By Arshad Gamiet

Khutbah: Resilience in hard times…

“A-ūthubillāhi minash shayṭānir rajīm. Bismillāhir Rahmānir Rahīm

Alhamdu lil Lāhi nahmaduhū wanasta’īnahū, wanastagh;-firuhū, wanatūbu ilayhi, wana’ūthu Billāhi min shurūri an-fusinā, wamin sayyi āti a’mālinā. May- Yahdil-lahū fa huwal muhtad, wa may- yudlill falantajidā lahū walīyan murshidā. Wa ash-hadu an Lā-ilāha ill-Allāh, wahdahū lā sharīkalah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhū warasūluh”

All Praise is due to Allāh, we praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allāh is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no All but Allāh, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Bismillāhir Raḥmānir Raḥīm! Yā Ay-yuhal-lathīna ‘āmanut taqul-lāha, ḥaqqa tuqātihī walātamū tun-na, il-lā wa-antum Muslimūn.”

O You who believe, – Be aware of Allāh, with correct awareness, an awe-inspired awareness, and die not except as Muslims.

“Yā Ay-yuhal-lathīna āmanut taqul-lāha, waqūlū qawlan sadīdā. Yuslih-lakum a’mālakum wayaghfir lakum thunūbakum, wamay yu’-til-lāha waRasūlahū, faqad fāza fawzan athīmā.”

O You who believe, – Be aware of Allāh, and speak a straightforward word. He will forgive your sins and repair your deeds. And whoever takes Allāh and His Prophet as a guide, has already achieved a mighty victory.

In the opening verse of Sura An-Nisaa’, Allāh says:

“O mankind! Show reverence towards your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate and from the two of them scattered (like seeds) countless men and women. Be conscious of Allāh, through Whom you demand your mutual (rights) and (show reverence towards) the wombs (that bore you): for surely, Allāh always watches over you.”

My Dear Respected brothers and sisters,

Today, we gather in a time of great trial and turbulence. A time when the winds of racism and Islamophobia are sweeping across our societies—here at home and across the globe. We see our brothers and sisters demonized in the media. We hear politicians speak our names with contempt. We see laws passed that target our faith, our dress, our dignity. We witness the blood of innocents spilled from Gaza to Kashmir, from Xinjiang to Sudan.

And the question that echoes in our hearts is: How do we respond?

Do we retreat in fear? Do we dilute our faith to please others? Or do we stand—firm, unshaken—like a mountain whose roots run deep into the earth of La ilaha illallah?

Allah tells us in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Be patient, persevere, strengthen each other, and remain mindful of Allah so that you may succeed.” (Surah Aal-Imran, 3:200)

This is our roadmap. Patience. Perseverance. Unity. Taqwa.

My dear brothers and sisters,

Islamophobia is not just a political problem. It is a spiritual test. It is a mirror that reflects our inner strength and the sincerity of our faith. When they mock our hijab, when they insult our Prophet ﷺ, when they fear our mosques and question our loyalty—how do we respond?

We respond as Rasulullah ﷺ responded in Ta’if—when the people rejected him, mocked him, stoned him—he did not curse them. He did not ask for their destruction. He turned to Allah and said:
“O Allah, if You are not angry with me, I do not care.”

This is the heart of a believer. Concerned not with the approval of people, but with the pleasure of Allah. We should not seek validation from others. Our faith and trust in Allah deserve respect and admiration from others.

When Bilal (RA) was tortured in the blazing sun, chained to the ground for refusing to worship idols, he said one word: “Ahad! Ahad!”
One God! One Lord!

Brothers and sisters, today, we are being called to that same loyalty. Do not let the hatred of others cause you to forget who you are. You are not defined by their headlines or their prejudice. You are defined by your relationship with Allah.

Allah reminds us:
“Indeed, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast—on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:30)

We are not victims. We are not weak. We are the heirs of a noble tradition—of strength, patience, wisdom, and justice.

Remember that throughout history, Islam not only survived but flourished after many years of conflict and oppression…

Remember the Pagan Arabs in the time of our Prophet sws.

Remember the Crusaders

Remember the Mongols under Genghis Khan

The Spanish Inquisition

European colonialism

The racism in Apartheid South Africa

Allāh will protect His Religion even though His enemies detest it

So rise up, dear brothers and sisters. Rise in prayer. Rise in character. Rise in education. Rise in service to your neighbours. Let your light shine so brightly that the darkness of ignorance cannot put it out.

“Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalamīn. Was-salātu was-salāmu alaa Khairil mursalīn. Muhammadin-nabīy-yil Ummiy-yī, wa-‘alā ālihī, wasah-bihī, aj-ma’īn.

Ammā ba’ad:

“Innalláha wa malāikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal lathīna ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas līma. Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa alā áli Muhammad, kamā salayta alā Ibrahim, wa alā ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik alā Muhammad, kamā barakta alā Ibrahim, wa alā āli ibrahim. Fil ála mīn, innaka hamīdun majīd.”

(Second Khutbah):

“Soob’ hānallahi wal hamdu lillāh, walā hawla walā quwwata illāh billāh yu althi yual thīm”

Glory to Allah! Praise to Allah! There is no power and no strength except from Allah!

Brothers and sisters,

As we face these tests—do not despair. The storm will pass. The tide will turn. But the question is: Will we stand, or will we fall?

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.” (Sahih Muslim)

Yes, we may feel like strangers. But never forget: You are the carriers of light in a time of darkness.
You are the bearers of mercy in a time of cruelty.
You are the servants of the Most Merciful, Ar-Rahman, in a world that desperately needs compassion.

So let us hold fast to our salah. Hold fast to the Qur’an. Hold fast to our Prophetic sunnah. And hold fast to one another.

Do not let fear divide us. Do not let anger consume us. Let love unite us. Let faith uplift us. Let truth guide us.

And remember: Allah is with those who are patient. Allah is with those who are steadfast. Allah is with those who stand for truth, Allah is with those who speak truth to power, even when it is difficult and dangerous to do so..

O Allah, strengthen our hearts.
O Allah, protect our communities.
O Allah, grant us courage, wisdom, and patience.
O Allah, make us among those who enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil—with mercy, not with arrogance.

Finally, just remember this:

Establish the prayer.
Stand with dignity.
And let us all walk out of these doors today, not in fear, but in faith, putting our complete trust in Allah,

Brothers and sisters, to conclude our khutbah:

“Surely Allah commands justice, good deeds and generosity to others and to relatives; and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, so that you may be reminded.”

(Allah says), “and remember Me: I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not reject faith.”

“and without doubt, Remembrance of Allah is the Greatest Thing in life, and Allah knows the deeds that you do.”

Innal-Lāha, Yamuru bil ‘adel, wal ihsān, wa ītā-i zil qurbā; wa yanhā anil fahshā-i, wal munkari walbaghi; ya-idzukhum lallakum tathak-karūn. (Sura 16:90),

Fadth kurūnī adth kurkum, wash kurūlī walā tak furūn [2:152].

walā thikrul-Lāhi akbar, Wal-Lāhu ya’lamu mā tasna’ūn.” [29:45].

Ameen! Aqīmus ṣalāh