Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jun 26, 2026.
Guard your tongue from harmful speech
“Our tongues have the potential to wipe out all our good deeds and make them of no value because we use them to harm other people.”
In one sentence
A Muslim must guard the tongue by speaking only with sound knowledge and truth, avoiding speculation, backbiting, and any harm to others, because uncontrolled speech can nullify all good deeds.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Opening Quranic call to taqwa, truthful speech, and obedience to Allah, His Messenger, and rightful authority
- Reflection on completing Muharram/Ashura and the qunut supplication asking Allah for guidance and protection
- Quranic warning against disputing about Allah without knowledge, guidance, or scripture
- Hadith of Mu'adh: worship, prayer, charity, fasting, Hajj, and jihad all rest on controlling the tongue
- Condemnation of speculation, suspicion, gossip, and backbiting as violations of truthfulness
- Principle of avoiding harm: examples of garlic/onion, tobacco, bad dreams, and the reciprocity of harm
- Closing call to self-correction, seeking forgiveness, and obeying Allah and His Messenger in speech
Try this week
Put your phone on silent during the khutbah and salah
Speak good or remain silent
Verify Islamic claims through recognized scholars before speaking
Avoid speculation, suspicion, and speaking without knowledge
Avoid backbiting and spreading gossip
Avoid causing even minor harm to fellow Muslims, including offensive smells from garlic, onion, or tobacco in the mosque
Do not relate bad dreams to others
Control the tongue as the foundation that gives value to worship
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 4opened the khutbah with the call to taqwa and fear of Allah from whom mutual rights are demanded
Surah 33command to believers to speak a straight/true word as the basis for righteous deeds and forgiveness
Surah 31cited to warn against disputing about Allah without knowledge, guidance, or enlightening book
Surah 4command to obey Allah, the Messenger, and those in authority and to refer disagreements to them
Surah 9command to fear Allah and be with the truthful in word, deed, and conduct
Sahih al-Bukharibeware of suspicion, for it is the most false kind of speech
Surah 33those who annoy or harm believing men and women undeservedly bear an evil statement and glaring sin
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“the prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said that our tongues have the potential to wipe out all our good deeds and make them of no value because we use them to harm other people”
“and yet today we have just the opposite happening we have people who have studied islam very little perhaps a couple of years or so or even in some cases sporadically over many years”
“so dear muslims a tongue unrestrained by proper knowledge and guidance can potentially cause more harm to others than a sword or a gun”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminded us to guard our tongues and speak only with truth, knowledge, and good intentions. Words can harm people deeply, and careless speech may damage the reward of good deeds such as fasting, charity, prayer, and Hajj. We should avoid suspicion, gossip, backbiting, and spreading things we do not know to be true. Even small annoyances matter, so Muslims should try not to cause discomfort to others. When disagreements arise, we should seek guidance, speak helpfully, and remember the advice to speak good or remain silent.
- What is one kind or helpful thing you could say to someone tomorrow?
- How can you tell when you are repeating a rumor or making a guess?
- What small actions can make people feel comfortable and respected at home or in the masjid?
Keep listening
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