Community & unityFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 10, 2026.

A healthy community needs trustworthy leadership

“I listen to the trustworthy, knowledgeable, qualified, experienced people in any particular area to help me make the best decision on behalf of Islam and the Muslims.”

The khateeb, at 51:35

In one sentence

A healthy Islamic center depends on qualified, trustworthy leadership, lawful obedience, sincere advice, cooperation in righteousness, and respect for the distinct etiquettes of the masjid.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Connects community governance to enjoining good, forbidding wrong, and cooperating in righteousness.
  2. Explains that authority includes scholars and Muslim leaders, who should be strong, capable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.
  3. Presents obedience to leaders in lawful matters while rejecting obedience to commands involving disobedience.
  4. Reads and evaluates a congregant’s advice about masjid sanctity, lost-item announcements, and correcting wrong.
  5. Distinguishes the prayer space from the wider Islamic center and explains how qualified advice informs administrative decisions.
  6. Closes with supplications, prayer-row instructions, and the congregational prayer.
Try this week
Read the Quran and cooperate with others in righteousness and piety.
Obey Muslim leadership in lawful matters, but do not obey commands involving disobedience to Allah and His Messenger.
Offer sincere, respectful advice to community leaders.
Observe masjid etiquette by avoiding buying, selling, and lost-item announcements inside the prayer space.
Seek guidance from trustworthy, knowledgeable, qualified, and experienced people when making community decisions.
Straighten the prayer rows and close gaps before prayer.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2The Kaaba is described as a place of return and safety, supporting the sacredness and etiquette of the masjid.
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to explain obedience to leaders who promote taqwa and justice, and their accountability.
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to establish obedience to leaders unless they command disobedience.
Sahih MuslimUsed to present religion as sincere advice to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, leaders, and ordinary Muslims.
Jami` at-TirmidhiUsed to explain that buying and selling or announcing lost property should not occur inside the masjid.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Being strong means having the ability And the knowledge and the experience To carry out the job you're entrusted with”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 27:39
“it is a religious obligation on every Muslim to hear and obey the one who is in charge whether he likes it or not, so long as he has not been commanded with disobedience.”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 30:22
“When you're in Masjid-u Ahlus Sunnah, then the rules apply for the masjid.”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 48:54
“I listen to the trustworthy, knowledgeable, qualified, experienced people in any particular area to help me make the best decision on behalf of Islam and the Muslims.”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 51:35
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that a healthy Islamic center needs capable and trustworthy leaders, as well as people who cooperate in goodness. We should obey leadership in lawful matters, but never follow a command that disobeys Allah. Advice should be sincere, respectful, and considered alongside knowledge and experience. The prayer space also has special manners, including avoiding business and lost-item announcements there, and keeping the prayer rows straight.

  1. What does being trustworthy look like when someone is responsible for others?
  2. How can we give advice respectfully when we disagree?
  3. What is one masjid etiquette we can practice this week?