21:18 anytime people comes…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 28, 2026.

The Prophet's character teaches mercy

ICSC · Hassan Zeenni

“Islam promotes mercy, compassion, tenderness, and gentleness.”

The khateeb, at 21:18

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The Prophet Muhammad's character embodies the Quran's highest moral standards, calling Muslims to respond to hostility with mercy, patience, peace, and goodness.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Human beings are entrusted with caring for and building the earth according to God's moral standards.
  2. The Quran's message is mercy for all creation and guidance for all humanity.
  3. The Prophet's Quran-shaped character makes those ideals practical and attainable.
  4. Examples from the Prophet's life show forgiveness toward ignorance, need, and former enemies.
  5. Muslims should embody compassion and patience in family, work, community, and public life.
  6. Commemorating the Prophet should focus on following his character rather than arguing over celebration.
Try this week
Forgive ignorant or rude behavior before correcting what was wrong.
Do not lower your moral standard to match someone else's hostility.
Respond to evil with goodness, kindness, wisdom, peace, and graceful body language.
Practice compassion, patience, and mercy with children, spouses, neighbors, coworkers, and the wider public.
During hostility or protests, remain peaceful while using lawful protection and self-defense if physically attacked.
Focus commemorations of the Prophet on imitating his character rather than arguing about celebration.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“anytime people comes to you and quote a verse or a hadith that it promotes cruelty and harshness it's not Islam because Islam promotes mercy compassion tenderness and gentleness”
ICSC · Koreatown, CA
Play from 21:18
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that Allah gave human beings a mission to care for and build the earth according to His moral standards. The Quran's message is mercy for all creation and all humanity, and the Prophet Muhammad showed us what those ideals look like in real life. When people are rude or ignorant, we should forgive, stay calm, speak truthfully, and answer evil with goodness without abandoning justice or safety. We should practice this character with our children, spouses, neighbors, coworkers, and anyone who treats us negatively. Remembering the Prophet should move us beyond arguments about celebrations and toward compassion, patience, peace, kindness, and graceful conduct.

  1. Tell about a time when answering unkindness with patience changed what happened.
  2. What is one way our family can show compassion to a neighbor or coworker this week?
  3. How can we stay peaceful while also keeping ourselves and others safe?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Southern California434 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020Jumu'ah Qur’an recitation 12:45 PM · Khutbah 1:00 PM · prayer 1:30 PMKhateebHassan ZeenniMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICSC71 khutbahs
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