Fasting should reshape how we live
“Ihtisab is that a person undertakes certain actions but they keep in mind what Allah has promised them for that action.”
Ramadan fasting is meant to be mindful worship that reshapes people by teaching self-control, compassion, and a deeper love and understanding of the deen.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Defines iman and ihtisab as mindful fasting for Allah’s promised reward.
- Explains fasting as restraint that trains people to control impulses.
- Connects fasting with compassion for neighbors, the poor, and a divided society.
- Calls for everyday compassion, including smiling at others and caring about coexistence.
- Closes with examples of scholars preparing for Ramadan through Quran recitation and feeding people.
In the khateeb's words
“Ihtisab is that a person undertakes certain actions but they keep in mind what Allah has promised them for that action.”
“This makes them feel better, for free. There's no energy, no effort behind it. For free, someone else is now happier.”
“The Deen, we're supposed to understand, we're supposed to fall in love with the Deen. Like the Sahaba fell in love with the Deen.”
For the dinner table
The khateeb taught that fasting should be more than a routine: with iman and ihtisab, we remember why we worship and hope in Allah’s reward. Ramadan trains us to resist impulses, even when something is normally halal, and it helps us feel compassion for people who go hungry. Because people need one another, Muslims should help heal division through small acts such as smiling, caring for neighbors, and sharing food. The sermon encouraged us to make Ramadan meaningful through Quran recitation, feeding others, and sincere preparation.
- What is one impulse you would like Ramadan to help you control?
- How can a smile or small kindness change someone’s day?
- What could our family do to make Ramadan more meaningful for someone else?
More on Ramadan & fasting
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