Central Khutbah: “Rejoice with Dignity” (Video)

Islam is not a religion of gloom, coldness, or perpetual sadness. The heart of a believer knows reverence, sorrow, and tears, but it also knows hope, smiles, serenity, and joy. Religion did not come to deprive people of happiness; rather, it came to purify it, guide it, and protect it from everything that degrades the soul.

Not every kind of joy is the same. There is a joy that brings a person closer to Allah, increases gratitude, and softens the heart. But there is also a joy that gives rise to arrogance, ostentation, and forgetfulness of the Bestower of all blessings. Therefore, the dignity of joy is not measured by how loudly it is expressed, but by its source, the way it is manifested, and the effect it leaves upon a person’s heart.

Rejoice in Allah’s Blessings

Allah, the Most High, has not only permitted joy—He has commanded the believers to rejoice in what is truly valuable:

“Say, ‘In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy—in that let them rejoice. It is better than all that they accumulate.’”
(Surah Yūnus, 10:58)

The first generations of Muslims understood that Allah’s bounty and mercy mentioned in this verse primarily refer to faith, guidance, and the Qur’an. Early Qur’anic commentators explained: “Allah’s bounty is Islam, through which He guided you, and His mercy is the Qur’an, through which He taught you.” (Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, commentary on Yūnus, 10:58).

Therefore, rejoice with dignity whenever Allah makes prayer easy for you, opens the door of repentance, grants you understanding of the Qur’an, protects your family, surrounds you with righteous people, or enables you to perform a good deed. This is not the fleeting joy of the ego, but the joy of a soul that recognizes Allah’s mercy.

Rejoice that you are still able to raise your hands in supplication. Rejoice that your heart still feels remorse after committing a sin. Rejoice that you have not been left to yourself. Rejoice in every opportunity Allah gives you to correct what was once wrong.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ described how greatly Allah rejoices at the repentance of His servant. He said that Allah is more joyful at the repentance of His servant than a man who, after losing his mount in the desert with all his food and water and giving up all hope, suddenly finds it standing beside him once again. (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim).

Imagine, then, how great the joy of the servant should be when Allah has opened for him the door of return.

Joy Is Not Arrogance

When Qārūn (Korah) became blinded by his wealth, his people said to him:

“Do not exult arrogantly, for indeed Allah does not love the arrogant.”
(Surah Al-Qaṣaṣ, 28:76)

The word used in this verse originally denotes joy, yet Ibn ʿAbbās and Mujāhid—among the earliest generations of Muslims—explained it as arrogant exultation, pride, and ungrateful delight in worldly blessings. Ibn ʿAbbās said it refers to those who exalt themselves, while Mujāhid explained that it refers to those who are proud and ungrateful to Allah for what He has given them. (Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, commentary on Al-Qaṣaṣ, 28:76).

Qārūn was not forbidden from being pleased with Allah’s provision. Rather, he was forbidden from rejoicing as though he had bestowed those blessings upon himself, elevating himself above others, flaunting his wealth, and forgetting the obligation of gratitude.

Dignified joy says:

“All praise belongs to Allah, who granted this to me.”

Arrogant joy says:

“Look at me and what I have achieved.”

Dignified joy shares its blessings.

Arrogant joy uses them to belittle others.

Dignified joy makes a person more humble.

Arrogant joy convinces a person that he is better than everyone else.

Allah, the Most High, says:

“So that you may neither grieve excessively over what has escaped you nor exult arrogantly over what He has given you. And Allah does not love any self-deluded boaster.”
(Surah Al-Ḥadīd, 57:23)

The Qur’anic commentators explain that this verse does not condemn natural happiness, but rather the joy of arrogance, pride, and self-exaltation over others. (Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī and Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, commentary on Al-Ḥadīd, 57:23).

The believer rejoices in blessings but knows they are also a test. He gives thanks when he receives and remains patient when he loses. What has passed does not break him, and what has come does not intoxicate him.

A Smile Is Part of the Sunnah

Dignity does not mean wearing a permanent frown. ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Ḥārith (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I never saw anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, 3641; Musnad Aḥmad, 17704).

The seriousness of the Prophet ﷺ was never harshness, nor was his dignity coldness. He carried the greatest responsibility, cared deeply for his Ummah, and devoted himself to worship, yet he greeted people with a cheerful face. His smile never diminished his authority; rather, it drew hearts closer to him.

He also said:

“Your smile to your brother is an act of charity.”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, narrated by Abū Dharr).

Sometimes a smile is the noblest expression of joy. It harms no one, does not seek attention, never crosses the limits, and leaves behind no bitterness. It is a joy carried within the heart, whose warmth is shared with everyone one meets.

Joy Has Its Proper Time

Islam leaves room within human nature for rest, recreation, and celebration. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he found its people celebrating two festive days inherited from the pre-Islamic era. He said:

“Allah has replaced them for you with two better days: the Day of Eid al-Adha and the Day of Eid al-Fitr.”
(Abū Dāwūd, 1134; al-Nasāʾī, 1556; Musnad Aḥmad, 13622).

