9:14 The first people to be…19:44 he has no share in the…
Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 26, 2026.

Good deeds need sincerity and Sunnah

Sabeel Center · Wael Haridy

“These two conditions are the prerequisite for any action to be accepted by Allah.”

The khateeb, at 6:21

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In one sentence

The khutbah argues that righteous deeds are accepted only when sincerely done for Allah and aligned with the Prophet’s Sunnah, requiring believers to guard their intentions and cultivate hidden acts of worship.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Revisits concealed charity and shifts the focus from giving itself to sincerity.
  2. Explains that accepted deeds require sincerity and correctness according to the Sunnah.
  3. Warns against riya through examples of the reciter, donor, and martyr seeking public praise.
  4. Illustrates sincerity through the Salaf, Umar’s account of unknown martyrs, and the Nahawand battle.
  5. Connects communal success with sincere work and warns that worldly motives can erase afterlife reward.
  6. Urges intention-checking, public obedience where appropriate, and maintaining a private good deed known only to Allah.
Try this week
Give charity sincerely for Allah, preferably without seeking public recognition.
Ensure good deeds follow the Prophet's Sunnah as well as having sincere intentions.
Regularly ask whether an action seeks people's praise or Allah's pleasure.
Maintain at least one private good deed known only to Allah.
Do not hide public obligations such as Jumu'ah, congregational prayer, da'wah, or janazah; instead, guard the heart while performing them.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The first people to be thrown in hellfire on the day of judgment”
Sabeel Center · Halifax, NS
Play from 9:14
“he has no share in the hereafter he's doing it only for dunya to get something for dunya”
Sabeel Center · Halifax, NS
Play from 19:44
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The speaker taught that charity is not honored merely because something is given; it is honored when it is given sincerely for Allah. He explained that every accepted deed needs two qualities: sincerity and correctness in line with the Prophet's Sunnah. Showing off can empty worship of its reward, so we should regularly ask whether we want people's praise or Allah's pleasure. Some public worship should remain public, but everyone should also keep a private good deed known only to Allah.

  1. What is one good deed you could do quietly this week?
  2. How can you tell whether you are seeking Allah's pleasure or people's praise?
  3. Which acts should remain public, even while we protect our intentions?
Where it was given

The masjid

Sabeel Muslim Youth & Community Center600 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS B3M 2L8KhateebWael HaridyMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Sabeel Center19 khutbahs
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