Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 29, 2025.

Resist sinful desires for Allah's pleasure

“The shaytan makes evil beautiful and makes achieving it easy but the believers and the muslims should make achieving the halal easy.”

The khateeb, at 20:27

In one sentence

Muslims should resist temporary sinful desires by remembering Allah and the Hereafter, controlling themselves, choosing halal alternatives, and supporting one another through prayer and good deeds.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines following desire as making it a god and warns of eternal consequences.
  2. Contrasts preferring worldly life with restraining the soul, citing Surah al-Nazi'aat.
  3. Uses hadith about guarding the tongue and private parts, including a young man's request for zina.
  4. Applies the warning to backbiting, zina, riba, wasted time, and get-rich-quick schemes.
  5. Recommends halal alternatives and community support through charity, zakah, marriage, and youth programs.
  6. Gives practical safeguards: remember death, lower the gaze, avoid triggers, fast, make dua, and practice dhikr.
Try this week
Remember death and the Hereafter before acting on a tempting impulse.
Lower the gaze and avoid situations or media that trigger sin.
Fast voluntarily for self-control, including weekly fasting or the three white days when able.
Make dua for forgiveness, a pure heart, and chastity; seek refuge from Shaytan with A'udhu Billahi Minash Shaitan Al-Rajim.
Control the tongue by avoiding backbiting and anger, and instead enjoin good appropriately.
Give sadaqah and pay yearly zakah on time.
Choose halal alternatives, including making marriage easier and supporting youth.
Stop deepening involvement in riba and begin a new page.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 79Contrasted preferring worldly life with restraining the soul from evil desire and attaining Paradise.
Sahih al-BukhariTaught that guarding the tongue and private parts can lead to Paradise.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“a person that worships his desires he is a slave to these temporary impulses ignorant of the eternal consequences”
Al-Tawheed · Kensington, NY
Play from 7:46
“just a little bit control in this temporary dunya for an eternal enjoyment in Jannah for achieving the pleasure of Allah Azzawajal”
Al-Tawheed · Kensington, NY
Play from 10:45
“the shaytan makes evil beautiful and makes achieving it easy but the believers and the muslims should make achieving the halal easy”
Al-Tawheed · Kensington, NY
Play from 20:27
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

This khutbah teaches that desires can become powerful when we follow them without remembering Allah and the Hereafter. It warns about sins involving the tongue, sexuality, money, anger, and wasted time. The speaker reminds us that the Prophet advised a young man calmly and compassionately, then prayed for him. We can resist temptation by lowering our gaze, avoiding triggers, fasting, making dua, remembering death, and choosing halal alternatives. Families and communities should also make good choices, marriage, charity, and support easier for one another.

  1. When has remembering a future consequence helped you make a better choice?
  2. What is one halal and healthy alternative we can make easier at home?
  3. Which habit would help you most when a temptation appears?