Eid Al Adha Khutbah at Moody Garden by Shaykh Waleed Basyouni

Opening Praise (Hamd)

All praise is due to Allah in the first and the last. His power exalted, His wisdom is supreme, His forbearance is great, His grace is abundant, His gifts are many, His kindness is vast, His goodness is massive, and His mercy and forgiveness are continuous. Blessed is His name, exalted is His majesty, and there is no deity worthy of worship except Him.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He bestowed His favor abundantly upon us. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah who has the right to be worshipped. I bear witness that no associate should ever be taken with Allah. And I also bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His last and final messenger.

The Blessed Convergence of Eid al-Adha and Friday

My dear brothers and sisters, my dear Muslims, this year Friday coincided with the day of Eid al-Adha. It has been reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he said the best day in which the sun rises is Friday. And also he said ﷺ the greatest day in the sight of Allah are the days of sacrifice — which is the day of Eid al-Adha today — and then the day of al-Qarr, which is the 11th of Dhul Hijjah, tomorrow.

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1765 — authenticated)

Thus the best days of the year happen to coincide with the best day of the week. Oh Allah, we thank you. And it is upon us to frequently remember Allah and to be grateful for His blessings. This is one of them — that He adds more virtue to the virtue of this blessed day. So we ask Allah to bless us in this blessed day and blessed occasion, and to accept from us all our good deeds.

Ruling on Friday Prayer When Eid Falls on Friday

My dear brothers and sisters, it is the strongest opinion stated by the scholars that when Eid happens to fall on Friday, the Friday prayer is permissible for those who have performed the Eid prayer with the Imam — but it is not obligatory. Instead, they should pray four rak'ahs for Dhuhr prayer. And inshallah, in our masjid at Clearly Islamic Center, we will have the Eid prayer today — only one Eid prayer at 1:45 — for those who missed the salah or those who want to pray Jumu'ah instead of Dhuhr.

Al-Udhiyah: The Sacrificial Animal

Today, the best thing the believer can do is to sacrifice the sacrificial animals — which is al-Udhiyah. The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1493)

There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of sacrifice than the sacrificing of an animal. Al-Udhiyah is a highly recommended sunnah. The Messenger of Allah did not abandon it whether in residence or during traveling. He encouraged people to perform it through his words and actions ﷺ.

And for every nation We have appointed religious rites that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food.

My brothers and sisters, I know so many Muslims will commission others to do it on their behalf so the meat will go to more people who are in need. It is permissible to delegate someone to slaughter the sacrifice on your behalf — such as giving money to some of these organizations to slaughter for you in other countries or here in America. However, you should revive the sunnah with your children and family so it doesn't fade away. At the very least, you should talk to your children about this and the story behind this ritual — the commemoration of the sacrifice of Isma'il.

And if you are going to offer a sacrifice here, be diligent in purchasing the fattest and the best of them. Allah does not attain the flesh or blood of the sacrifice, but what reaches Him is the piety from you.

Animals Unacceptable for Sacrifice

There are four animals that are unacceptable for sacrifice: the one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, the sick animal whose sickness is obvious, the lame animal whose lameness is obvious, and the emaciated animal that has no more marrow in its bones — so skinny it is like skin on bone. Don't go for the cheap; go for what is sufficient.

Timing and Method of Slaughter

The slaughtering should take place on the day of Eid and the three days after, until the Maghrib of the third day after Eid, according to the most widely accepted opinion among the scholars. It is recommended to perform the slaughtering during the day. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The days of sacrifice are the day of Adha and the three days following it."

My brothers and sisters, whoever knows the ruling of slaughter may carry it out themselves. Otherwise, they should not. It is obligatory for the one who slaughters the animal to be compassionate and to follow the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1955)

The Prophet ﷺ said: Perform the slaughter well, sharpen your blade, and give comfort to your sacrifice.

It is recommended to give some of it to the poor, to give to the neighbor, friends, relatives, and to eat from it oneself and for one's household. This is the opinion of Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn Umar.

The day of Arafah, the day of sacrifice which is today, and the days of Tashreeq are our festival as Muslims — and they are days of eating and drinking.

The Essence of Tawheed: Worshipping Allah Alone

O Muslim, I advise myself and all of you to worship Allah alone, without partners — to obey Him, love Him the most, fear Him the most, trust Him the most, and follow His Messenger ﷺ — because the essence of monotheism is submission and obedience to Allah and acceptance of His commands.

Be aware of associating any form or shape of partnership with Allah. For yourselves and your children, always remember and warn yourself and your children against any form of shirk — associating partners with Allah. Instill and repeatedly emphasize the core of Islam in their hearts, which is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of shirk. The believers fear disbelief and hypocrisy; only the hypocrites do not care about them.

