9:59 follow up a bad deed…24:49 Our understanding of…26:45 Anytime that you stray…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 27, 2025.

Good character means kindness without weakness

ICIE · Zaid Khan

“Follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will erase it and treat people kindly.”

The khateeb, at 9:59

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah teaches that a Muslim’s life is guided by three comprehensive principles: remain conscious of Allah everywhere, answer sin with repentance and good deeds, and treat every person with good character.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Introduces a three-part prophetic teaching as comprehensive guidance for life.
  2. Explains fearing Allah everywhere as carrying Muslim identity into private, public, professional, and social life.
  3. Addresses human error by pairing sin with repentance and immediate good deeds.
  4. Applies good character to family, neighbors, colleagues, strangers, and opponents while balancing kindness with firmness.
  5. Closes by urging accountability for one’s own character and seeking Allah’s guidance.
Try this week
Carry Muslim identity and Allah-consciousness into college, work, public spaces, and everyday interactions.
When you commit a sin, acknowledge it, make tawbah, resume prayer, and follow it with a good deed.
Treat people kindly, giving close family members your best behavior while remaining firm without harshness.
Sources the khateeb cited
Jami` at-TirmidhiThe three-part principle: fear Allah everywhere, follow wrong with good, and treat people kindly.
Surah 89Used for the content soul, nafs al-mutma'inna.
Surah 12Used for nafs ammara, the soul habituated to wrongdoing.
Surah 75Used for nafs al-lawwama, the self-reproaching soul with conscience.
Surah 25Used to explain that sincere repentance can turn evil deeds into good deeds.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will erase it and treat people kindly”
ICIE · Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Play from 9:59
“Our understanding of akhlaaq and good behavior and what it means to be a good person has to be very finely balanced between being firm without harsh and being kind without being a pushover.”
ICIE · Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Play from 24:49
“Anytime that you stray away, follow up that bad deed with a good deed, it will get you back on track.”
ICIE · Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Play from 26:45
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah centers on a short prophetic teaching with three rules for daily life. First, remember Allah and live as a Muslim everywhere, not only in the masjid or at home. Second, when you fall into sin, do not let shame keep you away from Allah; repent, pray, and follow the mistake with a good deed. Third, treat people with good character, giving the people closest to you your best behavior while staying kind without becoming passive. The goal is to keep returning to Allah and take responsibility for your own words and actions.

  1. Where might you need to remember Allah more during an ordinary day?
  2. What good deed could help you recover after making a mistake?
  3. How can we show our family our very best character this week?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of the Inland Empire9212 Baseline Road, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701Jumu'ah 1:10 PMKhateebZaid KhanMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICIE34 khutbahs
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