Quality, Not Quantity

One of the most profound and powerful statements in the Quran occurs in Surah An-Najm. Here Allah says that no one will carry anyone else’s burden (wizr) and that each of us will be held accountable for the choices we make. In this passage, Allah is addressing those who find it difficult to follow the “uncomfortable” parts of the faith. He compares them to people who appease themselves with inner monologues about how good they are because they give a little charity. They minimize their mistakes and maximize their good deeds, thinking they are enough to compensate for bad deeds. But only Allah can judge as He will ultimately measure our effort. It is the quality of the effort we make relative to our potential, that we will be held accountable for, not how we performed in comparison with other people. This khutbah was recorded on October 20, 2017 at the Bayyinah Foundation Musalla.