13:25 Fasting is not about…18:52 The more you know,…20:11 To plan your meals and…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Dec 12, 2025.

Prepare your body and soul for Ramadan

Masjid Al Ansar

“Fasting is about being close to Allah, leaving off all the bad habits, leaving off all the bad influences.”

The khateeb, at 13:25

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah urges Muslims to use Rajab and Sha'ban to deliberately prepare for Ramadan, physically, spiritually, and practically, rather than relying on a last-minute burst of devotion.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Diagnoses weak concentration in prayer and fading post-Ramadan faith as failures to transition deliberately.
  2. Frames Rajab as cultivation and Sha'ban as irrigation, organizing preparation into goals, physical readiness, and spiritual readiness.
  3. Sets practical goals for diet, charity, time, bad habits, Quran, salah, family planning, knowledge, meals, workouts, and unfinished tasks.
  4. Calls for spiritual preparation through repentance, dua, sunnah prayers, night worship, early rising, fasting, and completing missed fasts.
  5. Closes with prayers to reach Ramadan, followed by mosque, lecture, madrassah, and donation announcements.
Try this week
Begin reducing unhealthy foods and consider fasting during Rajab and Sha'ban.
Set charity and zakah plans now, including support for suffering communities.
Create realistic Quran, prayer, memorization, repentance, and voluntary-worship goals.
Identify bad habits, anger, harmful speech, negative influences, and damaging online content to leave behind.
Plan meals, exercise, sleep, appointments, shopping, and other responsibilities before Ramadan.
Study fasting rules with your family, practice waking for suhoor and night worship, and complete missed fasts.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 1Used in the opening praise, seeking guidance, protection, and forgiveness.
Quran 10:58Used to frame Ramadan and divine bounty as reasons for rejoicing.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Fasting is not about leaving off food and drink and marital relations. Fasting is about being close to Allah , leaving off all the bad habits, leaving off all the bad influences.”
Masjid Al Ansar · Jamaica, NY
Play from 13:25
“The more you know, then your Ibadah is easy for you. So seek knowledge in order to be able to follow the rulings on fasting and understand the virtues of Ramadan.”
Masjid Al Ansar · Jamaica, NY
Play from 18:52
“To plan your meals and your workout, undoubtedly for us to be able to do these acts of worship, we have to have a strong body and a strong mind.”
Masjid Al Ansar · Jamaica, NY
Play from 20:11
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that preparing for Ramadan begins before the month arrives. He encouraged us to set realistic goals, care for our bodies, and strengthen our worship through Quran, prayer, repentance, and dua. Small steps now can help us enter Ramadan ready and build habits that continue afterward. He also asked us to practise patience, control our tongues, replace bad habits with good ones, and begin giving charity without waiting. As a family, we can learn about fasting together, look forward to Ramadan, and ask Allah to help us reach it.

  1. What could help you quiet your mind before salah?
  2. What small good habit would you like us to practise together before Ramadan?
  3. What would you like to learn about fasting as a family?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid Al Ansar, Inc.161-34 Foch Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434Jumu'ah Khutbah 1:00 PM · Salah 1:50 PMArchiveAll khutbahs at Masjid Al Ansar41 khutbahs
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