Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 17, 2026.
Good deeds can be lost through wrongdoing
“You did a good deed but then you followed it up with such bad akhlaaq that it ruined it.”
In one sentence
Preserving good deeds requires avoiding shirk, showing off, humiliating others, disrespecting the Prophet, and violating people's rights while practicing sincerity, following revelation, and seeking Allah's acceptance.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Frames the concern that accumulated rewards can be lost.
- Establishes tawhid as the foundation and warns that shirk nullifies deeds.
- Explains how reminding people of charity or humiliating them can void that charity.
- Warns against disrespecting Rasulullah and performing deeds for display.
- Uses the hadith of the bankrupt person to show how violating people's rights consumes one's good deeds.
- Presents three safeguards: sincerity, adherence to the Quran and Sunnah, and asking Allah for acceptance.
- Closes with supplications for accepted deeds, sincerity, respect, and good treatment of others.
Try this week
Check your intention before and during every act of worship or service.
Learn fiqh and more about Islam so deeds follow the Quran and Sunnah correctly.
Ask Allah to accept your good deeds after completing them.
Avoid reminding people of favors or humiliating them after helping them.
Protect people's rights by avoiding insults, accusations, backbiting, cheating, and harm.
Avoid riya and seek recognition only from Allah.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 39:65Used to argue that associating partners with Allah causes deeds to become void.
Quran 2:217Supports the warning that dying in disbelief nullifies one's deeds.
Quran 2:264Shows that charity is invalidated by reminders of favors and hurtful treatment.
Quran 49:2Warns that disrespect toward the Prophet can cause deeds to become void.
Sahih MuslimThe bankrupt person arrives with worship but loses good deeds because of wronging others.
Quran 2:127Ibrahim's prayer is used as an example of asking Allah to accept righteous work.
Quran 23:60Shows that righteous believers remain humble and concerned about acceptance.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“you did a good deed but then you followed it up with such bad akhlaaq that it ruined it it made it void”
“if in the dunya you wouldn't accept it then why would you be okay with that for the akhira”
“Every time you do anything ask yourself who am I truly doing it for? Am I doing it for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? Or is there something else affecting my intention?”
“having ikhlas doing it only for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala following and adhering to the teachings of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as per the understanding of the sahaba and the scholars”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that doing good is not enough; we also need to protect it. Our deeds can be damaged by shirk, showing off, disrespecting the Prophet, hurting people after helping them, or violating their rights. We can guard them by checking our intention, learning and following the Quran and Sunnah, and asking Allah to accept what we do. It also encourages us to be humble and kind, especially after charity or service, so our good deeds remain sincere and beneficial.
- What is one good deed you can do this week without seeking recognition?
- How can we help someone without making them feel indebted or embarrassed?
- What does it mean to protect another person’s rights?
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