Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Oct 10, 2026.
Receive sincere advice with humility
“Being reminded, being advised is not an insult.”
In one sentence
Believers should receive sincere reminders with humility and gratitude, judging the truth of advice rather than rejecting it because of the speaker, its delivery, or their personal preferences.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Defines four responses to reminders: rejecting them, hearing without the heart, accepting only preferred messages, and benefiting as believers.
- Uses Surah al-Muddathir to portray arrogant rejection and the demand for a private divine scripture.
- Warns against dismissing advice because the adviser is not a scholar, has flaws, or speaks without ideal manners.
- Critiques preachers who offer only comfortable messages to protect popularity and income.
- Calls believers to fear Allah, welcome correction, and treat advice as a mercy and blessing.
Try this week
Evaluate whether advice is true even when the delivery is poor.
Do not dismiss correction because the adviser is less knowledgeable or has past sins.
Resist saying 'worry about yourself' or 'only Allah can judge me' in response to advice.
Receive sincere reminders with gratitude and humility.
Ask whether you are accepting guidance or merely choosing messages that match your preferences.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 74Describes people who turn away from reminders and demand special revelation.
Surah 43Explains how people reject guidance because of the messenger's social status.
Surah 51Presents believers as people who benefit from reminders.
Surah 8Describes believers whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned.
Surah 33Uses Allah's command to the Prophet to fear Him as a lesson in humility.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“If the answer is yes, then do you have any excuse when you stand in front of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?”
“So don't try to jump to that defense mechanism whenever advice is brought to you. Whenever someone wants to give you sincere advice.”
“But if we only decide to accept advice whenever it's presented to us in a very nice package, are you really worshipping Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala”
“being reminded, being advised is not an insult. It's a ni'mah, it's a rahmah from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah explains that people respond to reminders in different ways. Some reject advice completely, some hear it without letting it reach their hearts, and some accept only messages that feel comfortable or come from favored people. Believers should consider whether advice is true, even when the person giving it is imperfect or speaks poorly. Being reminded is not an insult; it can be a mercy from Allah that helps us leave wrongdoing and grow in faith.
- What makes it hard to listen when someone corrects you?
- How can we tell whether advice is true and helpful?
- What could we say instead of 'worry about yourself'?
Keep listening
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