Welcome people, build community, serve justice
“You never know, brothers and sisters, what you may say or make someone feel that will bring them closer to Allah or turn them away from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
Responsible Muslim communities welcome people as they are, build them through kindness and patient teaching, and organize their people and resources to pursue justice and serve the oppressed.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Uses Qur'anic reminders to reconnect worship with humanity's purpose and Allah's independence from human devotion.
- Defines the first quality: welcome people as they are rather than judging them or becoming barriers to guidance.
- Defines the second: build people through kindness, softness, patience, and priorities suited to newcomers.
- Defines the third: organize community people and resources for relief, civic engagement, and prevention of oppression.
- Closes by urging hope, empathy, justice, and action while praying for the ill, deceased, and suffering communities.
In the khateeb's words
“However, whenever something soft touches something, it beautifies, it uplifts that thing.”
“You never know, brothers and sisters, what you may say or make someone feel that will bring them closer to Allah or turn them away from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
“But in the end, all I ask our community is to try. Don't be a bystander anymore. Try.”
For the dinner table
Imam Nawabi reminded us that prayer brings us back to our purpose and benefits us, while Allah does not need our worship. He described a responsible community as one that welcomes people as they are, builds them up with kindness, and organizes itself to help others. Through stories about the Prophet, he showed how gently teaching someone can help them learn without feeling pushed away. We all make mistakes, so we should seek Allah’s forgiveness and give others room to grow. He also urged us to keep hoping in Allah’s mercy and to care about people who are suffering.
- What could you say or do to help a new child or teenager feel welcome at the masjid?
- When has someone helped you learn from a mistake with kindness?
- What is one way our family could support someone who is having a hard time this week?
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.”