Community & unityFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.
Unity must be rooted in righteousness
“Not every unity is good unity.”
In one sentence
Muslim unity is praiseworthy only when grounded in Allah’s guidance and righteousness, so communities should welcome principled correction, accountable leadership, and reform rather than confuse reform with divisive fitna.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Defines Quranic unity as holding firmly to Allah’s guidance, not unity for its own sake.
- Uses Musa and the Quraysh to distinguish blameworthy unity from necessary separation for truth.
- Applies Meccan and Medinan lessons to Muslim life in America amid persecution, freedom, and communal responsibility.
- Argues that enjoining good and forbidding evil is a form of protection and a path to righteous unity.
- Uses hadith and Companion examples to demand correction, humility, and accountable leadership.
- Calls the community to clean up its own house, reject harmful narratives, accept feedback, and support the oppressed.
Try this week
Look honestly at communal shortcomings and identify where improvement is needed.
Command the good and forbid evil through sincere, constructive correction.
Prevent fellow Muslims from wrongdoing as a form of genuine help.
Expect leaders to accept feedback and guide them toward accountability.
Resist harmful narratives that portray Muslims as uniquely dangerous or divide Muslims into “good” and “bad” groups.
Pray for and support oppressed people, especially those suffering in Palestine.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:103Grounds Muslim unity in holding firmly to Allah’s rope and avoiding division.
Quran 9:71Defines believing men and women as allies who enjoin good and forbid evil.
Sahih al-BukhariExplains that helping an oppressor means preventing him from oppression.
Sahih al-BukhariUses the boat parable to show why communities must stop wrongdoing before it harms everyone.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“not every unity is good unity. Not every unity is good unity. Similarly, not every type of disunity is bad.”
“this is actually a means to achieving unity, the type of unity that Allah is talking about. Unity upon righteousness, unity upon Allah's guidance, not just unity for the sake of unity because we don't want to hurt each other's feelings.”
“We need to cultivate that attitude. We need to expect that attitude from our leaders. And we need to guide our leaders to that attitude if they do not already have it.”
“the first step is always to clean up our own house. The first step is always to clean up our own house.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah taught that Muslim unity is valuable only when it is built on Allah’s guidance and righteousness. Caring for one another sometimes means correcting wrongs, accepting feedback, and preventing harm, even when that feels uncomfortable. The khateeb urged leaders and communities to be humble, accountable, and willing to improve. He also reminded us to resist harmful divisions and keep praying for people suffering in Palestine and elsewhere. At home, we can practice this by giving sincere advice gently and receiving it gratefully.
- How can we correct someone lovingly without making them feel attacked?
- What should we expect from people who lead our communities?
- What is one small thing our family could improve this week?
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