6:07 every one of us must…12:41 you will win people…25:31 it's not that you have…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 10, 2026.

Goodness requires action, not passive waiting

IECOC

“You will win people over if you learn how to counterbalance their evil with your good.”

The khateeb, at 12:41

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Goodness requires active human cooperation with Allah through justice, service, humility, wise speech, and responding to evil with goodness rather than passivity.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Introduces goodness as a divine blessing that requires human responsibility rather than passive waiting.
  2. Explains Surah al-Hajj 39-40 as permission for the oppressed to defend themselves and as a principle of counterbalancing evil.
  3. Teaches that goodness should actively repel evil and may transform hostility into friendship.
  4. Urges humility, gratitude, preparation for Ramadan, and a changed perspective on hardship and responsibility.
  5. Concludes with guidance on controlling the tongue while grieving honestly, followed by prayers for suffering communities.
Try this week
Use intellect and moral discernment to actively create goodness rather than merely waiting for blessings.
Respond to hostility with goodness instead of escalating evil.
Serve grieving people by recognizing their pain and simply being present with them.
Visit an orphanage at least once, with humility and without a pompous attitude.
Reassess personal complaints by focusing on existing blessings and opportunities to serve.
Prepare spiritually for Ramadan while it is still possible to reach it.
Control the tongue during both prosperity and tragedy while allowing legitimate grief and tears.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 22Explains defensive permission for the oppressed and humanity’s role in preserving houses of worship.
Surah 65Clarifies that taqwa brings openings and provision without justifying inaction.
Surah 103Summarizes salvation through faith, righteous action, truth, and patience.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“every one of us must use the tools that God has given us to attract those blessings in our life”
IECOC · Costa Mesa, CA
Play from 6:07
“you will win people over if you learn how to counterbalance their evil with your good”
IECOC · Costa Mesa, CA
Play from 12:41
“it's not that you have to do this you get to do this you get to support your family you get to support your community”
IECOC · Costa Mesa, CA
Play from 25:31
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that goodness does not appear by accident or through prayer alone; Allah gives us intellect, moral discernment, and opportunities to act. We should meet evil with goodness, protect places of worship, and serve people who are hurting. Hardship may eventually reveal a way to comfort others, so we can move from asking “Why me?” to asking how we can help. We should be humble, grateful for what we get to do, prepare for Ramadan, and guard our tongues while allowing ourselves to grieve. The sermon closes by urging prayer, patience, and support for suffering people, including those in Gaza.

  1. What is one responsibility you can start seeing as a blessing this week?
  2. How could you respond to someone’s unkindness with goodness?
  3. What is one way our family can prepare for Ramadan now?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Educational Center of Orange County3194-B Airport Loop Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626ArchiveAll khutbahs at IECOC44 khutbahs
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