Sincere faith means serving your neighbors
“None of you truly believe until you first want for your brother that which you want for yourself.”
During Ramadan, sincere faith and Allah’s pleasure are shown through selfless service, generosity, and care for neighbors, including those unlike us.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Urges listeners to take the remaining Ramadan seriously and seek Allah’s pleasure.
- Recounts Abu Talha al-Ansari hosting a poor guest despite having barely enough food.
- Connects the story to Quranic duties toward family, the poor, needy people, travelers, and neighbors.
- Argues that neglecting neighbors erodes a person spiritually and that giving what one loves demonstrates sincere iman.
- Uses an authentic hadith to call believers to want for others what they want for themselves.
- Closes by urging generosity and briefly announces a Ramadan benefit fund.
In the khateeb's words
“What would you think it would be worth for you to receive Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala smiling at something you've done?”
“And once an individual stops caring about his neighbor, stops thinking about the welfare of those in close proximity to him, he begins to erode from the inside.”
“Barely, none of you truly believe until you first want for your brother that which you want for yourself.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that Ramadan is a time to seek Allah’s pleasure through generous service. Abu Talha welcomed a poor guest even when his family had very little food, showing that real generosity can require sacrifice. We are encouraged to care for relatives, people in need, travelers, and especially our neighbors. This care should extend even to people whose worship is different from ours. A simple way to live this message is to give something valuable, welcome someone, or look after a neighbor this week.
- What is something valuable you could share with someone this Ramadan?
- How can we care for a neighbor who is different from us?
- When has someone’s generosity made you feel welcomed?
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