34:34 Righteous friendship…36:55 The hard part... is…39:09 So one sincere friend…44:41 When you put your…
Youth & educationFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 22, 2026.

Righteous friends shape your faith

FVAMC · Khizer Ali

“One sincere friend is much, much better than 50 fake friends.”

The khateeb, at 39:09

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The people you surround yourself with shape your faith and choices, so choose righteous company, prioritize Allah, and accept discomfort for the sake of Jannah.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Introduces the back-to-school theme and urges families to choose good people rather than judging only by religious identity.
  2. Explains Ashab al-Kahf as ordinary young believers whose faith and mutual support protected them.
  3. Presents five lessons: righteous friends remind you of Allah, protect you from sin, prioritize quality over quantity, shape your character, and help you put Allah first.
  4. Applies the lessons to phones, school, peer pressure, substances, popularity, and evaluating one’s circle for the coming year.
  5. Motivates listeners with the reward of Paradise and urges them to make principled choices despite social discomfort.
Try this week
Choose friends who remind you of Allah and strengthen your faith.
Set boundaries so you can enjoy friendships without gossip, intoxication, or forgetting your values.
Refuse peer pressure to attend harmful gatherings or use substances.
Before the school year, evaluate who surrounds you and how they affect your religion.
Put Salah, religious principles, and Allah before popularity, money, or social approval.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 18The youth of the cave illustrate how faith and righteous companionship provide guidance, protection, and divine care.
Surah 76Descriptions of Paradise and Allah serving its inhabitants motivate perseverance and sacrifice.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Righteous friendship does not mean that when you get with your friends all you do is talk about Islam.”
FVAMC · Avon, CT
Play from 34:34
“The hard part... is having courage to act upon what you know.”
FVAMC · Avon, CT
Play from 36:55
“So one sincere friend is much, much better than 50 fake friends.”
FVAMC · Avon, CT
Play from 39:09
“When you put your religion first, when you put Salah first, when you put your principles first, Allah will give you victory from unimaginable places, like He did with Ashab al-Kahf.”
FVAMC · Avon, CT
Play from 44:41
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that our friends strongly influence who we become. The story of the youth of the cave shows ordinary young people supporting one another in faith when society pressured them to compromise. Good friends do not have to discuss religion every moment, but they help us keep our values and avoid harmful choices. As school begins, we should think carefully about who surrounds us and whether they bring us closer to Allah. Choosing faith over popularity can be difficult, but the reward in Paradise is worth the sacrifice.

  1. What makes someone a genuinely good friend?
  2. When is it hardest to say no to peer pressure?
  3. Who helps you remember your values when you feel pressured?
Where it was given

The masjid

Farmington Valley American Muslim Center35 Harris Road, Avon, CT 06001Jumu'ah 12:30 PM & 1:30 PMKhateebKhizer AliMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at FVAMC23 khutbahs
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