He called me out after my khutbah

Naseeha — Or Just Showing Off?

Sometimes, under the title of Naseeha — sincere advice — we go and we give people Taammat. We give them special minefields. We bomb them with some interesting things that hurt them, upset them, embarrass them. And we say, "Brother, this is Naseeha."

The Day I Was Called Out After My Khutbah

One day, I gave a khutbah in a city not far from here. It was my first time coming to the north of the UK. And I had heard many things about the northerners — it was my first interactions.

I gave the khutbah. I came down from the minbar. Finished the salah. I turned around. And one man stood up: "Sheikh, you know that the beard is obligatory. And you are not growing your beard."

And what you see now — I'm talking about seven years ago — so you can imagine how light it was back then. And I was, you know, like a tomato. I went red. Half the audience were laughing. The other half were thinking, "Yeah, he's got a fair point. Who is this beardless guy giving the khutbah?"

And then I had to take the mic and say, "Brother, Allah blesses some people with facial hair. He doesn't bless everyone with it. I've never touched my cheeks with a razor. But Habibi, this is all Allah gave me. If you can donate, I'll accept the donations."

This Is Not Sincere Advice

He said, "This is sincere nasiha." Habibi, keep it in your pocket. This nasiha, this style — this is not sincere advice. This is trying to show yourself up. Trying to show everybody that I'm the don. I'm the king. I'm the boss. I can tell the khatib off.

Khalas. You're happy? Pat yourself on the back. Go home. Have a cup of tea, inshallah. Let's see how long you achieve. But that's all some people want.

Everyone Wants to Be the Don

You know — the last day of Ramadan, when the imam is reading Juz' Amma. Imagine the imam who makes a mistake. The 15th row is correcting the imam. We know, we get it, Habibi. You're a big don. No problem. Why? Leave the man in front. Everyone wants a piece of the flesh.

The Manner of the Prophet

This was the manner of the Prophet. He would never confront people with their flaws. He would go in a sideways and a roundabout way — through somebody who they'll take it from — in a way that they would actually appreciate it and they would improve. This was the haya of the Prophet in his social dealings.