Friday Khutbah – July 17, 2026 (3 Safar 1448 AH)
The Art of Dealing with People in the Light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and turn to Him in repentance. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.
Allah the Exalted says: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak words that are right. He will rectify your deeds for you and forgive your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed attained a great success.” (Qur’an 33:70–71)
Dear brothers and sisters,
One of the greatest virtues encouraged by Islam is treating people with kindness, respect, and good character. It is among the strongest reasons for success in both this world and the Hereafter. Human beings are social by nature; our lives are built upon our relationships with others. For this reason, modern societies invest heavily in teaching communication skills and interpersonal relations because they recognize their importance in building trust and cooperation.
Yet Islam established these principles more than fourteen centuries ago. It does not merely teach communication techniques; rather, it nurtures a complete moral system in which good character is an act of worship through which a believer seeks the pleasure of Allah. Noble manners become a means of drawing closer to Him and earning His love.
Allah made His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) the perfect example of this noble character, saying: “Indeed, you are of an exalted standard of character.” (Qur’an 68:4)
A Muslim behaves well not to gain people’s admiration, but to earn the pleasure of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best among you are those with the best character.”
Our conduct reflects the true image of Islam. Many people judge this religion by the manners of those who claim to follow it. Therefore, Allah commands us: “Speak kindly to people.” (Qur’an 2:83)
He also instructs us to invite others to His path with wisdom and gentleness:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in the best manner.” (Qur’an 16:125)
Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (may Allah have mercy on him) beautifully remarked: “Allah commanded us to use the best approach, not the harshest one.”
Allah also reminds His Messenger: “It was by the mercy of Allah that you were gentle with them. Had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.” (Qur’an 3:159)
Likewise, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A person, through good character, reaches the rank of one who regularly fasts and spends the nights in prayer.”
He also said: “The believer befriends others and is befriended. There is no good in one who neither mixes with people nor allows people to be close to him. The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.”
Among the most important principles of good conduct are the following:
First: Respect People’s Different Personalities
People differ in temperament, character, and ways of thinking. Wisdom lies in speaking to each person in a manner appropriate to their nature. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) understood this well. On the day of the conquest of Makkah, he declared:
“Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe.”
By doing so, he acknowledged Abu Sufyan’s social standing and won hearts through wisdom. Likewise, parents should understand their children, teachers should understand their students, and callers to Islam should understand those they address.
Second: Show Genuine Care for Others
Everyone appreciates those who make them feel valued. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) always gave people his full attention, listened carefully, praised his companions, and encouraged them toward goodness.
A remarkable example occurred during a Friday sermon when Abu Rifa’ah al-‘Adawi approached him seeking knowledge about his religion. The Prophet paused his khutbah, answered his questions, and then resumed the sermon. This demonstrates that caring for people, teaching them, and meeting their needs are acts of mercy.
Third: Choose Your Words Wisely
Kind words open hearts. A believer should always consider people’s circumstances, age, and background before speaking.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) comforted the grieving, showed affection to children, and spoke gently with his family. His conversation with his wife A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), in which he affectionately mentioned that he could tell when she was pleased with him and when she was upset, reflects the beauty of gentle speech and loving communication.
Fourth: Focus on People’s Virtues Before Their Faults
No one is free from mistakes; perfection belongs to Allah alone. Justice requires us to recognize a person’s many good qualities despite occasional shortcomings.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A believing man should not dislike a believing woman. If he dislikes one characteristic, he will be pleased with another.”
He also taught us to appreciate the virtues of others and to overlook their mistakes whenever possible. Speaking about the Ansar, he instructed the believers to recognize their goodness and pardon their shortcomings. Justice and fairness are the foundation of lasting relationships.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good treatment of people is far more than a social skill—it is an act of worship and a reflection of true faith. When we respect people’s differences, care for their feelings, choose our words wisely, and judge them fairly, we strengthen our families, unite our communities, and become better ambassadors of Islam. In doing so, we follow the noble example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
We ask Allah to beautify our character just as He has beautified our appearance. O Allah, guide us to the best speech and the best deeds. Unite our hearts, reconcile our differences, make us keys to goodness and barriers against evil, and grant us sincerity in all that we say and do.
Indeed, You are the Most Powerful over all things. Āmīn.
