Khutba 3-20-2026- RICC- True Competition – Taqwa and Quran

Khutba 3-20-2026- RICC- True Competition – Taqwa and Quran

First Eid Mubarak to you and your family. I pray that Allah grants you peace in your heart, comfort in your soul, and happiness that stays forever. May every prayer you carry be answered, and may your life be filled with mercy, love, and beautiful moments.

We just finished Ramadan, the month of Quran that trough all of the rituals we have done should have made us achieve the highest level of Taqwa,

We are living in an age of competition. People are competing: In wealth, In power, In beauty, In houses, In cars, Even, in their children.

But let us pause for a second… Are we competing in the right thing?

Because if the competition is wrong… then even winning… is failure.

But what is the ranking Criterion (معيار) of Allah

Allah سبحانه وتعالى settled this question clearly: إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ “Indeed, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the one with the most Taqwa.” (Al-Hujurat 49:13)

Not the richest… Not the strongest… Not the most followed… But the one with the most Taqwa. This means: The only competition that truly matters...is the competition of Taqwa.

Allah did not tell us: Race toward wealth. Compete in status. Rather, Allah says: وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ “Race toward forgiveness from your Lord…” (Aal-E-Imran 3:133)

This is a different kind of race. Not a race of الدنيا… but a race toward Allah.

What is Taqwa? (Defined by Allah)

Many people think Taqwa is just: Praying and Fasting, But Allah Himself defined Taqwa in detail.

1 — جامع تعريف التقوى — Surat Al-Baqarah (2:177)

Righteousness is not just rituals…

Then Allah lists the true qualities:

Core Elements of Taqwa from this verse:

1. Correct Belief (الإيمان) • Belief in Allah, The Last Day, Angels, Books and Prophets Not cultural Islam… but conscious belief.

2. Giving Despite Love (العطاء مع المحبة) وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ Giving wealth even though you love it To: Relatives, Orphans, Poor and Travelers The competition is not who has more money… but who gives more sincerely.

3. Establishing Prayer (الصلاة) Not just performing it...but establishing it properly.

4. Fulfilling Promises (الوفاء بالعهد) وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا Today people compete in business success…But how many compete in honoring their word?

5. Patience in Hardship (الصبر) وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ Patience: In poverty, In hardship, and In difficulty Who is competing to be the most patient?

At the end of the verse: أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ These are the people of truth…These are the people of Taqwa.

Second Dimension of Taqwa — Aal-E-Imran (3:133–135)

Allah gives us another set of qualities:

1. Controlling Anger وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ People compete in showing strength…But the real strength is controlling anger.

2. Forgiving Others وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ Who competes in forgiving others? Not holding grudges…

3. Doing Good (الإحسان) وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ Going beyond obligation…

4. Repentance After Sin وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً… ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا The muttaqi is not perfect…But when he falls… he returns quickly.

Let us reframe Our Competition

Now ask yourself: Instead of competing in: Who has the bigger house Let us compete in: Who has the bigger heart Instead of: Who has the better car, Who has better patience Instead of: Who has more followers, Who has more sincerity Instead of: Who wins arguments, Who forgives more

On the Day of Judgment: No one will ask: • What car did you drive? How big was your house?

But you will be asked: • Did you keep your promises? Did you control your anger? • Did you give when you loved wealth? Did you remain patient?

Let us change the criterion of our lives. Let our homes become places where: Taqwa is discussed Character is valued Patience is admired

Let us raise our children not to only focus on competing in the materialistic world which is important but to also compete in Jannah. Because Allah says: فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ “Compete with one another in good deeds.”

Living Examples of the True Competition These are not theories…They are lives that were lived.

1. The Competition of Sacrifice (From the Companions) When the Prophet ﷺ called for charity… ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said: “Today, I will surpass Abu Bakr.” He brought half of his wealth. Then came Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) ...He brought all of his wealth. The Prophet ﷺ asked: “What did you leave for your family?” He said: “I left for them Allah and His Messenger.” ‘Umar said: “I will never surpass Abu Bakr.” This is competition…Not in accumulation…but in sacrifice. Not in الدنيا…but in certainty in Allah.

Let us compte in Forgiveness (A Higher Level of Taqwa) A man once insulted Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) publicly. The people expected anger…They expected a response ... But Al-Hasan responded differently. He went to the man’s house…knocked on his door…And said: “If what you said about me is true, may Allah forgive me…And if it is not true, may Allah forgive you.” Abu Bakr competed with his wealth… Al-Hasan competed with his forgiveness… So what will you compete with? Because the race of dunya ends at death… But the race of Taqwa… Begins after death.

May Allah raise our ranks to always be winners in the completion of Taqwa