Agra: In a thought-provoking Jummah Khutbah at Nahrawali Mosque, Sikandra, Khateeb Muhammad Iqbal delivered a message urging spiritual awareness and mindfulness in worship. He said, “Along with earning good deeds, it is also necessary to preserve them. Let us not reach the Hereafter only to find that our lush gardens of deeds have been burnt and all is lost.”
Referring to Surah Al-Baqarah (Verse 127), he recited the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
“Our Lord, accept this from us.”
Iqbal emphasized that a true believer should focus not only on actions but also on their acceptance by Allah, as this awareness fosters khushu’ and khuzoo’ (humility and concentration) in worship.
He also cited a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA): “Many people pray for sixty years, yet none of their prayers are accepted because they do not perform proper ruku’, sujood, qiyam, nor maintain khushu’ in their Salah.”
He explained that treating acts of worship as mere rituals diminishes their spiritual essence. “If Salah is considered just exercise, fasting merely dieting, and Hajj as a sightseeing trip, even these great acts of worship become ineffective,” he warned.
Concluding the Khutbah, Muhammad Iqbal prayed: “May Allah grant us proper understanding and spiritual awareness, and accept our deeds in His Court. Ameen, Ya Rabbul ‘Alameen.”
