30:45 Our father one, Adam,…31:13 Ahlul Bayt, great…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, May 12, 2026.

Good manners matter more than wealth

NEJAF Islamic Center

“We have to be humble with the others.”

The khateeb, at 31:13

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah teaches that gratitude for Allah's blessings should lead believers to embody the Ahlul Bayt's good manners, humility, kindness, and respect for human dignity rather than judging people by wealth, appearance, ethnicity, or status.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Reflects on unnoticed blessings, especially air during COVID, and gratitude for guidance to the Ahlul Bayt.
  2. Uses Imam al-Ridha's birth story to argue that marriage should prioritize religion and manners over background, ethnicity, or wealth.
  3. Presents the one-plus-zeros analogy, making manners foundational over money, beauty, family, or status.
  4. Discusses slavery historically, emphasizing emancipation and the need to act before speaking about virtue.
  5. Highlights Imam al-Ridha's forgiveness, humility toward servants, and equal treatment of people.
  6. Closes by urging humility, kindness, and conduct that reflects well on the Ahlul Bayt's followers.
Try this week
Thank Allah regularly for blessings that are easy to overlook.
Study the lives and teachings of the Ahlul Bayt.
Evaluate marriage prospects by religion and manners rather than wealth, appearance, or background.
Practice humility and kindness toward servants, workers, and people of lower status.
Represent the Ahlul Bayt positively through everyday conduct.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 103Used to frame success through faith, righteous deeds, truth, and patience.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Our father one, Adam, and our mother one, which is Hawa. So no difference between me and them.”
NEJAF Islamic Center · Milford, MA
Play from 30:45
“Ahlul Bayt, great example, how they used to be humble with the others. So that will affect us. We have to be humble with the others.”
NEJAF Islamic Center · Milford, MA
Play from 31:13
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that Allah gives us countless blessings, including everyday gifts like the air we breathe. He said that loving the Ahlul Bayt brings a responsibility to learn about their lives and follow their example. When we judge someone's suitability for marriage, good manners and faith should matter more than money, appearance, or background. He shared a story of Imam ar-Reza asking that someone who had harmed his family not be hurt. He also described the Imam choosing to eat with servants, reminding them that they shared the same human family. These stories invite us to show our love for the Ahlul Bayt through gratitude, kindness, humility, and the way we treat others.

  1. What is one blessing you usually forget to thank Allah for?
  2. What good manners could you practice at home this week?
  3. How could you help someone feel included at lunch or at a family gathering?
Where it was given

The masjid

NEJAF Islamic Center49 Cedar Street, Milford, MA 01757
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