Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Apr 3, 2026.

Ramadan should transform your relationship with Allah

“The purpose of Ramadan is to come out with a fundamentally transformed relationship with Allah Ta'ala.”

The khateeb, at 12:58

In one sentence

Ramadan's purpose is not merely to accumulate extra deeds and rewards, but to cultivate taqwa, a lasting, loving consciousness of Allah that produces spiritual growth beyond Ramadan.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Identifies the cycle of Ramadan spiritual boosts followed by post-Ramadan decline and flat long-term growth.
  2. Critiques treating Ramadan as a points-based bonus round that encourages complacency.
  3. Reframes Ramadan through Qur'an 2:183 and hadith as a path to taqwa and closeness to Allah.
  4. Uses marriage, parenthood, and visiting grandparents as analogies for a transformed relationship and attention.
  5. Offers self-assessment gauges involving worship's motivation, longing for the Hereafter, and sustained du'a.
  6. Closes with al-Ghazali's three levels of fasting and a call to use remaining Ramadan for transformation.
Try this week
Use the remaining days of Ramadan to pursue a transformed relationship with Allah, not merely more rewards.
Examine whether worship comes from obligation or an inner desire to draw near to Allah.
Make du'a an extended, honest conversation with Allah.
Practice the three levels of fasting by avoiding food and drink, sin, and preoccupation with everything besides Allah.
Pay Sadaqah al-Fitr and review the announced i'tikaf and Tarawih opportunities.
Make du'a for people facing cancer, surgery, and suffering; eligible voters were also urged to participate in the March 17 primary.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 2:183Used to establish taqwa, rather than increased activity, as Ramadan's purpose.
Sahih MuslimThe special status of fasting reframes it beyond ordinary reward multiplication.
Sahih al-BukhariThe hadith about obligatory and voluntary deeds supports seeking Allah's love and closeness.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the purpose of Ramadan is to come out with a fundamentally transformed relationship with Allah Ta'ala.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 12:58
“But the real purpose of actions is to actually seek to develop a close relationship with Allah Ta'ala and begin to get the love of Allah Ta'ala.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 18:34
“I haven't yet achieved my goal. So what am I going to do in these remaining days?”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 22:49
“The first level of fasting is when a person just abstains from food and drink. The second level of fasting is that a person abstains from sin.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 25:01
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Ramadan is more than a month for collecting extra rewards; it is meant to transform our relationship with Allah and help us develop taqwa. The speaker warned that if we treat Ramadan like a temporary bonus round, we may return to old habits once it ends. We can honestly ask whether we worship only from obligation or also from a sincere desire to draw near to Allah. We can notice whether our du'a feels like a real, ongoing conversation. In the remaining days, we should seek a lasting connection with Allah while remembering the three levels of fasting: avoiding food and drink, avoiding sin, and turning away from everything besides Allah.

  1. What helps you remember Allah during an ordinary day?
  2. How can we make our du'a feel more like a real conversation?