In this week’s Jumu’ah Khutbah delivered at the International Islamic University Malaysia, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan highlights a crucial lesson from ayat 4 and 5 of Surah Al-Ahzab on cognitive dissonance, and not becoming enslaved to societal pressures.

He reflects on a pivotal moment in the Prophet Muhammad’s ‎ﷺ life, when Allah commanded him to marry Zaynab bint Jahsh (RA), the former wife of his adopted son, Zayd ibn Harithah (RA).

Through this story, Ustadh Nouman emphasizes how Allah guided the Prophet ‎ﷺ not to succumb to societal pressure or cultural norms. The marriage was controversial in the eyes of the community and his adversaries, but it underscored a crucial lesson: that obeying Allah’s command surpasses any fear of public opinion. As verse 4 of Surah Al-Ahzab reminds us, Allah did not place two hearts within a person; we must choose whether to dedicate our hearts to fearing Him or to fearing what others think.