Friday KhutbaMay 16, 2025- True righteousness is not merely turning towards the east or west but involves sound belief and ethical actions.- Imam Ali is known as Amīr al-Mu'minīn (chief of the believers) and Imam al-Muttaqīn (leader of the righteous), reflecting both faith and practice.- Surah Baqarah, Ayat 177 emphasizes that righteousness includes belief in Allah, the or Last Day, the angels, the book, and the prophets.- Commitment to faith must manifest in actions, not just verbal declarations.- The first action of righteousness mentioned is voluntary charity, given out of love for Allah to relatives, orphans, the needy, travelers, beggars, and those in bondage.- After charity, the verse emphasizes obligatory rituals like prayer and zakat, representing the rights of Allah and people.- Moral and ethical conduct includes fulfilling promises and being patient in financial distress, physical hardship, and during conflict.- True loyalty to Imam Ali involves embodying these principles of belief, charity, worship, and moral integrity.- The khutbah emphasizes that local community welfare must not be neglected despite international charitable efforts.- The importance of supporting local welfare programs and food banks is highlighted, especially given current economic challenges.- The ongoing suffering of Palestinians is addressed, drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the use of food as a political weapon.- Canada's Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, condemns the use of food as a political tool and urges a ceasefire and a two-state solution.- The speaker concludes with a supplication for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi and for global peace and justice.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)