Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, Dr. Abou El Fadl explains how the focus and draw of the early converts to Islam was the desire for makarim al-akhlaq, the perfection of noble character and virtue ethics. Dr. Abou El Fadl elaborates further on the function and focus of the early revelation of the Qur’an: empowering the disempowered in society as the fundamental framework for belief.
0:00 – Intro
1:24 – Question: Approach for learning the Qur’an
2:10 – Answer: Rebuilding character; makarim al-akhlaq
11:15 – “What would I do if in ‘x’ situation?”
16:27 – 73 al-Muzzammil & 74 al-Muddaththir
19:20 – Read and apply carefully
20:00 – Lose sleep to worship, meaning in prayer
24:20 – Failure to pray & care for indigent
27:57 – 81 al-Takwir: killing girls
33:00 – 87 al-ʿAla: charity before prayer
35:08 – 82 al-Layl: living selfishly vs charitably
36:30 – 89 al-Fajr: neglecting the orphan & urging care for indigent
39:26 – 93 al-Duha: social responsibility & personal needs
44:47 – 103 al-ʿAsr: urge each other to truth/duty/justice
46:00 – How did people accept Islam?
47:33 – ʿUtba ibn Ghazwan al-Mazini (early Muslim)
53:14 – Violence against early Muslims: Story of Tulayb
58:28 – Abu Dharr al-Ghifari – makarim al-akhlaq
1:26:25 – Textualism vs moral intuition; training in virtue ethics/makarim al-akhlaq
1:30:00 – Dala’il al-Khayrat & loving the Prophet
1:31:50 – Rejecting injustice, selfishness and accepting sacrifice
1:22:10 – ʿAli ibn Abi Talib’s character
1:34:39 – Zayd ibn Haritha’s character
1:36:00 – Khadijah’s life was Islam
1:37:47 – Bonus Content – What is the Qur’an all about?
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The Prophet's Pulpit Trilogy ~ amzn.to/40PBtnt
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🎥 Full list of our recorded khutbahs and their transcripts ~ bit.ly/usulikhutbahs
📰 The full list of articles referenced in this Khutbah can be found at usulinews.org
In this episode, Dr. Abou El Fadl explains how the focus and draw of the early converts to Islam was the desire for makarim al-akhlaq, the perfection of noble character and virtue ethics. Dr. Abou El Fadl elaborates further on the function and focus of the early revelation of the Qur’an: empowering the disempowered in society as the fundamental framework for belief.
0:00 – Intro
1:24 – Question: Approach for learning the Qur’an
2:10 – Answer: Rebuilding character; makarim al-akhlaq
11:15 – “What would I do if in ‘x’ situation?”
16:27 – 73 al-Muzzammil & 74 al-Muddaththir
19:20 – Read and apply carefully
20:00 – Lose sleep to worship, meaning in prayer
24:20 – Failure to pray & care for indigent
27:57 – 81 al-Takwir: killing girls
33:00 – 87 al-ʿAla: charity before prayer
35:08 – 82 al-Layl: living selfishly vs charitably
36:30 – 89 al-Fajr: neglecting the orphan & urging care for indigent
39:26 – 93 al-Duha: social responsibility & personal needs
44:47 – 103 al-ʿAsr: urge each other to truth/duty/justice
46:00 – How did people accept Islam?
47:33 – ʿUtba ibn Ghazwan al-Mazini (early Muslim)
53:14 – Violence against early Muslims: Story of Tulayb
58:28 – Abu Dharr al-Ghifari – makarim al-akhlaq
1:26:25 – Textualism vs moral intuition; training in virtue ethics/makarim al-akhlaq
1:30:00 – Dala’il al-Khayrat & loving the Prophet
1:31:50 – Rejecting injustice, selfishness and accepting sacrifice
1:22:10 – ʿAli ibn Abi Talib’s character
1:34:39 – Zayd ibn Haritha’s character
1:36:00 – Khadijah’s life was Islam
1:37:47 – Bonus Content – What is the Qur’an all about?
Instagram ~ @usuliinstitute
Twitter ~ @usuliinstitute
Facebook ~ facebook.com/usuliinstitute
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER (scroll to the bottom)
usuli.org
📚 Usuli Press - Check out our publications on the current state of the Muslim world
The Prophet's Pulpit Trilogy ~ amzn.to/40PBtnt
The Palestine Sermons ~ amzn.to/3AOxXiu
Substack ~ substack.com/@theprophetspulpit
~ Spotify & Supercast ~
https://usuli.supercast.com!
🎥 Full list of our recorded khutbahs and their transcripts ~ bit.ly/usulikhutbahs
📰 The full list of articles referenced in this Khutbah can be found at usulinews.org
