11:03 the taqwa that's in…15:37 Compete in being more…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 17, 2025.

Compete through honesty and generosity

MakeSpace

“Compete in being more honest and more kind and more compassionate and more giving and more merciful.”

The khateeb, at 15:37

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Because every exchange is accountable before Allah, believers must reject cheating and dishonesty, make restitution when they wrong others, and redirect competition toward worship, generosity, and ethical conduct.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. A story about rigged scales introduces the danger of dishonest business.
  2. Surah al-Mutaffifeen condemns shortchanging in commerce and every form of giving and receiving.
  3. Accountability in the Hereafter contrasts Sijjeen for deceit with Illiyyin for ethical taqwa.
  4. Competitive ambition should be redirected toward worship, generosity, honesty, compassion, and humility.
  5. Hadith warnings expand responsibility beyond business to family, coworkers, and all human relationships.
  6. Repeated wrongdoing darkens the heart, while repentance requires repairing the rights of people harmed.
  7. The sermon applies these principles to violence, anti-Muslim bias, Gaza, and the pursuit of justice and peace.
Try this week
Read and reflect on Surah al-Mutaffifeen, especially its warnings about shortchanging.
Audit personal dealings to identify places where you demand full benefit but give less.
Redirect competitive energy toward prayer, generosity, honesty, kindness, and humility.
Identify anyone you have wronged and take concrete steps to restore their rights.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 83Condemns shortchanging and dishonesty, describes accountability, and contrasts Sijjeen with Illiyyin.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the taqwa that's in the heart, it manifests itself in your actions, in your words, and in your deeds.”
MakeSpace · Franconia, VA
Play from 11:03
“Compete in being more honest and more kind and more compassionate and more giving and more merciful.”
MakeSpace · Franconia, VA
Play from 15:37
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The imam taught that honesty is not only about accurate weights and prices; it includes every promise, exchange, and relationship. Real taqwa should show up in how we speak, work, treat people, and handle responsibility. Instead of competing for comfort, status, or advantage, we should compete in prayer, generosity, kindness, and mercy. If we have wronged someone, simply asking Allah for forgiveness is not enough; we should also try to repair the person’s rights. The khutbah ended by calling Muslims to reject violence and be examples of justice and peace for everyone.

  1. Where can we practice giving people their full rights this week?
  2. How can we respond peacefully when people are treated unfairly?
Where it was given

The masjid

MakeSpace6142 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310Jumu'ah 12:30 PM at MakeSpaceArchiveAll khutbahs at MakeSpace46 khutbahs
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