1:06 The success of a…1:39 The lesson is not in…23:22 Good deeds are not…
Prayer & worshipFrom the masjid's own video, Dec 13, 2025.

Good deeds need sincerity and Sunnah

Al-Salam

“Good deeds are not what you like or what you feel like to do.”

The khateeb, at 23:22

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In one sentence

A deed is accepted and spiritually beneficial only when it is done sincerely for Allah and in accordance with the Prophet’s Sunnah, so believers should prioritize obligations, avoid shirk and sin, preserve their rewards, and teach these principles to their families.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Human beings were created to worship Allah with sincere tawhid and obedience to the Prophet.
  2. Religious deeds are judged by Qur’an and Sunnah, not popularity, fame, or the number of followers.
  3. A good life comes through closeness to Allah; obligatory duties must come before voluntary worship.
  4. Believers should avoid doubtful matters and consult reliable scholars when studying hadith and religious practice.
  5. Good deeds accompany a person after death, so believers must protect them from actions that erase their rewards.
  6. Shirk, apostasy, showing off, boasting, secret sins, and oppressing others can invalidate or transfer away good deeds.
  7. Each person should teach these principles to family members and rely on personal deeds rather than lineage or status.
Try this week
Examine each deed by asking whether it is sincerely for Allah and follows the Prophet’s teaching.
Prioritize obligatory worship, such as Fajr, before optional worship such as Tahajjud.
Avoid forbidden, disliked, and doubtful matters, even when some people permit them.
Verify hadith authenticity and consult qualified scholars for explanations rather than interpreting hadith independently.
Protect good deeds by avoiding showing off, boasting, private sins, and oppression of other people.
Teach family members the importance of sincerity and following the Prophet’s guidance.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The success of a servant is linked to the truthfulness of his faith and the integrity of his deeds.”
Al-Salam · Northeast Memphis, TN
Play from 1:06
“The lesson is not in the good work by its fame and prosperity and the abundance of workers in it, but by achieving monotheism and its acceptance of the sunnah.”
Al-Salam · Northeast Memphis, TN
Play from 1:39
“Good deeds are not what you like or what you feel like to do. No. Good deeds put it on the scale of Sharia.”
Al-Salam · Northeast Memphis, TN
Play from 23:22
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that Allah created us to worship Him sincerely and follow the Prophet’s teaching. A deed is not judged by how popular it is, but by whether it is done for Allah and according to the Sunnah. We should put obligatory worship first, avoid doubtful and sinful actions, and protect our good deeds from showing off or harming others. Each person is responsible for their own deeds, while also helping their family learn these principles.

  1. What is one good deed you can do only for Allah this week?
  2. How can we protect a good deed from showing off?
  3. Which obligatory act should come first in our daily schedule?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Al-Salam (Muslim Society of Memphis)1065 Stratford Road, Memphis, TN 38122Jumu'ah 1:15 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at Al-Salam29 khutbahs
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