Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 25, 2026.
Avoid haram to draw near to Allah
“Allah prohibited everything which is going to be harmful to you.”
In one sentence
Continuing the hadith of the five advices, the first advice is that true nearness to Allah comes from avoiding whatever is haram, and only Allah, not even the Prophet, has the authority to declare things halal or haram.
The khutbah in 9 steps
- Opening praise and recap of last week's hadith of the five advices (narrated by Abu Huraira via Imam Ahmad)
- Story of al-Tufayl ibn Amr al-Dawsi: media-style smears in Mecca nearly kept him from the Prophet until Surah al-Ikhlas opened his heart
- Abu Huraira's background: how a gifted young man from Daws memorized so much hadith by never leaving the Prophet's side
- Abu Huraira accepts the five advices unconditionally because he trusts Allah and His Messenger more than himself
- First advice explained: avoiding the haram is what makes one the best worshipper and most honorable to Allah (taqwa)
- Only Allah has authority to declare halal and haram, proven by Surah at-Tahrim's rebuke of the Prophet and Surah an-Nahl 16:116; the Prophet's prohibitions come by revelation
- Allah's prohibitions are protection and mercy, like a parent's rules; disobedience harms only oneself
- Contrast with Banu Isra'il who took part of the Book and left the rest; believers say 'we hear and we obey'
- Closing dua and transition to the prayer
Try this week
Stop yourself from whatever Allah has declared haram, this is the first of the five advices
Never declare things halal or haram on your own authority (as a parent, manager, or supervisor); defer to Allah's rulings
Apply guidance to character: lower your voice, avoid arrogance, backbiting, cheating, and lying
Take the whole of Allah's guidance rather than selectively accepting what suits your interests
Respond to revelation with 'we hear and we obey,' and prepare for the Day of Judgment
Return next week for the second advice in the hadith series
Sources the khateeb cited
Musnad AhmadThe foundational text of the series; the khutbah explains its first advice, avoiding the haram
Quran 49:13The most honored with Allah are the most God-fearing, taqwa defined as staying within Allah's boundaries
Quran 16:116Do not falsely declare things halal or haram, no human has that authority
Quran 66:1Allah rebuked even the Prophet for forbidding something on himself, proving the authority belongs to Allah alone
Quran 16:90Allah commands only what benefits people and prohibits only what harms them
Quran 31:18-19Even one's manner of speech is governed by divine guidance for people's own good
Quran 2:85Banu Isra'il selectively accepted scripture; Muslims must take the whole guidance
Quran 2:285-286The believers' response 'we hear and we obey' and the closing supplications
Surah 112The Prophet recited it to al-Tufayl, upon which he declared the shahada
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“you need to prevent yourself or stop yourself of doing something.”
“That's what's going to make you special to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
“And Allah prohibited everything which is going to be harmful to you.”
Keep listening
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