Look for Allah in the stories you consume
“The Muslim never receives news randomly.”
Muslims should engage with stories and news intentionally, seeking lessons that connect them to Allah, resisting ego-driven opinions and distractions, and focusing their attention on what benefits their families and communities.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Stories and news should be received with adab and examined for spiritual lessons.
- Creation and everyday events should remind believers of Allah rather than merely serve personal desires.
- Believers should resist gossip, selfishness, polarization, and excessive attachment to personal opinions.
- Viral controversies can distract people from more important moral and humanitarian concerns.
- The strong believer focuses attention on what benefits themselves, their families, and their ummah.
- The khutbah closes with a call to awaken the ummah and pray for oppressed Muslims.
In the khateeb's words
“Point number one is that the Muslim never receives news randomly. The Muslim never just blindly listens to the news.”
“Talking about people is a disease, but talking about Allah is medication. It is healing for the soul.”
“Imam al-Shafi'i, he said, whenever I debate with someone, I put the opportunity in my mind, at least 1%, that maybe I am wrong.”
“Pay attention to that which benefits you, to that which benefits your wife, to that which benefits your children, to that which benefits your ummah, your community.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us that stories, news, and even the world around us should lead us to remember Allah and become better people. We should not let gossip, pride, or viral controversies control our attention. Instead, we can ask why something is receiving our attention and whether it truly benefits our families and community. The speaker encouraged humility in disagreement and urged us to notice important suffering and injustice around the world. We should focus our energy on what benefits ourselves, our families, our ummah, and those who are oppressed.
- What recent story helped you remember Allah or taught you a meaningful lesson?
- When have you changed your mind after listening carefully to someone else?
- What deserves more of our attention than the next viral controversy?
More on Seeking knowledge
IMAN Center · Kirkland, WA · Sep 19, 2026Knowledge matters only when it changes us“Sometimes the problem is knowledge without action.”
Daar-Ul-Islam · Ballwin, MO · Oct 3, 2026The first revelation calls us to learn and serve“Before any type of great transformation occurs outwardly, there must be deep reflection inwardly.”
CCIL-KBW · Laval, QC · Sep 26, 2026Protect your heart from information overload“Faire confiance à Allah ne signifie pas rester sans rien faire.”