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ﴾ (الأحزاب: 21)
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example.” (Al-Aḥzāb 33:21)
Religious restraint (al-waaziʿ al-deeniy) is the tremendous moral force of faith; were a servant equipped with it while standing at the limits prescribed by Allah, he would not even think of committing what is forbidden, let alone put hand or limb to it.
5 Foiling the enemies’ plots:
How much the Ummah needs sincere, righteous men who think for it, consult over the affairs of their nation and religion, expose the enemies’ schemes, and make preparations to rescue their nation from falling into the enemies’ snares. They must protect their religion from distortion, omission, or addition, and convey it as it came from Allah, clarifying the truths and exposing the enemies’ plans and methods, as well as those who follow them. Thus, a culture of intellectual immunity and resistance to ideological invasion will be formed among the generality of Muslims.
I ask Allah to grant victory to His religion, His Book, and the Sunnah of His Prophet; to nullify the plots of the enemies; and to enable us to rise to the level of the challenges and conspiracies being hatched to wage war against our religion. One of our greatest trials is that we are stung repeatedly from the dens of the disbelievers.
Supplication: O Allah, honor Islam and the Muslims. O Allah, grant victory to the oppressed in Gaza and the West Bank. O Allah, have mercy on their martyrs, heal their wounded, and free their captives. O Allah, protect Qatar and all Muslim lands from the plots of the enemies. O Allah, make the schemes of the Zionists fall upon their own necks; strengthen Your foot against them and bring down upon them Your punishment which does not fail the criminal people.
O Allah, help the mujahidin in your cause, unite their hearts, unify their ranks, and guide them to follow your book and the sunnah of your prophet. O Allah, prepare for us the means to liberate al-masjid al-aqsa, and guide the Muslims, rulers and ruled, to establish your shariah and help your religion. O Allah, deal with the aggressive Jews and with those who aid them from the Christians and the hypocrites. O Allah, take revenge on them, cause discord among their words, shake their footing, and send upon them your undeniable punishment, for you are the answerer of prayers, worthy of answering, and able to do so.
Indeed, You respond to supplications and are powerful over them. May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.