Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 8, 2026.
Think before you speak or post
“If you wish to speak, think first.”
In one sentence
Guarding the tongue, including digital communication, is essential to faith and requires thinking before speaking, avoiding harmful speech, choosing beneficial words, and spreading kindness.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces guarding the tongue as an Islamic manner that includes phones, keyboards, and social media.
- Connects speaking good or remaining silent to genuine faith.
- Explains how words can lead to Paradise or Hell and are recorded by Allah.
- Defines major sins of the tongue, including backbiting, lying, slander, gossip, mockery, insults, and rumors.
- Applies the teaching to social media and recommends checking whether a message is true, beneficial, and pleasing to Allah before sending.
- Presents four commitments: think before speaking, avoid backbiting, replace idle speech with dhikr, and spread kindness and guidance.
Try this week
Think before speaking or sending anything, asking whether it is true, beneficial, and pleasing to Allah.
Never participate in backbiting.
Replace idle speech with dhikr such as la ilaha illallah, Allahu akbar, Subhanallah, Astaghfirullah, or salawat.
Use opportunities to spread kindness, guidance, encouragement, and beneficial knowledge.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 17Commands believers to say what is best.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Every post Every comment Every text message Everything you type Or you say You send It is recorded by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala And it falls under the Islamic manners”
“If you wish to speak Think first If you see benefit Then speak Otherwise Remain silent”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that guarding our tongue is an important part of faith. Our words include what we say, type, post, and send, and Allah records them all. We should pause before speaking, avoid backbiting, lying, gossip, mockery, and insults, and choose words that are true, useful, and pleasing to Allah. When we have nothing beneficial to say, we can remain quiet or remember Allah through dhikr. We should also use our words to teach, encourage, show kindness, and guide others toward good.
- What is one kind or helpful thing you could say to someone this week?
- What might you do instead of joining hurtful gossip or a harmful group chat?
- Which dhikr could you use when you feel like saying something unhelpful?
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