Indeed, one of the greatest obligations is to glorify Allah and His commands, and to hold the sanctions of Allah in high regard — in our hearts and in the hearts of our family. Belittling the orders and commands of Allah is greater than committing the sins themselves.

No, rather the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.

One of the great scholars said: "Sin upon sin kills the heart. The smaller the sin is in your eyes, the greater it is in the sight of Allah. And the greater it is in your eyes, the smaller it is in the sight of Allah."

The Deception of Continued Blessing Despite Sin

My brothers and sisters, some people may say: "I have sinned, Shaykh, yet my condition has not changed. I am in good health, enjoying blessings, wealth, and protection." Be aware — the world is given by Allah to those whom He loves and to those whom He does not love. Otherwise, this believer would not be given even a sip of water from it.

A man from al-Basra came to al-Hasan al-Basri and said something similar. So al-Hasan al-Basri said: "Do you pray at night?" The man replied: "No." Al-Hasan al-Basri said — and listen carefully — "This is enough of deprivation and loss."

Some people say the opposite: "When I abandon the religious observances and the commandments of Allah and I start committing all this haram, I feel at ease and happy. When I take off my hijab, when I stop praying — I have no pain anymore. I feel free." But they are not free from pain or distress. The answer is clearly found in the Quran:

Then is one to whom the evil of his deeds has been made attractive, so he considers it good? Allah said in the Quran. So he sees the bad things that he does as something attractive, something good, something that puts him at ease.

And the Satan made their misdeeds appealing to them. This is how the misdeeds of the transgressors have been made appealing to them. The Satan beautifies the forbidden act for a person, making it seem good in their hearts and beautiful in their eyes — until the enjoyment of the sin becomes much greater than what people usually find, even for the original sinner — especially for the one who commits it for the first time after having adhered to obedience for a long time in his life. The beautification becomes magnified in his heart and in her eyes, cutting off the soul's ties to return to Allah. And that is the goal of the Satan. So be aware of that. Don't be deluded or deceived by that trick.

الله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد

The Completion of the Religion

The day of Arafah is the day where Allah completed the favor and completed the religion. There is no place for this religion to add to it or to take away from it. As the Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1718)

Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that has no part of it, it will be rejected.

O Muslims, establish the prayer at its appointed times and maintain it as Allah has commanded you in His book. Strive to pray in the masjid, for this is one of the greatest means of steadfastness in faith and attaining paradise.

الله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد

I say what you have heard, and I ask Allah for forgiveness for me and for you, so ask Him for forgiveness.

الله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد، وسبحان الله بكرةً وأصيلاً

The Trials of the Ummah and Reasons for Hope

My brothers and sisters, our Ummah is going through difficult times and many trials. But I give you glad tidings that these trials are only a means of strengthening the Ummah and building it.

For Allah is all-knowing and all-wise. So do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. As much as we see of tragedies and sorrows, we also witness Allah's kindness and mercy. Those who compare the conditions of Muslims in the 1950s and 1960s to the current status realize that the Muslim Ummah is in much better condition in terms of faith — when it comes to youth, women, men, awareness, and understanding of Islam. We hope for nothing but good from our Lord.

For a believer, in this life, the greatest victory and success is to live as a Muslim, die as a believer, and enter paradise. That is the great success. Don't ever forget that principle.

My Muslim brothers and sisters, I would like to tell you: don't let anything frighten you. For Islam is stronger than any person, than any entity. Indeed, your enemy is the one who is cut off. My brothers and sisters, Islam has a longer lifespan than any country, than any civilization.

Our Role and Responsibilities as Muslims in America

But what matters is what we do to preserve our children, our faith, and our future for our community in America — where we live and where we call today home. What is our role? Are you among those who make things happen, or among those who watch things happening, or those who ask what happened?

My brothers and sisters, we are responsible for supporting our educational, religious, and advocacy institutions — as well as scholars and those involved in da'wah — through both financial contributions and active participation.

We must learn to cooperate and collaborate, prioritizing the public interest, and also understand our priorities when it comes to public interest over private and partisan agendas. We should avoid leading the community into projects that drain resources or fragment unity. While I embrace diversity, I oppose division driven by personal, vengeful, or narrow partisan motives.

Active political participation — and among that, voting, especially in local elections — is crucial for our community's not just thriving, but survival. Our interfaith work is essential, as we are all part of this society.

