Choose friends who strengthen your faith
“They can be the same people that will take us to Jannah, or they can be the same people that take us to Jahannam.”
Because close companions shape a person's faith and ultimate fate, Muslims should choose God-conscious friends and continually ask Allah for guidance.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces the Sahaba's status through their companionship with the Prophet and the principle that people follow their friends' deen.
- Uses Quranic warnings to contrast righteous friendships with friendships that become sources of regret on Judgment Day.
- Explains how friends unconsciously shape speech, humor, ideologies, and attitudes toward religious figures and teachings.
- Recounts Uqba bin Abi Mu'eit and Ubay bin Khalaf to show how friendship can pressure someone into disrespecting the Prophet.
- Contrasts guaranteed rizq with unguaranteed hidayah and urges listeners to ask Allah for a faithful death.
- Closes by urging listeners to examine whether their circle brings them closer to or away from deen.
In the khateeb's words
“an individual is on the deen of his friends. On those people around him, those close people around him, an individual is on the deen of those people.”
“we have to understand that those people that we surround ourselves with, they can be the same people that will take us to Jannah, or they can be the same people that take us to Jahannam.”
“Our eyes are a vessel to the heart. Our ears are a vessel to the heart. Our mouth is a vessel to the heart, to the soul.”
“But one thing Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has not promised us is hidayah. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has not promised us hidayah.”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us that the people close to us can shape our words, habits, and even what we think is right. The khateeb explained that this influence can happen without us noticing, so what we hear and say matters to our hearts. He encouraged us to choose friends who bring us closer to Allah, help us do good, and encourage us to go to the masjid. He also reminded us to keep asking Allah for guidance and to allow us to die as Muslims. As a family, we can think about who helps us grow in faith and how we can be that kind of friend to others.
- What is a good habit you have picked up from a friend?
- What could you say when a group's conversation starts going in a harmful direction?
- How could you help a friend do something good this week?
The masjid
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