Friday Khutba Urges Mindfulness of Health and Free Time as Divine Trusts

A call has been made in the Friday khutba across the Maldives to remain mindful of health and leisure time, emphasizing that these are trusts from Allah ﷻ that should not be neglected. The khutba, delivered under the theme 'Taking Care of Health', reminded worshippers that intentionally harming the body or abandoning necessary care is not permitted in Islam. It highlighted that good health is a noble blessing whose value is often only realized during illness or hardship. The khutba also drew on prophetic guidance, noting that many people overlook the blessings of health and free time, and urged believers to make good use of these opportunities to serve Allah ﷻ and perform good deeds, including standing in prayer, walking to the mosque, showing respect to elderly parents, visiting the sick, and working to earn halal sustenance. Using a hadith, the khutba illustrated the example of a believer as being like a young plant that bends with the wind but stands straight when it calms, remaining patient through calamities and illnesses while maintaining a connection with Allah ﷻ, contrasting this with a disbeliever likened to a rigid cedar tree. It stressed that faith is not the absence of pain, and the true strength of a believer lies in not severing their bond with Allah during difficult times.