Unfortunately, in today's political environment, the potential dangers posed by what we see in our government — and the implementation of what was once called a conspiracy, but today we see it unfolding in front of our eyes bit by bit — what is called the Project 2025 agenda, which seeks to reshape our government and society in ways that undermine our democracy, values, and institutions. The agenda promotes divisive rhetoric and politics that rank partisan interest over the common good, fostering an environment of fear and mistrust among communities. It threatens to erode the progress we have made over centuries in promoting inclusivity, justice, and equality. It is dangerous to all these principles that we have learned and grown up with, and that generations have come to cherish. It could lead to further polarization within our society.

As a community, we cannot put our heads in the sand. We cannot just say: "It doesn't matter. I don't care. It's not touching me personally." It touches everybody. We are all in one ship — if it sinks, all the people in that ship sink. The whole world is connected to each other. Therefore, we must expand cooperation among ourselves and among communities, working from the center as the extremes continue to attempt to polarize society. The best way to project the future is to build it together, my brothers and sisters.

Celebrating the Syrian Revolution and Supporting Syria

This Eid, we celebrate the Syrian revolution that led to a new Syria. Historically, Syria has been a cornerstone of the Muslim nation. As the Prophet ﷺ has been reported to have said: "The Ummah will be strong and in good shape as long as al-Sham — Syria and the neighboring countries — is."

While it may be too early to feel fully secure about Syria's future, what we have witnessed gives us hope. What can we do for Syria?

Support reconstruction and charity — give generously to trusted relief agencies and Syrian-led efforts rebuilding schools, hospitals, homes, and livelihoods. Charity is noble, but let it also aim to restore dignity and long-term sustainability.

Advocate for permanent lifted sanctions — raise your voice. We are glad that our government has lifted the sanctions for a period of time, but they should be permanent, and we should encourage more steps to be taken.

Invest in Syria — explore investment opportunities that empower the Syrian economy and communities. Ensure legal compliance as Western citizens and verify that your investment opportunities are ethical and strategic.

Buy Syrian products — support the Syrian economy by purchasing goods made in Syria, importing from Syrian private businesses, sustaining families, and encouraging national recovery.

Travel to Syria — let your tourism dollars uplift Syria. It is a land of deep history, vibrant culture, natural beauty, and resilient, kind, and hospitable people. Your presence helps revive the local economy and morale.

Study in Syria — those who are seeking sacred knowledge will find scholars and teachers of many orientations and diverse shades and blends of traditions.

Understand the devastation of Syria and accept that some compromise may be necessary — Syria has suffered immense devastation as it rises again from the ashes. It may need to make uneasy concessions to a negative and biased world order. Don't be quick to judge. Necessity demands pragmatism.

Correct the narrative — speak boldly and truthfully about Syria. Counter the disinformation and distortion, whether from extreme liberal ideologues, activist extremists, extremist Muslims, or Zionist propagandists. Do not let the narrative of Syria be hijacked by its enemies.

Pray for Syria — never underestimate the power of du'a. Ultimately, it is Allah who owns creation and the command. Victory, healing, and progress come only by His will.

While last Eid I asked each and every one of you to bring something to celebrate Palestine, I ask you this Eid to bring something to represent the Syrian revolution and the new Syria. So as we celebrate that, we do not forget the bleeding wound — the open wound straight to the heart — which is the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, especially in Gaza. May Allah make it easy for them.

We should — not because of the political winds — if you are a citizen, you have every right to express your voice, to express your opinion. Don't let anyone silence you. Don't let anyone scare you. Don't let anyone stop you from practicing your rights. In our country here, our rights were grabbed for, fought for — which is a great thing, worth sacrifice — and collectively we can stand strong.

Closing Du'a

Oh our Lord, You are al-Salam — the Peace — and the ultimate peace comes from You alone. We seek You to bless us all with peace and safety, and bless the holy land with peace and justice, and the whole world with peace and justice. We ask You, our Lord, the Grantor of security, to bless us and our families, our neighbors, our communities, our nation, and the world — with everlasting peace and security.

You are the Creator of the heavens and earth. You have created mankind in different colors, languages, nations, and tribes, that we may get to know one another and live in harmony. We ask You, our Lord, the Guide, to open the hearts and minds of mankind to value every human life, so that bloodshed and destruction stop immediately.

And we ask You, our patient Lord, to grant patience to those who are suffering from destruction and violence committed by others. We ask You, the Compassionate Lord, to bestow Your mercy upon those who are suffering from disease, poverty, oppression, and war. We ask You, Allah, our Protector, to protect the oppressed and to help them rebuild their lives, and to fill the hearts of the oppressors with mercy and to stop them from their aggression.

We ask You, Allah, to forgive our parents and to forgive our sins.

And I would like to thank all the volunteers and the brothers and sisters from Clearly Islamic Center and Galveston Islamic Center for organizing this event. Please make sure you make du'a and thank them on your way out.