Family & marriageFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 15, 2026.
Parents must build faith with gentle speech
“The way that we speak to our children, those words become the cassettes that they hear in their subconscious for the rest of their life.”
The khutbah in 4 steps
- Urges parents to build their children’s independent relationship with Allah through intentional, encouraging speech.
- Prioritizes tawheed and explains why parents should teach the reasons behind religious commands.
- Connects faith with honoring parents, prayer, moral responsibility, patience, and accountability for even small deeds.
- Warns against arrogance and loudness, recommending humility, moderation, and gentleness in family communication.
Try this week
Build children’s personal relationship with Allah rather than assuming faith can simply be inherited.
Use encouraging language and avoid repeated messages that frame children as failures.
Teach tawheed first and explain the wisdom behind religious commands.
Treat parents kindly even when refusing obedience to something that disobeys Allah.
Establish prayer, encourage good, discourage wrong, and practice patience during trials.
Make gentleness the default, while using measured discipline when necessary.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 31Luqman’s wisdom is tied to gratitude and obedience to Allah.
Surah 31Tawheed is presented as the first and greatest lesson for a child.
Surah 31Parents deserve gratitude and kind treatment, but cannot be obeyed in disobedience to Allah.
Surah 31Allah knows hidden deeds; believers should establish prayer, promote good, endure trials, avoid arrogance, and lower their voices.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“the way that we speak to our children those words become the cassettes that they hear in their subconscious for the rest of their life”
“you were not created to worship anyone other than Allah so you go against the very core of your purpose”
“the best of you are those who are the best of their family”
“there is always an element of compassion an element of softness that can be given to it”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Luqman’s example shows that good parenting begins by helping children know Allah and understand why faith matters. Parents should teach tawheed, prayer, responsibility, and patience while explaining the wisdom behind commands. Children should honor their parents and treat them kindly, even when they cannot obey a request that conflicts with obedience to Allah. Our words become inner messages, so encouragement should be the default and humiliating or discouraging speech should be avoided. The khutbah calls parents to humility, a gentle voice, and measured firmness when necessary.
- What is one encouraging phrase that helps you face a difficult task?
- How can we show kindness to parents while holding onto our religious values?
- What does gentleness look like in our family this week?
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