Humility means accepting you may be wrong
“Winning an argument that's not the goal of a believer seeking the truth sometimes requires losing an argument.”
Humility is worship: because our perspectives are partial and shaped by bias, believers must keep seeking knowledge, purify the self, empathize across differences, and accept losing arguments to find truth.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Rumi’s elephant story illustrates how sincere certainty can arise from limited vantage points.
- Quranic stories of Musa, Khidr, and the Prophet teach humility about created knowledge.
- Religious language can disguise ego, trauma, cultural bias, and personal excuses.
- Tazkiyatun nafs requires rejecting ethnic stereotypes, hatred, sectarian labels, and insular communities.
- Spiritual maturity means moving beyond condescending parent-like behavior and childish victimhood.
- The khutbah closes with commitments to humility, broader perspectives, mercy, and prayers for ill community members.
In the khateeb's words
“sometimes certainty as we have discussed previously is not proof of something being true it is actually proof of darkness”
“there is no such thing as your truth or my truth there's only one truth and everyone else's perspectives of the truth are just that perspectives”
“that humility is is worship that every time we have a strong opinion we should think twice and say maybe i'm missing something maybe i'm biased maybe i'm just defending myself”
“winning an argument that's not the goal of a believer seeking the truth sometimes requires losing an argument are we willing to lose an argument to find the truth”
For the dinner table
The sermon reminds us that we often see only one part of a larger reality. Since our views are shaped by upbringing, culture, trauma, and limited knowledge, we should respond with humility and keep learning. Purifying the heart means noticing bias, rejecting ethnic hatred and harsh labels, welcoming people unlike us, and growing beyond childish complaining or condescending behavior. We should ask Allah for more knowledge, mercy, and maturity, and be willing to lose an argument if that helps us find the truth. The imam also asked the community to pray for several people facing serious illness, treatment, and loss.
- When might you be seeing only one part of a bigger picture?
- What is one perspective different from yours that you could listen to this week?
- Why can admitting “maybe I’m missing something” be a sign of strength?
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