The Islamic calendarFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 23, 2026.
Prepare your heart before Ramadan
In one sentence
Sha'ban is a mercy-filled opportunity to awaken from ghafla, repair relationships, and prepare intentionally to enter Ramadan with stronger faith and forgiveness.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Announces the completed masjid heating and cooling fundraiser and introduces the benefits of supporting Ramadan iftar meals.
- Describes Sha'ban and Ramadan as divine opportunities for mercy, while warning against ghafla, or heedlessness.
- Explains the Prophet's increased fasting in Sha'ban because people neglect the month and deeds are raised to Allah.
- Urges self-examination for shirk and enmity, emphasizing forgiveness and reconciliation as paths to divine forgiveness.
- Calls listeners to prepare for Ramadan through Quran recitation, dhikr, Friday dua, sadaqah, and fasting.
- Concludes with supplications for awakened hearts, forgiveness, repaired relationships, and readiness for Ramadan.
Try this week
Increase Quran recitation during Sha'ban, beginning with half a page or one page daily if needed.
Increase dhikr, including after leaving the masjid and throughout Friday.
Make frequent dua on Friday for personal needs and spiritual readiness.
Give sadaqah and support iftar meals if able.
Fast during Sha'ban as able.
Inspect the heart for hidden shirk and seek Allah's forgiveness.
Forgive others, reconcile strained relationships, and release destructive anger.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“And the month of Ramadan and before it the month of Sha'ban. Are two breezes from Allah Azzawajal that brings such mercy and forgiveness.”
“For Jannah you need to be awake. So Rasulullah was awake and he wanted all of us to be awake.”
“We must be willing to forgive other people. We want Allah Azzawajal to overlook our mistakes because we are truly flawed people. Then we must be willing to overlook people's mistakes for the sake of Allah Azzawajal.”
“So with Quran, with dhikr, with sadaqah, with fasting, that will condition you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, to be in the best position to receive the month of Ramadan.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khateeb reminded us that Sha'ban is a special chance to wake up before Ramadan arrives. Ghafla means living distracted from Allah and the hereafter, so reminders may pass over our hearts. We can prepare by reading more Quran, increasing dhikr, making dua on Friday, giving sadaqah, and fasting. We should also examine our hearts and forgive people so anger and broken relationships do not keep us from Allah's forgiveness. May Allah bring us into Ramadan with awake hearts, stronger iman, and repaired relationships.
- What is one way we can wake up our hearts before Ramadan?
- Who might we need to forgive or make peace with?
- What worship habit could we start or strengthen this week?
Keep listening
More on the Islamic calendar
7:52Dar Alnoor · Manassas, VA · Jul 11, 2026Use summer to grow closer to Allah“This opportunity can make me a great Muslim, a great human being, or it can make me a very bad person, depending on how we use the summer.”
Never miss a salah during this free time.16:04Muslim Neighbour Nexus · Mississauga, ON · Jul 25, 2026Use summer time for what matters
EPIC · Plano, TX · Jul 3, 2026Honor Muharram through fasting and justice“We cannot even enter into Jannah if I have violated someone else's rights.”