4:57 my advice to you young…6:28 find your own group,…8:52 You need to establish…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 10, 2026.

Your companions shape your faith and fate

Al-Ittehad · Yasser Kassem

“Get married to the one that has a religion.”

The khateeb, at 4:57

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In one sentence

The people we choose as friends, partners, and companions shape our faith and ultimate destination, so we should keep company that brings us closer to Allah.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Asks listeners to examine their friends, partners, and loves.
  2. Advises choosing a spouse primarily for religion rather than beauty, wealth, or status.
  3. Explains the Prophet’s description of future Muslim brothers and connects Muslim identity with wudu, sujood, and the five daily prayers.
  4. Uses Pharaoh and Lot’s wife to warn that attachment to corrupt people can lead away from salvation.
  5. Urges following Allah’s straight path instead of divergent ways.
  6. Closes with reminders about death and judgment, followed by prayers for steadfastness, forgiveness, Paradise, and the deceased.
Try this week
Examine whether friends and companions increase or decrease your iman.
Choose a spouse primarily for religion, while still considering mutual acceptance.
Perform wudu and establish the five daily prayers consistently.
Follow Allah’s straight path and avoid relationships that pull you toward disobedience.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 2:221Used to prioritize faith in marriage over attraction or social status.
Quran 37:22-26Used to warn that wrongdoers and their associates face judgment together.
Quran 6:153Used to urge following the straight path rather than divergent ways.
Quran 11:81Used Lot’s wife as an example of destructive attachment to corrupt people.
Quran 66:10Used Lot’s wife as an example of destructive attachment to corrupt people.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“my advice to you young man when you get married get married to the one that has a religion”
Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA
Play from 4:57
“find your own group, which group should you take in this life? Which partner, which company you should take in this life? This decides who you are.”
Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA
Play from 6:28
“You need to establish the salah. Salah is the main basic pillar, the main post of Islam.”
Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA
Play from 8:52
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah reminded us that the people we keep close shape our character and destination. When choosing friends or a spouse, we should look beyond appearance, money, or status and value faith and good habits. The khateeb connected the five daily prayers, wudu, and sujood with the identity of a believer. He warned that loving a sinful way of life can pull someone away from Allah, using Pharaoh and the wife of Prophet Lut as examples. This week, we can examine our company, strengthen our prayers, and ask Allah to keep our hearts on the straight path.

  1. Which friend helps you become a better person?
  2. What makes prayer easier to keep every day?
  3. How can we choose company that brings us closer to Allah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Al-Ittehad925 Anza Ave, Vista, CA 92084Jumu'ah 1:05 PM year-roundKhateebYasser KassemMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Al-Ittehad42 khutbahs
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