0:15 In Islam, we bring…1:43 Talk about yourself.…4:31 Trust me, it's really…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 4, 2026.

Build others up, not mock them

Hamzah · Tareef Saeb

“In Islam, we bring everybody up.”

The khateeb, at 0:15

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

A Muslim should build others up and avoid mocking or repeatedly joking at someone's expense, and should channel humor toward oneself while supporting the community's needy.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. The destructive personality that minimizes others' good and needs people to be down
  2. Islamic contrast: believers uplift everyone, while some only feel good by putting others down
  3. Quranic warning against mockery and making fun of people
  4. The repeated-joke test: first time funny, second time less, third time a personal attack
  5. Advice to direct humor at oneself rather than at others
  6. Community appeal to support a refugee car-donation project in Atlanta
  7. Closing supplications and sending blessings on the Prophet
Try this week
Do not make fun of people, and never repeat a joke about someone more than once.
If you want to make people laugh, joke about yourself instead of others.
Donate to the Atlanta-area refugee car-donation program outside the masjid.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 104Used to warn against the habit of mocking, backbiting, and making fun of people.
Surah 33Invited the congregation to send blessings and peace upon the Prophet Muhammad.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“In Islam, we bring everybody up. We feel good when everybody is up. Unfortunately, some people don't feel good unless they're bringing everybody down.”
Hamzah · Alpharetta, GA
Play from 0:15
“Talk about yourself. Joke about yourself. I have done a million silly things that if I want you to laugh, I'll say, you know, I'll give it a joke.”
Hamzah · Alpharetta, GA
Play from 1:43
“Trust me, it's really a sadaqa jariya, inshaAllah. As long as those people have a car to go to work, and make a living, and feed their family, inshaAllah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will give you rewards infinitely.”
Hamzah · Alpharetta, GA
Play from 4:31
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah reminded us that Islam teaches us to lift people up rather than feel good by putting them down. A joke may be harmless once, but repeating it can turn it into a personal attack, so we should be careful with people’s dignity. If we want to make others laugh, it is safer and kinder to share our own silly mistakes. The khateeb also highlighted a project that repairs and gives cars to refugees so they can work and support their families. Helping someone build a stable life can become sadaqa jariya, with rewards that continue, inshaAllah.

  1. What is one way you can lift someone up this week?
  2. How can you tell when a joke is no longer funny?
  3. What is one helpful thing our family could do for someone in need?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Hamzah665 Tidwell Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30004Jumu'ah One Jumu'ah at 2:00 PMKhateebTareef SaebMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Hamzah44 khutbahs
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