Heedlessness pulls us away from Allah
“Am I closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala today than I was before?”
Ghaflah is knowingly turning away from Allah and our purpose, and its cure is sincere, humble, continual remembrance supported by repentance, wise use of time and health, and good company.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- After Ramadan, ask whether its worship brought lasting closeness to Allah.
- Define ghaflah as knowingly ignoring guidance, unlike involuntary forgetfulness.
- Explain Surah al-A'raf 7:205 as a cure through sincere, humble, reverent, quiet remembrance throughout the day.
- Warn that heedlessness hardens the heart, erases purpose, and leaves people chasing unsatisfying worldly distractions.
- Use Qur'anic warnings and the hadith about wasted health and free time to show its stakes.
- Identify causes, long worldly hopes, sin, heedless company, overbusyness, and little dhikr, and call for repentance and regular remembrance.
In the khateeb's words
“Now after a week since Ramadan is over Am I closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala today than I was before”
“But heedlessness When you're aware But you choose to be unaware Like you know that time of salah is coming in But you choose to do something else”
“Every breath that comes out Should count towards Remembering Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala”
For the dinner table
The khateeb asks us to reflect on whether Ramadan helped us grow closer to Allah and carry that closeness into everyday life. He explains that ghaflah, or heedlessness, means knowing what we should do but choosing to turn away from it. Its central cure is remembering Allah sincerely, with humility, love, and reverence, throughout the day. This remembrance includes both words of dhikr and seeking Allah’s pleasure in our choices. Our health, free time, and friendships can help us live with purpose, and when we make mistakes, we should return to Allah in repentance instead of letting shame pull us farther away.
- What is one habit from Ramadan you would like our family to keep practicing?
- When could you pause to remember Allah during your school day?
- How could we use some of our free time together in a way that pleases Allah?
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