13:58 it's the resistance…22:32 the medicine we need…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Nov 1, 2025.

Seek solitude with Allah without neglecting duties

Masjid al-Mu'min · Na'eem Abdullah
Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Healthy seclusion means setting aside regular time with Allah to strengthen faith and purify the heart while still fulfilling communal obligations and protecting oneself and others from spiritual harm.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Places seclusion within a series of character traits and defines it as time alone with Allah.
  2. Uses Surah al-Dhariyat to frame retreat as fleeing to Allah, while noting it must fit each person’s responsibilities.
  3. Warns that people often withdraw from others at the wrong times and links social media, corruption, and spiritual struggle to this imbalance.
  4. Explains that solitude requires sound knowledge, correct worship, family-duty knowledge, and heart purification.
  5. Presents a middle way: join obligatory and recommended communal activities while withdrawing from sinful or spiritually harmful settings.
  6. Calls for regular private worship, especially night prayer, and using solitude to reduce one’s own harmful traits.
Try this week
Set aside regular private time with Allah; where possible, wake for night prayer and supplication.
Maintain obligatory communal duties, especially congregational prayer and Jumu'ah, and attend beneficial gatherings.
Study enough Islam to maintain sound beliefs, fulfill obligations, handle family responsibilities, and purify the heart.
Use solitude to reduce personal blameworthy traits and protect others from one’s own spiritual harms.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 51Used to frame seclusion as fleeing toward Allah.
Surah 33Used to contrast the hypocrites’ despair with believers’ increased faith during siege.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“it's the resistance that builds the muscle it's not the easy stuff that builds the muscle”
Masjid al-Mu'min · Pittsburgh, PA
Play from 13:58
“the medicine we need is the thing that we're running from”
Masjid al-Mu'min · Pittsburgh, PA
Play from 22:32
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that keeping away from people is not about hating everyone or abandoning community. It means making regular time to be alone with Allah, especially for prayer, supplication, and honest self-examination. We still have to join the communal acts Allah requires and seek beneficial people and knowledge. Solitude should help us purify our hearts and keep our own problems from harming others, while also protecting us from harmful influences. Difficult times can become resistance that strengthens faith when we meet them with knowledge, worship, and the right outlook.

  1. When do you feel most able to think honestly and remember Allah?
  2. How can spending time alone make us kinder or safer for other people?
  3. What difficult situation might help strengthen your faith?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid al-Mu'min of Pittsburgh537 Paulson Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206KhateebNa'eem AbdullahMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Masjid al-Mu'min33 khutbahs
Keep listening

More on Character & conduct

All on this topic
The strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.10:16Masjid Al-Noor · Waterloo, IA · Oct 31, 2026Control anger before it causes harmPeer pressure is an issue that is just as applicable to adults as it is to children.5:08The Rayyan Center · Plymouth, MI · Oct 31, 2026Adults must choose their influencesLowering your gaze is cleaner to your heart and fulfilling the amanah that Allah gave you.1:03:23Rahma Center · Lake Forest, CA · Oct 30, 2026Every trust from Allah must be honored