Mercy and accountability can stop domestic abuse
“We have to be able to protect each other.”
Domestic abuse, including physical, verbal, psychological, and controlling behavior, is a serious violation of Allah’s commands and others’ rights, so spouses and the Muslim community must cultivate mercy, accountability, and protective intervention.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces domestic abuse as a widespread, cross-cultural issue and recalls a tragic local case.
- Frames abuse through faith, accountability, Jahiliyyah, and the record of deeds.
- Explains the Muflis hadith and emphasizes the rights of women, orphans, and spouses.
- Presents prophetic guidance against hitting, humiliation, cursing, and expelling a spouse.
- Connects abuse to power, control, anger, childhood environments, and household responsibilities.
- Calls families and the wider Muslim community to protect one another and enforce accountability.
In the khateeb's words
“This is the point my dear brothers and sisters. Sometime we know that spousal abuse is happening in the home. Sometime relatives. We know it is our daughters who are getting some friction.”
“So both of these are in the same realm of things. That we have to be able to protect each other.”
For the dinner table
Sheikh Musa Ramsey reminds us that our faith calls us to treat people at home with kindness, respect, and mercy. He explains that abuse includes hurtful words and humiliation as well as physical violence. He asks us to reflect on our behavior and remember that Allah holds us accountable for the harm we cause others. A family should be a place where children are nurtured and everyone's dignity matters, with room to disagree without being hurt or belittled. He also reminds the community to take abuse seriously and support and protect one another.
- What words help someone feel respected when you disagree with them?
- What could you do to help make home a place where people feel heard and valued?
- Who is a trusted adult you could turn to if you or someone else felt unsafe?
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