Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jun 6, 2026.
Choose friends who strengthen faith
“The most influential people are the ones who are closest to us.”
In one sentence
Because friends profoundly shape a person's faith and destiny, believers should carefully choose righteous companions and preserve good habits through supportive relationships.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Opens with gratitude to Allah and recommends abundant salawat on Jumu'ah.
- Explains that close friends and online influences strongly shape behavior and faith.
- Uses the story of Uqbah ibn Mu'ayt to show how peer pressure can lead from guidance to punishment.
- Relates two business partners to contrast worldly spending with investment in the hereafter.
- Cites Quranic passages and a hadith emphasizing that righteous companions support one another and that a person follows a friend's religion.
- Urges listeners returning from Hajj to preserve good habits by choosing companions who lead toward Jannah.
- Concludes with Arabic khutbah, salah, and brief school-registration and donation announcements.
Try this week
Set aside time on Friday to send salawat upon the Prophet.
Examine whether close friends and companions lead you toward Jannah or away from Allah.
Choose companions who share and reinforce good religious habits.
Protect the good habits gained through Hajj by spending time with people on the same path.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 37Contrasts a believer who invested in the hereafter with a companion who rejected resurrection.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“When we look into our lives, we'll find that the most influential people are the ones who are closest to us.”
“But that companionship that he had with Urbay was enough to push him. It was enough to compel him to do this horrendous action.”
“But my dear respected brothers, it's very easy to break a good action, a good habit, and it's very difficult to gain it back.”
“So if we have these companionships, we have these relationships, these different friendships and they are connected due to goodness, then we will find ourselves increasing in good.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that our closest friends can shape both our daily choices and our eternal destiny. Good companions help us grow in faith, while harmful companions can slowly pull us away from Allah. The speaker also warns us to protect good habits, especially after a spiritual experience like Hajj. We should choose friends who encourage goodness and invest our time and resources in the hereafter.
- Who helps you become a better person, and how do they do it?
- What good habit would you like your friends or family to help you protect?
- What does it mean to invest in the hereafter in everyday life?
Keep listening
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