The Islamic calendarFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 23, 2026.

Sha'ban prepares the heart for Ramadan

“Minimize your social media or even put an end to it in this month.”

The khateeb, at 17:18

In one sentence

Sha'ban should be used as a deliberate spiritual reset through accountability, heart purification, increased worship, and preparation for Ramadan.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces the Prophet’s extensive fasting in Sha'ban and asks why he emphasized the month.
  2. Explains Sha'ban as a time when deeds are presented and believers should review their spiritual year.
  3. Presents Sha'ban as preparation for Ramadan, using the imagery of planting, watering, and harvesting.
  4. Explains the value of voluntary worship, especially during periods when others are heedless.
  5. Calls for cleansing the heart from shirk, hatred, showing off, sins, and distractions.
  6. Gives practical preparation steps involving detachment, dhikr, fasting, charity, and prayer.
Try this week
Review your deeds, repent, and take responsibility for spiritual shortcomings before Ramadan.
Reduce sins, excessive socializing, and distracting social-media use.
Set aside private time for istighfar, sending blessings on the Prophet, and saying la ilaha illallah.
Fast more in Sha'ban, or at least on Mondays and Thursdays.
Remove showing off, hatred, and resentment from the heart.
Donate sadaqah or zakah to help feed needy refugee families during Ramadan.
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih MuslimThe Prophet fasted extensively in Sha'ban, sometimes appearing to fast nearly the entire month.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“this is a month when our deeds are being presented before Allah and I love my deeds to be presented before Allah while I am fasting while I am in that state of dependency that state of abandoning self-sufficiency and relying on Allah alone”
Islamic Society of · Rolling Meadows, IL
Play from 11:42
“the first step is detachment minimize socializing minimize your social media or even put an end to it in this month”
Islamic Society of · Rolling Meadows, IL
Play from 17:18
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah taught that Sha'ban is a special time to prepare our hearts for Ramadan. We should review our actions, repent, and remove hatred, showing off, sins, and distractions from our lives. We can fill the heart with remembrance of Allah, private prayer, and regular fasting. The speaker also reminded us to be grateful for our blessings by helping families who do not have enough food. Preparing gradually can make us more ready to receive Ramadan’s blessings.

  1. What is one distraction you could reduce before Ramadan?
  2. Which small worship habit would you like to practice regularly?
  3. How can our family show gratitude by helping someone in need?