13:24 whenever anybody does…17:16 You are consistently,…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Apr 10, 2026.

Islam calls us to honor every neighbor

Quba Institute

“Whenever anybody does something bad to us, we forgive. This is Islam.”

The khateeb, at 13:24

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Islam requires believers to honor neighbors, Muslim or non-Muslim, with kindness, peaceful conduct, gentle approach, forgiveness, and active self-control.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Opens with gratitude for Islam, guidance, and the ability to attend prayer.
  2. Introduces respecting neighbors as an Islamic duty, grounded in Surah An-Nisa 4:36.
  3. Defines neighbors broadly, including nearby households, colleagues, and Muslims and non-Muslims with different rights.
  4. Explains that Muslims should provide peace, avoid insults and harshness, and address wrongdoing appropriately.
  5. Uses a story about a scholar befriending a disliked neighbor to show the power of a gentle approach.
  6. Connects neighborly gentleness to Musa and Harun speaking gently to Pharaoh.
  7. Urges forgiveness and describes patience as active self-control during provocation and hardship.
Try this week
Treat nearby neighbors and colleagues kindly, regardless of their faith.
Avoid insults, provocative words, and harshness; set boundaries when necessary.
Approach difficult neighbors gently instead of judging them by reputation, including through hospitality.
Forgive wrongs and actively control anger and reactions when provoked.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 4Used to connect worshipping Allah with excellence toward parents, relatives, and close neighbors.
Sahih MuslimUsed to define Muslim character as bringing peace and avoiding harm, insults, and harshness.
Surah 25Used to teach that people can be tests for one another and that believers should remain patient.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“whenever anybody does something bad to us, we forgive. This is Islam.”
Quba Institute · Philadelphia, PA
Play from 13:24
“You are consistently, persistently, actively controlling yourself and pushing yourself for the best”
Quba Institute · Philadelphia, PA
Play from 17:16
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Islam asks us to treat our neighbors as people with real rights, whether they are Muslim or not. The khateeb described a wide circle of neighbors and urged us to offer them peace, respect, and our best character. When someone is difficult, we should not let rumors define them; a gentle greeting or shared meal may open a better door. He also reminded us that patience means actively controlling ourselves, forgiving harm, and keeping our identity when others provoke us. This week, our family can practice by noticing a neighbor, speaking kindly, and choosing calm over harshness.

  1. Who counts as our neighbor, according to today’s khutbah?
  2. How could a kind approach change a difficult relationship?
  3. What does active patience look like in our family or neighborhood?
Where it was given

The masjid

Quba Institute (Masjid Quba)4637 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131ArchiveAll khutbahs at Quba Institute39 khutbahs
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