Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 09. August 2019
In the khutbah before Eid al Adha, Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds us of the beautiful history, theology, philosophy and symbolism of the Islamic pillar of faith known as Hajj, the pilgrimage, to be made at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim on the planet if they are financially and physically able to do so. He reminds us of what the meeting of Muslims from around the world used to mean, long before the age of information and connectedness that we now understand in our current times. Hajj was at...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 19. July 2019
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl begins by reminding us of the meaning, import and implications of the "straight path," al-siratal mustaqim, the phrase that Muslims recite more than any other as they recite the first chapter of the Quran, al-Fatiha, in every prayer and with a multitude of occasions. Despite reciting it frequently, Muslims infrequently reflect upon the depths of meaning the phrase contains. In seeking the divine path of justice, beauty, compassion and mercy, human beings have been given...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 12. July 2019
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl reminds of the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad in which human beings are told not to surrender, rely upon, become pacified, embrace or turn oneself over to the unjust. He reminds us of the weight and seriousness of "the Word" and the moral and ethical obligation upon human beings through their relationship with the Word. He recalls to the tradition that the word is light, the pen is light, the intellect is light and the ink is light--a symbolic construct of the...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 05. July 2019
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl begins by reminding that Islam is a theology of logic and common sense, and describes what it means when God tells us that God is with us, but that there are rules--like the laws of nature, the laws of gravity or the laws of causation--as to what God will and will not bless or partake in when it comes to human actions. He reminds of what actions would cause a severance from the divine. Returning to the foundations of the faith from the time of the Prophet, he reminds...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 14. June 2019
Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds Muslims of two traditions of the Prophet: 1) One cannot obey rulers if it means disobeying God; and 2) That there will be people in power who lie and promote injustice; if one is among those that validate such power, one cannot be of the people of the Prophet. He elaborates on these through a commentary on current events and the implications of the power relationships taking place across the Middle East and the West. He calls attention to the tragic influences of Rupert...
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 20. April 2019
Dr. Abou El Fadl presents his original Quranic commentary (tafsir) on Surah 98: Al Bayyinah and the levels of meanings and understandings beyond the typical English translations. In the introduction, Director Grace Song discusses her early days as a Muslim convert and discovering the tradition of knowledge and how it had the effect as an antidote to "checklist mentality" she encountered at the mosque. She addresses the confusions around a convert's experiences and expectations vis a vis Islamic...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 22. March 2019
Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds that God expects Muslims to be the bearers of God's words unto humanity, in a constant state of beautification and doing what is beautiful. God loves those who do beautiful deeds. When God gives us this charge, we must take it seriously such that we become as if a lighthouse of morality and ethics onto humanity; the moral pilots of humanity. Further, he reminds us that God endowed human beings with dignity and those humiliate and degrade others through despotism and...
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 16. March 2019
Part 1: Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl continues his original Quranic commentaries (tafsir) covering Surah 99: Al Zalzalah, a surah which confirms that people will see the consequences of their actions, both large and small, and the implications of this. Includes important discussions on hadith methodology and abuses of taking hadith without proper technical training, as is common among modern day Muslims. He also discusses Islamophobia and its use of recurring themes and tropes to instill doubt among...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 15. March 2019
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl powerfully addresses the evil acts of murder committed against Muslims in New Zealand. He addresses how this history of massacres committed against Muslims have been ongoing since the Bosnian Genocide through today and is grounded in the well-funded Islamophobia industry campaigns of our day. He talks about the impact of racism in acts of terror against Muslims and how similar acts of terror by white extremists are addressed by comparison. He discusses the manifestos of...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 08. March 2019
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl reminds Muslims of the "obvious" and forgotten basics of ethics of our faith. He illuminates why Islamophobia has permeated every part of our existence in subtle and unseen ways. He shares why the new Crusades in our day and age are fought with weapons of information, data and knowledge, and how it is incumbent upon Muslims to recognize and appropriately address the challenges facing them in this age. He calls upon Muslims to "clean their own house" first. Please excuse...