The Sunnah means compassionate character
“Not once did he humiliate me, not once did he raise his voice at me.”
The khutbah teaches that abundant remembrance of Allah purifies the heart, and that embodying the Prophet’s Sunnah means practicing compassionate akhlaaq, especially by welcoming, comforting, and engaging children.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Defines obligatory and voluntary worship, presenting abundant dhikr as the foremost voluntary practice.
- Distinguishes time- or situation-bound adhkar from unrestricted remembrance and introduces tahlil, tasbih, tahmid, takbir, hawqalah, and istighfar.
- Explains the rewards of daily tahlil, tasbih, istighfar, and gratitude, then urges remembrance throughout the day.
- Calls listeners to ask Allah after each prayer for help with remembrance, gratitude, and excellent worship.
- Uses the Prophet’s visit to grieving Abu Umair after his pet bird died to show emotional attentiveness to children.
- Draws lessons from Anas’s testimony that the Prophet did not humiliate or habitually raise his voice.
- Applies those examples to family and masjid life, defining Sunnah as character and urging adults to welcome, play with, and accommodate children.
- Concludes with prayers for suffering communities, community announcements, and congregational prayer.
In the khateeb's words
“Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam He created opportunities For young people So my older folks My brothers My sisters You come to your community You come to the masjid Treat the young people well”
“Sunnah is beyond salah Sunnah is the akhlaq And the character of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam That we want to embody”
“Not once did he humiliate me Not once did he raise his voice at me Not once he raises hands against anybody Except in a battle that was ordained to him by Allah”
For the dinner table
Allah wants us to remember Him often because dhikr keeps the heart clean, calm, and directed toward good actions. The khutbah encourages regular Qur'an, tahlil, tasbih, tahmid, and istighfar throughout the day. It then shows how the Prophet cared for children, including visiting Abu Umair after his pet bird died. The Prophet did not humiliate children or demand that they behave like silent adults. We can follow his Sunnah by making our homes and masjids gentler, more welcoming places for young people.
- What helps you remember Allah during an ordinary day?
- How can our family make the masjid feel welcoming to younger children?
- What kind response do you hope for when you feel sad or embarrassed?
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