Eid is a day of gratitude and joy. Fine clothing, pleasant fragrance, visiting relatives and friends, exchanging greetings, children playing, and giving gifts are all part of a joy that does not distance a person from Allah but comes after worship and as an expression of gratitude to Him.

ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that on the day of Eid two young girls were singing and playing the duff in her house. When Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reproached them, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Leave them, for every nation has its festival, and this is our festival.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 952; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 892).

She also narrated that she watched Abyssinians performing spear displays inside the mosque while the Prophet ﷺ shielded her with his cloak. He remained there until she herself had seen enough. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 892).

This is the remarkable balance of the Sunnah: the mosque is a place of worship, yet the religion recognizes human nature; the Prophet ﷺ is the leader of the Ummah, yet he understands the wishes of his young wife; Eid is a solemn religious celebration, yet it also leaves room for lawful recreation and happiness.

Do Not Build Your Joy upon the Pain of Others

Joy ceases to be dignified when it feeds upon another person’s humiliation. It is not the way of a believer to rejoice at someone else’s downfall, misfortune, divorce, loss of status, or financial ruin. A person may think he is merely celebrating his own success, while in reality he is exposing what lies within his heart.

The believer rejoices in the triumph of truth without forgetting justice. He celebrates his own success without belittling the efforts of others. He rejoices in the blessings bestowed upon his family without exposing the poverty or suffering of others. He is grateful for being spared a trial without mocking those who have been afflicted by it.

Dignified joy seeks no victim.

It does not humiliate anyone in order to appear greater.

Do Not Turn Joy into Disobedience

Joy does not alter the limits set by Allah. What is forbidden on an ordinary day does not become permissible simply because it is a wedding, a festival, a victory, or a family celebration. Prayer does not lose its importance because we are celebrating. People’s rights do not disappear because we are rejoicing. Wastefulness does not become gratitude, and excess does not become happiness.

True joy does not leave behind missed prayers, wounded hearts, unpaid debts, shame, or regret.

When joy requires you to forget Allah, it is no longer a blessing. When it asks you to abandon modesty, dignity, and self-control, it is not freedom—it is merely a new form of slavery to one’s desires.

The believer rejoices, yet remains a servant of Allah.

Rejoice, but Give Thanks

The finest adornment of joy is gratitude. Whenever good news reaches you, first remember the One who decreed it. When you achieve success, do not attribute it solely to your own abilities. When a child is born, when you recover from illness, complete your studies, obtain employment, or are reunited with a loved one, let your heart first say:

“Alhamdulillah.”

Gratitude protects blessings from arrogance and protects the believer from forgetfulness.

A grateful person knows that he could have been deprived of what he enjoys today. Therefore, his joy is gentle rather than boastful. He does not look down upon those who have not yet received what he has been given. Instead, he asks Allah to open the doors of goodness for them as well.

Rejoice in the Good of Others

A pure heart is able to rejoice even when blessings are granted to someone else. This is one of the most difficult, yet one of the noblest forms of joy. It is easy to smile when we ourselves receive a blessing. The maturity of faith is shown when we sincerely rejoice in the success of a brother, a sister, a friend, or even someone with whom we may disagree.

Rejoicing in the blessings of others cures the heart from envy.

Offer congratulations without pretence. Make sincere supplication without hidden resentment. Do not diminish another person’s success by searching for flaws in it. Allah’s treasures are limitless; what He has granted to someone else does not mean that He has taken something away from you.

Rejoice, but Remember That This World Is Temporary

The joys of this world are not everlasting. Children grow up, reunions come to an end, wealth changes hands, youth fades away, and days of celebration become memories. Therefore, the believer enjoys lawful blessings without making them his ultimate destination.

Perfect joy belongs to the Hereafter. Allah, the Most High, describes the martyrs:

“They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they rejoice for those who have not yet joined them.”
(Surah Āl ʿImrān, 3:170).

The greatest joy is not what we celebrate before people, but what we will meet Allah with: forgiven sins, accepted deeds, a purified heart, and eternal residence in His pleasure.

So rejoice, but do not lose yourself in your joy.

Smile, but do not mock others.

Celebrate, but never transgress the limits set by Allah.

Enjoy His blessings, but never forget the Bestower.

Share your happiness, but do not wound those who currently have none.

Be cheerful, but never superficial.

Be grateful, not arrogant.

Rejoice like a true believer: with a pure heart, noble character, and a tranquil soul. Rejoice in such a way that gratitude remains after the joy—not regret; closeness—not conflict; good deeds—not sin.

Rejoice with dignity.

(Central khutbah by the Muslim Religious Leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on May 29, 2026, at the “Centre Islamique Gazi Isa-beg” in Esch-sur-Alzette)