4:24 happiness is a choice…11:30 social media is not…20:16 don't look for the…
GratitudeFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 19, 2026.

Contentment grows from gratitude, not comparison

Ibn Taymiyah

“Social media is not real, brothers.”

The khateeb, at 11:30

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Lasting contentment comes from accepting worldly tests, living within today's blessings, avoiding comparison, speaking positively, and expressing gratitude to Allah.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Frames worldly life as a test and ultimate happiness as belonging to the Akhira.
  2. Uses the Prophet's hardships and the believer's gratitude and patience as examples.
  3. Urges listeners to live within today's means rather than dwell on the past or fear the future.
  4. Warns against comparing oneself with others, especially through social media.
  5. Encourages optimism and positive speech during setbacks and hardship.
  6. Concludes with four practices: appreciating today's blessings, avoiding comparison, speaking positively, and expressing gratitude.
  7. Closes with a brief Seattle youth-center support request, prayers for Palestine and Gaza, and salah.
Try this week
Live within the means Allah has given you today and notice present blessings.
Learn from the past without dwelling on regret; plan for the future without fearful obsession.
Stop comparing yourself with others, including their social-media highlights; look toward those less fortunate.
Replace negative complaints with hopeful, positive speech during setbacks.
Maintain two rak'ahs daily and ask Allah for help with obstacles.
Express gratitude by saying alhamdulillah in ease and in difficult circumstances.
After salah, support the Seattle youth-center mission at the table with whatever you can.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 20Used to discourage fixating on what others possess.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“happiness is a choice that you and i make regardless of the condition or the situation that that we're in”
Ibn Taymiyah · Columbus, OH
Play from 4:24
“social media is not real brothers nobody dares to show you the bad times that they're going through unless they lose their life”
Ibn Taymiyah · Columbus, OH
Play from 11:30
“don't look for the mustahilat in the dunya find a way to cope with any problems that comes into your life”
Ibn Taymiyah · Columbus, OH
Play from 20:16
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that this world is a place of tests, so lasting happiness is not found in perfect circumstances. We can build contentment by living within what Allah has given us today, learning from the past without getting trapped in regret, and planning for the future without fear. He warned us not to compare our ordinary lives with other people's carefully selected social-media moments. He encouraged positive speech, patience in hardship, and gratitude to Allah in every circumstance. Our family takeaway is to notice today's blessings, make a small prayer or good choice, and trust Allah with what we cannot control.

  1. What is one blessing you noticed today?
  2. When do you catch yourself comparing, and what could you do instead?
  3. What positive sentence could you say when something goes wrong?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Ibn Taymiyah2334 Mock Road, Columbus, OH 43219ArchiveAll khutbahs at Ibn Taymiyah26 khutbahs
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