26:33 To be an honest…46:56 The story of if…46:56 The story of if…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 30, 2026.

Verify what you hear before sharing

ICCP

“To be an honest person, it's not enough to not intentionally lie.”

The khateeb, at 26:33

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Muslims build a safe, trustworthy community by verifying what they hear, refusing to spread rumors or suspicion, protecting others' dignity, and responding to harm with patience, forgiveness, and trust in Allah.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces honesty as more than avoiding deliberate lies: verify before repeating what one hears.
  2. Uses Iago in Othello to show how prejudice makes people treat suspicion as certainty.
  3. Recounts the slander against Aisha, including its emotional damage and the support she received.
  4. Draws Quranic lessons about good assumptions, evidence, protecting dignity, and forgiveness.
  5. Applies the warning to rumors, social media, WhatsApp, factionalism, and agenda-driven messengers.
  6. Closes with patience, trust in Allah, personal accountability, and hope for a good ending.
Try this week
Do not repeat everything you hear, even with a disclaimer that you are unsure.
Verify information before sharing it; if you cannot confirm it, do not pass it along.
Give fellow believers the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst.
Protect people's dignity, control your tongue, and avoid taking sides in rumors.
Forgive those who wrong you and trust Allah's timing during adversity.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 50Frames resurrection, divine knowledge, recorded speech, and accountability.
Surah 24Grounds good assumptions, evidentiary standards, protecting honor, and forgiveness.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“To be an honest person, it's not enough to not intentionally lie. That is not the definition of honesty.”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 26:33
“The story of if teaches us that it's none of our business. That we should respect, honor, and protect the dignity of others.”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 46:56
“The story of if teaches us to verify before sharing news. If you can confirm it. First off you don't need to confirm it in the first place. But if you can't then don't pass it along.”
ICCP · Potomac, MD
Play from 46:56
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah taught that honesty means more than avoiding deliberate lies; it means checking what we hear before repeating it. The story of Aisha showed how rumors can wound innocent people and divide an entire community. We should assume the best of others, protect their dignity, and refuse to pass along unverified claims. When we are hurt, patience, forgiveness, and trust in Allah can bring healing. In the end, our true accountability is with Allah, not with people's opinions.

  1. What should you do before forwarding a rumor or dramatic message?
  2. How can you give someone the benefit of the doubt this week?
  3. What might forgiving someone look like in our family?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Community Center of Potomac10601 River Rd, Potomac, MD 20854Jumu'ah Adhan 1:15 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at ICCP96 khutbahs
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