Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 10, 2026.
Protect honor by guarding your tongue
“Change the subject. Walk away. Don't sit there and enjoy the sweet of evil.”
In one sentence
Muslims must protect one another’s honor by rejecting suspicion, spying, and backbiting, verifying reports, repairing harm, and guarding their tongues before Judgment.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- The khutbah opens with calls to taqwa, truthful speech, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
- It warns against judging people's intentions and treating assumptions as facts.
- Surah al-Hujurat is used to explain the destructive progression from suspicion to spying to backbiting.
- The speaker defines backbiting and slander, urging listeners to make dua, change the subject, or walk away.
- The sermon emphasizes that people's blood, wealth, and honor are sacred and that wrongs will be confronted on Judgment Day.
- Listeners are urged to seek forgiveness, repair what they damaged, and protect their tongues.
Try this week
Verify reports before repeating them or accusing anyone.
Do not judge people's intentions or search for their private faults.
When gossip begins, make dua for the person, change the subject, or walk away.
Seek forgiveness from anyone whose honor you have harmed and repair what you damaged.
Make gatherings places of Allah's remembrance rather than exposure and negativity.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Who gave us the right to judge people's hearts? We don't have the right for that. Allah is the only judge that judges between you and him.”
“How can we search for other people's mistakes? When we ourselves need that help, that security, that concealment of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
“Change the subject. Walk away. Don't sit there and enjoy the sweet of evil.”
“Those who we wrong today might not be in our gatherings. Might not be sitting with us in a gathering. But they will not disappear in the day of judgment when they stand in front of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and in front of us.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah teaches us to protect the honor of other people. We should not assume bad intentions, spy into private matters, or repeat hurtful talk about someone who is absent. Even if something is true, sharing it may still be backbiting, so we should change the subject, walk away, or make dua instead. We should verify reports before repeating them and ask forgiveness when our words have harmed someone. Allah will hold us accountable for how we use our tongues.
- When have you seen a conversation become harmful, and how could someone have changed its direction?
- Why might a true statement still be wrong to share about someone who is absent?
- What could you say when friends begin discussing another person's private faults?
Keep listening
More on Character & conduct
The strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.10:16Masjid Al-Noor · Waterloo, IA · Oct 31, 2026Control anger before it causes harm
Peer pressure is an issue that is just as applicable to adults as it is to children.5:08The Rayyan Center · Plymouth, MI · Oct 31, 2026Adults must choose their influences
Lowering your gaze is cleaner to your heart and fulfilling the amanah that Allah gave you.1:03:23Rahma Center · Lake Forest, CA · Oct 30, 2026Every trust from Allah must be honored