Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Justice must outweigh personal feelings

In one sentence

Justice (qist) is a central purpose of Islam, and believers must practice it consistently by balancing worship with people’s rights and remaining fair despite love, dislike, or personal interest.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines qist as a central Islamic value and a purpose of revelation and the messengers.
  2. Explains human moral choice and the balance between worship, family responsibilities, and social obligations.
  3. Applies justice to contemporary oppression, communal life, and personal relationships.
  4. Uses Abdullah ibn al-Rawaha’s refusal of a bribe to illustrate impartial judgment.
  5. Calls Muslims to embody justice, learn from earlier examples, and teach these values to children.
  6. Closes with reminders to focus during Jumu’ah, event announcements, and prayers for oppressed communities.
Try this week
Judge fairly even when the decision affects yourself, relatives, friends, or opponents.
Balance worship with the rights of family, work, and community.
Reject bribery and other personal incentives that compromise impartial decisions.
Avoid following personal desires when making judgments.
Put phones away and focus before the adhan and during the khutbah.
Teach children and younger Muslims through examples of justice and integrity.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 66Used to contrast angels’ obedience with humans’ capacity for choice and accountability.
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to show the Prophet balancing fasting, night prayer, marriage, worship, and ordinary responsibilities.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Ini afshaakum lilla wa tqakum lilla" - "I have the most fear of Allah than all of you"”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 12:23
“rwy'n gweithio i'r ibadau a chyfraithi. So balance in being a ḥuqūqillāh a ḥuqūqî'i 'ibādillāh”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 12:43
“It may not be so that the fact that you hate somebody, you have hatred for someone, may compel you to be unjust with them.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 20:18
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today’s khutbah taught that justice, or qist, is one of Islam’s central values. We should balance worship with the rights of our families, coworkers, neighbors, and wider community. The speaker reminded us not to let love, dislike, or personal benefit make us unfair, and he shared the example of Abdullah ibn al-Rawaha refusing a bribe. We can practice this by making honest decisions, protecting our attention during Jumu'ah, and teaching children through our own example.

  1. Where might we have a chance to be fair this week, even when fairness is difficult?
  2. What helps us balance prayer, school or work, and family responsibilities?
  3. How can our family keep phones from distracting us during Jumu'ah?