Your character shows what you truly believe
“We need to hold on to our characteristics because that is what is going to define us at the end of the day.”
In times of shifting power, injustice, and confusion, Muslims should hold firmly to the Quran and Sunnah by cultivating the Prophet’s character, standing for justice, and preparing to answer Allah for how they lived.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Uses Badr and Uhud to explain shifting worldly power and divine testing.
- Argues that injustice requires righteous people to stand for justice.
- Warns that deceptive times can make liars trusted and truth-tellers distrusted.
- Contrasts Hajjaj ibn Yusuf with Saeed ibn Jubair to emphasize character over religious claims.
- Urges Muslims, especially North American youth, to represent Islam through their conduct.
- Closes with accountability to Allah, family responsibilities, steadfastness, and justice; the second khutbah emphasizes good character.
In the khateeb's words
“what really truly takes us towards Jannah what truly makes us believers is our characteristics”
“today when you say you are a Muslim and you are living in North America you automatically become a representative of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam”
“we need to hold on to our characteristics because that is what is going to define us at the end of the day”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that worldly power moves from one group to another, so victory or hardship alone does not prove who is right. Difficult times test whether we truly live our faith, especially by standing for justice and resisting tyranny with integrity. The strongest sign of following the Prophet is good character, as shown through the contrast between Saeed ibn Jubair and Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. We should hold to the Quran and Sunnah, represent Islam through our behavior, care for our families, and trust Allah while working for a better world. We will answer Allah for how we treated the people closest to us.
- What is one kind or courageous action you could take this week?
- How can our family show good character when we disagree?
- What does representing Islam through our behavior look like at school or work?
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