05: Eid al-Adha 2025 | Prayer & Khutbah - Shaykh Hafeezullah Khan

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Eid al-Adha: A Day of Prayer, Sacrifice, and Gratitude

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, today we have gathered here to celebrate Eid al-Adha. We begin this blessed day by offering two rak'at of Eid al-Adha, and then offering sacrifice just for the sake of Allah, in the way of Allah. So through our prayers and sacrifices, we thank Allah Who has given us this opportunity to celebrate this Eid.

And brothers, the best way to thank Allah is to perform all our worships, all our good deeds, just for the sake of Allah, solely for Allah. Because as Muslims, we never associate anyone with Allah in His worship. Whenever we need help, we ask only from Allah. Whenever we face hardship, we pray only to Allah for relief. This is what is called Tawheed.

And after the Tawheed, the most important thing is we have to follow the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, in all our worships, in all our good deeds. Because Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, as a qudwa — as a best example for us.

There is a good example for you in the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, for those who hope for Allah and the Last Day. So we have to make the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the best example for us in all our worships, in all our good deeds.

The Crisis of Tawheed in Our Times

But unfortunately, today as Muslims, we have removed the Tawheed and the following of the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, from our own lives. We associate others with Allah in His worship, in His attributes, and in His lordship. And we believe — most of the Muslims they believe — that someone other than Allah can fulfill our needs, change our destiny, or help us in our hard time. Whereas Allah says:

"My prayers, my all sacrifices, my life, and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the Universe."

The Rights of Parents

Dear brothers and sisters, as Muslims, just as we have rights towards Allah, we also have responsibilities towards His servants. And among them, the first and most important are the rights of our parents.

I am saying to you, I want to remind you, that if your parents are still alive, then you have to believe that the gates of Jannah are still open for you. So please try your best to please Allah by serving them and making them happy. Try your best to treat your parents with kindness and respect them in this world. Never show anger or frustration towards them — especially when they become old. When they become old, be patient with their saying and with their attitude, even if they seem difficult or unpleasant. Never say anything hurtful to them.

Strengthening Family Ties on Eid

Likewise, today is the blessed day of Eid. Take this opportunity to reconcile with your relatives with whom you have some issues. Do not be among those who break family ties; rather, be among those who join and strengthen them. As the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, says:

Whoever wishes that Allah blesses him with a long life and increases his rizq — increases his sustenance — he should strengthen his ties with his relatives and maintain good relations with them.

Our Responsibility Towards Our Children

Allah has blessed us with many blessings, and among the most important of these blessings is our children. So we should be grateful to Allah for this, and take full care of this blessing. Because our children are not only blessings of Allah — they are amanah, they are a trust given to us by Allah.

And our greatest responsibility towards our children is to save our children from the fire of Hell. As Allah says:

Just as it is your duty to save yourself from the fire of Hell by performing good deeds and abstaining from evil, it is your duty as well to save your children, to protect your children from the fire of Hell. Yes, maybe you will provide everything from the worldly things — but if you don't save your children, you didn't do anything with them.

So try to protect them. And if we protect our children from the fire of Hell by giving them proper tarbiyah, by giving them proper upbringing, then these children will become a source of peace, tranquility, and comfort for us in this world. Even after we leave this world, they will ask Allah to be merciful on us. They will ask Allah for forgiveness for us while we are alone in the darkness of the grave.

So please try not to be careless about your children. Try your best to make them pious children who can make du'a for you after your death.

Building a Home of Peace: Duties of Husband and Wife

Similarly, if you want to make your home a source of peace and tranquility — every one of us wants our home to be a house of peace and tranquility where everyone treats each other with love and compassion — then it is the responsibility of both husband and wife, first, to fulfill each other's rights sincerely.

It is essential for a husband to treat his wife with kindness. He should not oppress her, nor use harsh language or humiliate her — whether in private or in public, and especially in the presence of their own children. He should always adopt a gentle attitude. And we have to learn how to overlook others' mistakes — how to overlook the mistakes of our wife, our spouse.

Similarly, it is the wife's responsibility, brothers, to respect her husband, give him respect, and to be grateful to her husband and to Allah for whatever He has provided her. Avoid arguing on tiny issues, because constant argument and repeated disputes destroy the peace of the home. And the children who are raised in such an environment also suffer from mental stress and instability.

So be content, and you will be the most thankful of people. And the most important thing — it is for the wife first, and the husband as well — never compare your family life with others in a bad way. Never compare your family life with others. The more you compare your life with others, the more emotional pain and dissatisfaction you will experience, and you will be ungrateful to Allah and to your husband as well.

Instead, focus on the blessings that Allah has given you now. When you reflect on these blessings, a sense of gratitude will arise in your heart, and you will be grateful to Allah and you will be happy with what Allah has bestowed upon you.

And also remember that no one in this world gets everything they want. It is entirely possible that the very things that you have right now — the same things — others spend their entire life only wishing for. So be grateful to Allah and be thankful to your husband.

Good Character: An Essential Part of Our Deen

Dear brothers and sisters, we have to remember that in addition to our prayers, our fasting, our hajj — good character and good manners are also an important part of our deen. As the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, says:

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4682; also reported in Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1162)

The believer with the best character is the one with complete iman — with complete faith. Therefore, just as we give importance to our prayer, our fasting, and other acts of worship, we must also focus on improving and maintaining good character.

You should know that truthfulness, honesty, mutual respect, gentleness, forgiving others, cooperation, compassion, and caring for others — all of these are qualities of a good character.

And we have to remember, brothers and sisters, that people notice your character before they notice your prayers, your hajj, or your fasting. No matter how many prayers you offer, or how many hajj you've done, or how many fasts you keep — if your character is not good and noble, then you are sending the wrong message about Islam. This can lead to spreading hatred and misunderstanding about Islam and Muslims among people.

Du'a & Closing

May Allah bless us all. May Allah accept our good deeds, our prayers, and our sacrifice. And forgive us. May Allah protect us from the evil of Shaytan and from the harm of envious people. May Allah protect Muslims all over the world — our Muslim brothers and sisters — their lives, their honor, and their wealth. And save us from all visible and hidden trials.

عِيدٌ مُبَارَك — Eid Mubarak