5:19 But the only right…13:45 When a sin becomes…
Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 17, 2025.

Guard your heart from sinful influences

ICLI

“The most precious and most valuable asset that we have is our hearts.”

The khateeb, at 5:19

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The heart is a believer's most precious and vulnerable asset, so protecting it from sinful sights, thoughts, influences, speech, and actions is essential to meeting Allah with peace.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Gratitude for Jumu'ah, safety, and access to a mosque
  2. The heart is more valuable than worldly possessions and determines one's final fate
  3. A peaceful heart is the only lasting benefit on the Day of Judgment
  4. Repeated sins rust and harden the heart
  5. Four pathways to the heart: gaze, thoughts, what we hear, and what we say
  6. Guarding speech, chastity, phones, and messages can protect the heart and lead to Jannah
Try this week
Fill empty spaces in the front rows when attending Jumu'ah.
Practice gratitude for life, safety, and access to the masjid.
Lower the gaze and protect the eyes from sinful or desire-stimulating content.
Curate phone and social-media use, and avoid exposing others to inappropriate material.
Repel harmful thoughts before they become desires, intentions, actions, or habits.
Avoid gossip and conversations that do not concern you.
Guard the tongue and fingers by pausing before sending, forwarding, or posting messages.
Protect chastity and avoid harming others.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 26A sound and peaceful heart is what benefits a person before Allah when wealth and children cannot.
Surah 83The speaker used the image of hearts becoming rusted because of people's deeds.
Surah 2Hardened hearts were compared with rocks or something even harder.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“But the only right answer is, the most precious and most valuable asset that we have is our hearts.”
ICLI · Westbury, NY
Play from 5:19
“When a sin becomes natural and a sin becomes habitual by a society, then that is the downfall of that society.”
ICLI · Westbury, NY
Play from 13:45
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb began by reminding us to thank Allah for life, safety, and a place to pray together. He explained that our most precious possession is our heart, and that we should work toward meeting Allah with a peaceful heart. What we look at, dwell on, listen to, and say can all affect it. He encouraged us to guard these four pathways, practice restraint, and interrupt harmful patterns before they become habits. He also reminded us that repentance washes away the marks of sin, giving us a way to return to Allah. Our words matter, whether spoken aloud or typed into a group chat, and even a small good statement can bring Allah's pleasure.

  1. What is one blessing the khateeb mentioned that you would like to thank Allah for today?
  2. How could we help each other make better choices about what we watch and share?
  3. What kind message could you say or send to someone this week?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Long Island835 Brush Hollow Rd, Westbury, NY 11590ArchiveAll khutbahs at ICLI48 khutbahs
Keep listening

More on Repentance & taqwa

All on this topic
First, practice humility by accepting correction.28:46Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Oct 31, 2026Arrogance hardens the heart against guidance2:40Islamic Association of · Flower Mound, TX · Oct 24, 2026Repentance begins a life of self-discipline“Whilst you are alive, whilst you are reading, whilst you are even sitting in the masjid now, you can do Tawba with Allah.”I want to be quick to apologize.29:24Lighthouse · Temescal · North Oakland, CA · Oct 17, 2026Move steadily in life, rush to forgiveness