Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Nov 14, 2025.
Listen humbly and follow the truth
“You have to listen to understand, not just listen to listen.”
In one sentence
A believer should receive advice humbly, listen actively, follow evidence-based truth, and discipline personal desires under obedience to Allah.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Opening call to taqwa, truthful speech, and obedience
- Identifying mockery, deflection, and endless debate as reactions to advice
- Contrasting servitude to Allah with servitude to the nafs
- Explaining active listening and following the strongest evidence
- Calling listeners to self-reflection and sharing this character with three people
Try this week
Reflect on how you responded to advice during the last week or two.
Listen actively to counsel, evaluate it through evidence, and follow the strongest truth.
Share this akhlaq with three people before the next Jumu'ah.
Give the obligatory charity and additional sadaqah instead of debating away the responsibility.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 3:102Used to open with fearing Allah and dying in submission.
Quran 33:70-71Used to connect truthful speech and obedience with corrected affairs and success.
Quran 36:30Used to illustrate how people mock and reject messengers.
Quran 36:47Used to criticize refusing charity through arguments about why the poor lack provision.
Quran 25:43Used to warn against making personal desires one's master.
Quran 39:17-18Used to define believers as those who listen carefully and follow the best guidance.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“the way you speak by the way shows what you're interested in”
“you have to listen to understand not just listen to listen”
“we're supposed to know and do we're supposed to have knowledge and practice not just knowledge”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khateeb taught that a believer should welcome sincere advice instead of mocking the adviser, turning away, or arguing endlessly. He said true listening means paying attention, understanding, weighing what is said by evidence, and following the best truth. He contrasted living as a servant of Allah and master of one's desires with becoming a servant of one's desires. He asked the congregation to reflect on how they receive advice and share this character with three people before next Jumu'ah.
- When is it hardest for you to listen to advice carefully?
- What does it mean to be the master of your nafs?
- Who could you share this akhlaq with this week?
Where it was given
The masjid
Keep listening
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