Good character means protecting Muslim rights
“Whoever caused annoyance to a Muslim has caused annoyance to me.”
Good character is inseparable from true Islam: honoring the rights of fellow Muslims, keeping one's word, and seeking forgiveness protect one's faith and community.
The khutbah in 10 steps
- Praise of Allah and the Prophet, and introduction to the topic of good character
- Quranic command to be good to parents, relatives, neighbors, and travelers (Surah an-Nisa)
- The Prophet's illustrious character and the grave danger of annoying or harming Muslims
- Warning of Hellfire as recompense for causing pain to Muslims
- The Prophet's final sermon on restoring rights and not fearing worldly disgrace
- Hadith on the perfect Muslim and the duty to protect others from one's tongue and hands
- How quarrels between Muslims cost the Ummah the knowledge of Laylatul Qadr
- Story of Abdullah ibn Mubarak traveling far to return a borrowed pen
- Story of Umar, Abu Dhar, and a young boy: honoring a guarantee and inspiring forgiveness
- Announcement of weekly Ihya gatherings and the PRAN method of repentance
In the khateeb's words
“Whoever caused annoyance to a Muslim has caused annoyance to me. And whoever has caused annoyance to me has caused annoyance to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.”
“The disgrace that is caused in this dunya is a lot easier than the disgrace you face in the hereafter.”
“I saw a Muslim in need, and I did not want anyone to say that if a Muslim was in need, that there was no other Muslims that would help him.”
“N is never again. We make a firm intention that we will never commit this sin again.”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah was about good character being at the heart of Islam. The speaker reminded us that hurting a fellow Muslim hurts the Prophet and displeases Allah, and the Quran commands kindness to parents, relatives, neighbors, and travelers. Through stories of the Prophet's character, Abdullah ibn Mubarak returning a borrowed pen, and Abu Dhar risking his life as a guarantor, he showed how early Muslims honored each other's rights and kept their word. He urged everyone to apologize for past wrongs, avoid quarrels, and use the PRAN method for repentance: a past sin, true remorse, for Allah's sake, and a firm intention never to repeat it.
- Have you ever had to say sorry even when it felt hard?
- What does it mean to keep your word like the young boy in the story?
- How can we show good character to a neighbor or classmate this week?
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