Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, May 1, 2026.
Choose faith over social pressure
“I believe in Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.”
In one sentence
Muslims should cultivate disciplined, independent faith by following Allah and the Prophet rather than social pressure, while resisting gossip and harmful influences through forgiveness and Quran-and-hadith grounding.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Introduces the hadith command “La takoonu imma'a” and calls for self-discipline over herd mentality.
- Uses conformity and smoke experiments to explain how social pressure distorts judgment and moral choices.
- Applies the principle to normalized sins, especially smoking, riba, and same-sex conduct.
- Explains the seriousness of backbiting through the story of Aisha and Safiya, then encourages forgiveness.
- Warns about social media, online attacks on Islam, and the need for researched, firm belief.
- Illustrates steadfast independence through Uhud, the three people Allah loves, and Abdullah ibn Huzafa.
- Closes by urging listeners to return to the Quran and hadith and ends with supplication.
Try this week
Discipline yourself to do good even when others are doing wrong.
Avoid gossip and backbiting, even when the description is true.
When someone close dies, forgive them in your dua for any hurt or backbiting.
Research Islam, read the Quran, and return to the hadith when confronted by online challenges.
Resist harmful social-media influences and keep your faith firm.
Sources the khateeb cited
Jami` at-TirmidhiUsed the command “La takoonu imma'a” to reject herd mentality and practice self-discipline.
Surah 74Used the description of people in Saqar who neglected prayer, the poor, and resisted falsehood.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“But you should have self-discipline, you should discipline yourself. If people are doing good, in ahsana an nasu ahsinu. You should do good as well.”
“The fact that a lot of people smoking, it does not mean that it's not haram anymore.”
“I believe in Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Because this is the truth. Because I did my research. Because I read the Quran.”
“Have firm belief in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. In His messenger. Go back to the Quran. Go back to the hadith.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah urged us not to let popularity or social pressure decide what we believe or do. It used experiments, gossip, social media, and stories of the Companions to show why self-discipline matters. We were reminded that backbiting is serious even when what we say is true, and that forgiving people who have died is a generous act. The practical invitation was to return to the Quran and hadith, resist harmful influences, and keep faith firm.
- When have you seen people follow a crowd, and what would independent thinking look like?
- Why can forgiveness be a meaningful gift to someone who has died?
- What can we do when social media makes harmful ideas seem normal?
Keep listening
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