3:59 just remember that we…12:10 if you safeguard these…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Nov 23, 2025.

Guard your tongue before words cause harm

Sabeel Center · Wael Haridy

“We become Muslims with one word and a person might leave Islam by a word.”

The khateeb, at 3:59

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Because words can shape faith, relationships, salvation, and punishment, Muslims must vigilantly guard their tongues and speak only what pleases Allah.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Introduces guarding the tongue as a trait of the righteous.
  2. Explains that one word can affect faith, marriage, divorce, Paradise, and Hell.
  3. Uses Quranic and prophetic evidence to show the serious consequences of careless speech.
  4. Recounts the hadith of Mu'adh, emphasizing that guarding the tongue completes one's worship.
  5. Warns that fasting and prayer do not excuse harming neighbors through speech.
  6. Cites Abu Bakr, Umar, and the righteous predecessors as examples of fearing careless words.
  7. Closes by urging listeners to speak good and remain silent from harmful speech.
Try this week
Pause before speaking and consider the possible impact of your words.
Speak words that please Allah and remain silent when speech would cause harm.
Avoid gossip, slander, tale-bearing, and speech that harms neighbors.
Guard both the tongue and private parts as major safeguards for entering Jannah.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 24Used to show that something people consider minor may nevertheless be grave before Allah.
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to explain that an unnoticed word pleasing Allah can raise someone in Paradise, while a displeasing word can cast someone into Hell.
Jami` at-TirmidhiUsed to argue that guarding the tongue is central to completing and protecting one's worship.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“just remember that we become Muslims with one word and a person might leave Islam by a word and you get married by a word and people divorce with a word”
Sabeel Center · Halifax, NS
Play from 3:59
“if you safeguard these two organs the Prophet said I am a guarantor I guarantee jannah for you”
Sabeel Center · Halifax, NS
Play from 12:10
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Today’s khutbah reminds us that words are never meaningless in Islam. A single sentence can strengthen faith and relationships, or cause deep harm, and the Prophet warned that an unnoticed word can lift someone toward Paradise or drag them toward Hell. The sermon teaches us to guard our tongues, especially from gossip, slander, and hurting neighbors, while remembering that prayer and fasting do not excuse harmful speech. This week, we can pause before speaking, choose words that please Allah, and stay silent when our words would cause harm.

  1. When has someone’s kind word made your day better?
  2. What can you do when you feel tempted to say something hurtful?
  3. How can our family practice speaking good this week?
Where it was given

The masjid

Sabeel Muslim Youth & Community Center600 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS B3M 2L8KhateebWael HaridyMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Sabeel Center19 khutbahs
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