True faith means putting others first
“Until you give what you love the most.”
True faith is expressed through ithar, selflessly putting the needs of Allah, His creation, and fellow believers above one's own needs, following the example of the Ansar, the Prophet, and the righteous.
The khutbah in 11 steps
- The Ansar of Medina welcomed the Muhajireen and placed the immigrants' needs above their own
- Story of Abu Talha al-Ansari hosting a hungry guest with his only food while his family went hungry
- Definition of ithar and critique of modern self-centered individualism
- The Prophet taught ithar by example: the cup of milk shared with Abu Huraira and the mosque
- Story of Jabir ibn Abdillah feeding the entire trench-digging army from one small lamb
- Aisha and the mother dividing her date with her starving daughters; Aisha giving Umar her coveted burial spot
- Further examples from the Sahaba and Tabi'in of preferring others over themselves
- Two types of ithar: preferring Allah over creation, and preferring others over oneself
- Modern examples of ithar from Gaza and Egypt
- How to develop ithar and its benefits in this life and the hereafter
- Conclusion with the al-Ash'ariyeen tribe's communal sharing and the Prophet's praise
In the khateeb's words
“Abdullah ibn Umar said. One house of Ansar. One time was given a head of a sheep. So before he does anything. He said. My neighbor needs it more than me.”
“Inna allaha ya'asimuka min Ziyad. Wa Ziyad la ya'asimuka min Allah. Allah will protect you from Ziyad. But Ziyad will never protect you from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
“Wallahi, that ether is better than a rich person giving $10,000 for the sake of Allah. Because she gave everything she got.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah focused on ithar, the virtue of putting others’ needs before our own. The Ansar and many companions showed this through sharing food, wealth, comfort, and even opportunities they personally valued. The khateeb reminded us that ithar is not only about money; it also means putting Allah’s pleasure above sleep, desire, and worldly pressure. When we give sincerely, Allah can place blessing in our provision and strengthen mercy and bonds within the community. We can begin by sharing something we love and looking for someone whose need is greater than ours.
- What is one thing you could share this week with someone who needs it more?
- How can we help someone without making them feel embarrassed?
- When is it hard to put Allah’s pleasure before what we want?
More on Character & conduct
The strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.10:16Masjid Al-Noor · Waterloo, IA · Oct 31, 2026Control anger before it causes harm
Peer pressure is an issue that is just as applicable to adults as it is to children.5:08The Rayyan Center · Plymouth, MI · Oct 31, 2026Adults must choose their influences
Lowering your gaze is cleaner to your heart and fulfilling the amanah that Allah gave you.1:03:23Rahma Center · Lake Forest, CA · Oct 30, 2026Every trust from Allah must be honored