51:05 I would rather lie on…63:53 A just society cannot…
Community & unityFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 8, 2025.

Justice is the foundation of a united community

Al Ahad

“A just society cannot be sustained unless individuals are corrected when they stray and are encouraged when they do right.”

The khateeb, at 63:53

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

A united Muslim community can become a solid Bunyanun Marsoos only when justice is rooted in each person's conduct, family, and community.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. The speaker continues a series on building a united community as a solid Bunyanun Marsoos.
  2. Justice is presented as the essential foundation of personal and communal religious life.
  3. Quranic guidance is used to emphasize justice even against oneself, parents, or relatives.
  4. The speaker warns that comfort and family attachment can weaken moral courage during hardship.
  5. Imam Ali's example illustrates loving justice and fearing injustice, while distinguishing justice from generosity.
  6. The sermon applies justice to personal honesty, family and community responsibilities, and enjoining good and forbidding evil.
  7. The khutbah closes with mourning for Imam Hasan and the martyrdom of Qasim at Karbala.
Try this week
Be honest in transactions and truthful in speech.
Keep promises and avoid raising people's hopes with commitments you cannot fulfill.
Treat people fairly and provide equal opportunities regardless of gender, age, race, or culture.
Keep learning and improving instead of assuming you have outgrown religious instruction.
Love justice and fear becoming unjust, especially when family loyalty or personal comfort is involved.
Encourage good conduct and correct wrongdoing with compassion, leniency, and understanding.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 61:4Used to frame Muslim unity as standing in solid ranks like a firmly joined structure.
Quran 16:90Used to command justice and good conduct while forbidding immorality, evil, and oppression.
Quran 4:135Used to require persistent justice even when it conflicts with one's own interests or family loyalties.
Surah 40Paraphrased to contrast the strength of earlier communities with the softness produced by modern comfort and technology.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“I would rather lie on a bed of thorns than to be unjust to anyone, yeah, to usurp something that wasn't mine to anyone, right?”
Al Ahad · Allentown, PA
Play from 51:05
“A just society cannot be sustained unless individuals are corrected when they stray and are encouraged when they do right.”
Al Ahad · Allentown, PA
Play from 63:53
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that a strong Muslim community is built from people who practice justice in daily life. Justice means honesty, keeping promises, treating people fairly, and refusing to let love for family or comfort push us into wrongdoing. Imam Ali is presented as someone who loved justice and feared being unjust, and we are encouraged to keep learning and improving. Families and communities should correct mistakes kindly and encourage good actions. The sermon closes by mourning Imam Hasan and the young Qasim of Karbala.

  1. What does being fair look like at home this week?
  2. When is it hard to tell the truth, and how can we be brave enough to do it?
  3. How can we encourage someone who is doing good without embarrassing them?
Where it was given

The masjid

Al-Ahad Islamic Center1500 Ridgeview Drive, Allentown, PA 18104Jumu'ah 1:00 PM · temporarily at Asbury Church Worship Center, 1533 Springhouse RoadArchiveAll khutbahs at Al Ahad10 khutbahs
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