Being a source of benefit is Sunnah
“We never know truly what the people around us are feeling or the difficulties that they're going through.”
Caring for others and being a source of benefit to people is not merely a desirable trait but an essential, often overlooked part of following the Sunnah and the religion of Islam itself.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Following the Sunnah means adopting not only the Prophet's outward actions and statements but also his internal frame of mind of care and concern for others.
- A small, unexpected message of encouragement illustrates how one kind act can change a person's day or even life trajectory.
- The hadith that Allah loves most the person most beneficial to people, shown through bringing joy, removing hardship, relieving debt, and feeding the hungry.
- Helping a brother with a need is more beloved to the Prophet than a month of i'tikaf in Masjid al-Nabawi.
- Further hadith promise that Allah removes akhirah hardship, conceals faults, and helps those who help fellow believers.
- Quranic descriptions of believers as a nation brought forth for people, cooperating in righteousness, feeding the needy, and preferring others over themselves.
- Muslims should revive this sunnah by creating community initiatives to support one another in both dunya and akhirah.
- The entire deen is sincere good counsel (nasiha) toward one another, which protects believers from loss.
In the khateeb's words
“And sometimes we forget that part of the sunnah is also beyond the actions, beyond the statements, it's the frame of mind of Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.”
“Because if you really think about it, we never know truly what the people around us are feeling or the difficulties that they're going through.”
“But in this particular hadith, Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is telling us that the quality that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala loves about a person, anfa'hum linnas, that that person is a source of benefit for people around them.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that following the sunnah means more than copying actions and words; it also means developing the Prophet’s mindset of care and concern. Allah loves people who benefit others, bring happiness, ease hardship, help with debts, and feed those in need. Even helping someone can be more beloved than extended worship, and serving others brings Allah’s help in this life and the next. We should support one another in goodness, give sincere advice, and build initiatives that strengthen the Muslim community. The khateeb also expressed gratitude for his time delivering khutbahs and asked the community to continue growing closer to Allah.
- What is one helpful thing you could do for someone this week?
- Who might need encouragement from you today?
- What could our family do to serve the masjid or community?
The masjids
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