Guard your tongue and desires
“When I am uncertain it's so much better to keep my tongue in and not say it than say it and hope that it will land properly.”
Guarding the tongue and carnal desires is the clearest path to avoiding Jahannam and reaching Jannah, requiring self-accountability, apology, modesty, and resistance to temptation.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Frames the journey to Jannah as difficult while the path to Jahannam is surrounded by desires.
- Presents the hadith promising Jannah to those who control the tongue and carnal desires.
- Explains how speech, including online communication, can harm people and destroy relationships.
- Urges nightly self-accountability and promptly seeking forgiveness from anyone harmed.
- Explains broader forms of zina and encourages lowering the gaze and maintaining boundaries.
- Uses the story of Barsisa to show how small temptations can escalate, then calls for immediate restraint and repentance.
In the khateeb's words
“control what is between your jaws control your tongue and control what is between your legs control your carnal desires”
“when I am uncertain it's so much better to keep my tongue in and not say it than say it and hope that it will land properly”
“we're going to message our family we're going to message those people we know that I sincerely apologize if I've ever said something if I've ever hurt your feelings take it from me now”
“the next time I want to say something I'm going to stop the next time I want to type something I'm going to stop”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that two areas need special care: our speech and our desires. Words can hurt people deeply, whether spoken aloud or typed online, so we should pause, review our behavior each night, and apologize quickly when we cause harm. We should also protect our eyes, minds, and bodies by keeping healthy boundaries and stopping temptation early. Small choices can grow into serious problems, but sincere restraint and repentance can help guide us toward Jannah.
- What is one way our fingers can act like our tongue online?
- When could saying sorry quickly repair a relationship?
- What small boundary helps you avoid a temptation before it grows?
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