18:03 The question isn't,…33:55 It is a cooperative…43:57 Pray for them and…
Community & unityFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 19, 2026.

Reconcile differences without hurting others

ICGC · Hossam Musa

“Always say something to bring people together and to mend differences or keep quiet.”

The khateeb, at 43:57

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Because human beings inevitably make mistakes and differences, believers should repent, avoid arrogance and harmful speech, reconcile conflicts justly, and build relationships across social and ethnic boundaries.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Contrasts Iblis's arrogance with Adam and Eve's repentance after error.
  2. Explains that human disagreement is inevitable and calls believers to reconcile conflicts without inflaming them.
  3. Warns against belittling, insults, suspicion, spying, and backbiting.
  4. Teaches shared human origin and rejects superiority based on ethnicity, wealth, language, or status.
  5. Applies these principles to marriage, emphasizing faith and character over tribal or ethnic preferences.
  6. Challenges listeners to form genuine friendships across ethnic and income boundaries.
Try this week
Repent regularly, seek Allah’s forgiveness, and improve personal behavior and character.
When people disagree, say something that helps reconcile them; otherwise remain silent.
Avoid belittling, insulting labels, suspicion, spying, and backbiting.
Evaluate marriage prospects by faith and character rather than ethnicity, tribe, wealth, or status.
Build genuine friendships outside your ethnic background and income bracket.
Help children develop balanced friendships across social and cultural boundaries.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 49Commands believers to reconcile fighting groups, restrain aggression, and restore justice.
Surah 49Prohibits mockery, insulting names, suspicion, spying, and backbiting; grounds human dignity in shared origin and mindfulness of God.
Surah 65Cited as examples that even exemplary prophetic households experienced internal disputes.
Surah 66Cited as examples that even exemplary prophetic households experienced internal disputes.
Surah 33Cited as examples that even exemplary prophetic households experienced internal disputes.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The question isn't, why do they have differences? The question is, what should we do when they have the differences and disputes?”
ICGC · West Chester, OH
Play from 18:03
“It is a cooperative relationship, not an adversarial one. Adam and Eve worked together.”
ICGC · West Chester, OH
Play from 33:55
“Pray for them and always say something to bring people together and to mend differences or keep quiet.”
ICGC · West Chester, OH
Play from 43:57
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Imam Hossam reminded us that everyone makes mistakes, and we should respond by asking Allah for forgiveness and working to improve. When people disagree, we can speak kindly and help mend relationships while making sure that harmful behavior is addressed fairly. He warned us against looking down on others, calling people hurtful names, being suspicious, and backbiting. Our worship should go together with honesty, gratitude, and good treatment of the people around us. Since we all share the same human beginnings, he encouraged us to build real friendships across ethnic backgrounds and income levels.

  1. After making a mistake, what could you do to ask forgiveness and make things better?
  2. When two friends argue, what could you say that helps instead of making the argument bigger?
  3. How could we get to know someone whose daily life is different from ours?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati8092 Plantation Drive, West Chester, OH 45069Jumu'ah Three services · 1:30 PM, 2:45 PM & 4:00 PMKhateebHossam MusaMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICGC26 khutbahs
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