13:33 Admonish them And warn…22:20 If the people see…30:13 we're one community of…33:09 don't harm the Muslims…
Community & unityFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 18, 2026.

Correct wrongdoing without harming Muslims

ICA East Orange

“Don't harm the Muslims, and don't criticize and blame the Muslims.”

The khateeb, at 33:09

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Believers must prioritize their own guidance and practice of the Qur'an and Sunnah while responsibly correcting wrongdoing without harming, spying on, or humiliating fellow Muslims.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Introduces Surah al-Ma'idah's command to concern oneself with personal guidance.
  2. Uses Ibn Umar's narration to reject reckless accusations of shirk and emphasize self-reform.
  3. Explains striving against the soul and remaining firm despite opposition.
  4. Clarifies that personal guidance does not excuse ignoring wrongdoing or communal responsibility.
  5. Uses the ship parable to show that stopping harm protects the whole community.
  6. Balances enjoining good with prohibitions against spying, insulting, and finding faults.
  7. Closes with supplication and reminders about unity and disciplined prayer rows.
Try this week
Read and practice the Qur'an and Sunnah to the best of your ability.
Strive against your own soul and correct your personal conduct.
Advise others, warn against wrongdoing, and enjoin what is right when you have the ability.
When wrongdoing occurs in the Islamic center, address it according to the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Do not harm, insult, spy on, or search for faults in fellow Muslims.
Avoid blaming or speaking badly about Muslim leaders; advise them appropriately.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 5The central verse teaches believers to concern themselves with their own guidance while trusting Allah's judgment.
Musnad AhmadThe true fighter is described as one who strives against his own soul.
Sahih al-BukhariThe ship analogy shows that stopping destructive behavior protects the entire community.
Jami` at-TirmidhiBelievers are warned not to harm, insult, spy on, or expose the faults of other Muslims.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Admonish them And warn them And if they disobey you Then concern yourself with yourself”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 13:33
“If the people see Wrongdoers Doing wrongdoing And they don't stop them Then Allah would soon Encompass all of them With the punishment”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 22:20
“we're one community of Muslims if we do good then we'll have good insha'Allah Ta'ala and if we don't have good we don't do good then we might all be punished”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 30:13
“don't harm the Muslims and don't criticize and blame the Muslims and don't look and spy trying to find fault with him”
ICA East Orange · East Orange, NJ
Play from 33:09
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah focused on Allah's instruction in Surah al-Ma'idah to take responsibility for our own guidance. That does not mean ignoring wrongdoing: we should advise others and help stop harm when we have the ability, because a community can suffer when everyone stays silent. The speaker compared the Muslim community to people sharing a boat, where protecting one another protects everyone. At the same time, we must not insult, spy on, or hunt for faults in other Muslims. Our goal is to practice the Qur'an and Sunnah with humility, patience, and care for one another.

  1. What is one habit you can improve this week to take better responsibility for your own guidance?
  2. How can we speak up about something wrong while still protecting another person's dignity?
  3. What does the shared-boat example teach us about helping people around us?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of America215 N Oraton Pkwy, East Orange, NJ 07017ArchiveAll khutbahs at ICA East Orange54 khutbahs
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