Choose Allah over people’s approval
“We're either living with Allah or living for the people.”
True sincerity and spiritual freedom come from choosing Allah’s pleasure over people’s approval, especially when that requires resisting social pressure and practicing private integrity.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Introduces taqwa and asks what drives a person’s daily choices.
- Contrasts living for Allah with living for people and warns against showing off.
- Uses the believing man from Pharaoh’s family and the youths of the cave as examples of courageous faith.
- Presents the hadith about seeking Allah’s pleasure despite people’s displeasure.
- Gives practical guidance: maintain excellence unseen, protect worship, say no respectfully, and build private deeds.
- Concludes by asking Allah to make listeners sincere servants devoted to Him.
In the khateeb's words
“we're either living with Allah or living for the people”
“when you prioritize Allah it does not necessitate that you dismiss the people it has nothing to do with that but how you initiate the process it's always Allah”
“never compromise a ibadah that you've taken for yourself because of the people never if you're in a dinner and you've decided to always pray salah”
“we need to increase our private a'mal that has to be part of our day to day schedules do a few things throughout the day that no one knows but Allah”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches us to make Allah’s pleasure the starting point of our decisions, not people’s approval. That does not mean being rude or abandoning people; it means staying principled, kind, and respectful when pressure pulls us away from worship or good character. We should keep our promises to pray and avoid backbiting, learn to say no, and do good deeds privately without needing praise. Even when no one sees us, Allah sees us, and sincere hidden actions help us become true servants of Allah. The goal is a life shaped by faith rather than fear of losing invitations, status, or relationships.
- When is it hardest to choose Allah over other people’s opinions?
- What is one good deed you could do privately this week?
- How can we say no kindly when a group is doing something wrong?
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