Hatred must never lead to injustice
“A dislike for a certain group of people should not cause you to commit injustice.”
Hatred and fitna, from Abdullah ibn Saba's sabotage of the early Khilafah to today's online-radicalized attackers like those at the San Diego Islamic center, destroy Muslim communities from within and without, and the only cure is justice, sanctity of life, and a correct understanding of Quran and Sunnah, especially by seizing the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah and Arafah.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Opening Quran recitation (al-Baqarah on martyrs and trials) and hadith on the day of Arafah
- The world is a test of good and evil; evil existed even as Islam thrived under the Khulafa al-Rashidun
- Abdullah ibn Saba as the archetypal fitna-instigator behind the assassinations of Umar and the siege and martyrdom of Uthman
- Fitna kept spreading: the Khawarij and the assassination of Ali by a radicalized, outwardly pious man
- Quran's commands: never let hatred make you unjust, honor of all children of Adam, killing one soul is like killing all humanity; Ali's insistence on due process for his own assassin
- Modern parallel: the San Diego Islamic center attack by radicalized teens fueled by online hate; attacks on other faith communities too; warning against radicalization within Muslim communities
- Honoring the San Diego martyrs; believers respond to attacks with increased iman and masjid attendance, not fear
In the khateeb's words
“but I would not allow even a single drop of blood to be dropped”
“that a dislike for a certain group of people should not cause you to commit injustice”
“today you all must have heard about what happened in the Islamic center of San Diego”
“is the right and the correct understanding of Quran and Sunnah”
For the dinner table
Today the khateeb reminded us that this world is a test, Allah tests us with both good and hard times to see how our faith holds up. He told the story of how hatred and rumors spread by one man, Abdullah ibn Sabah, eventually led to the martyrdom of Uthman (ra) and later Ali (ra), even though some of the attackers sincerely thought they were serving Islam. He connected this to our own time, mentioning the recent attack on the Islamic center in San Diego, where two teenagers were filled with hatred by online propaganda, and where heroes like the security guard Abdullah gave their lives protecting worshippers and children. He reminded us that Allah honors every human life, that killing one innocent person is like killing all of humanity, and that even when we're angry at injustice, we must guard our own hearts from hatred. Finally, he encouraged us to make the most of these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, especially the day of Arafah, by fasting, making lots of dua, and spending time in the masjid, because it's a day when Allah forgives more people than any other day of the year.
- If you were Uthman (ra) trapped in your house with friends offering to fight for you, what do you think you would have done, and why?
- The khateeb said the teens who attacked the masjid were radicalized by online hate, how can we tell the difference between true information and propaganda online?
- If you could save up your biggest duas for one special day when they're all accepted, what would you ask for?
The masjid
More on Community & unity
There is no such thing as a nobody.19:44Masjid Fulton · Sacramento, CA · Oct 10, 2026No one should feel forgotten
The question is how do we disagree without destroying our relationships and our communities?14:27Al-Misbah Islamic Centre · Toronto, ON · Oct 3, 2026How to disagree without hostility
ICNYC · Greenwich Village, NY · Sep 26, 2026True faith serves people and Allah“We have a comprehensive and holistic understanding of this deen that goes beyond just benefiting ourselves to benefiting humanity at large.”