22:56 Preparation Plus…25:53 Decide that you're…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Dec 26, 2025.

Prepare before Ramadan to succeed

IMAAM Center · Amer Tobing

“If you wait for the opportunity to start preparing, you've already lost.”

The khateeb, at 22:56

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Success in this life and the Hereafter requires sincere, deliberate preparation, especially by building habits before Ramadan rather than waiting for it to begin.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Allah does not need people; people must change and prepare themselves for success.
  2. The speaker redirects attention from New Year's festivities toward preparing for the approaching Ramadan.
  3. The Prophet's Hijrah and historical figures illustrate planning, discipline, and reliance on Allah.
  4. Rajab, Sha'ban, and Ramadan are presented as planting, watering, and harvesting spiritual effort.
  5. Friends, parents, and young people all have roles in reinforcing religious commitment.
  6. The sermon closes with four steps: plan realistically, reduce distractions, train through fasting, and purify the heart.
Try this week
Create a specific, realistic Ramadan preparation map.
Reduce social media and other distractions before Ramadan.
Begin fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, using calendar reminders.
Be sincere with Allah and forgive people.
Seek friends who remind you of goodness, or become that leader for others.
Parents should teach and encourage children toward their religious obligations.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 9Used to discuss responding to Allah's command, sacrificing worldly ease, and preparing for the Hereafter.
Jami` at-TirmidhiUsed to teach that practical preparation must accompany reliance on Allah.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Preparation Plus opportunity Allow you to be ready If you wait For the opportunity To start Preparing You've already lost”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 22:56
“Decide that you're Going to fast On Mondays and Thursdays On these days Look at the calendar Google calendar Whatever iCalendar Whatever calendar You have Put it in”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 25:53
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Brother Amer reminded us that we need Allah and that preparing to meet Him calls for action on our part. He encouraged us to begin preparing for Ramadan before it arrives, just as we prepare for other important moments in life. He described Rajab as a time to plant seeds, Shaban as a time to water them, and Ramadan as a time to harvest. He urged us to make specific, realistic plans, reduce distractions, and train through fasting rather than expecting our habits to change overnight. He also reminded young people to encourage their friends toward good and called on all of us to prepare our hearts through sincerity and forgiveness.

  1. What small habit could you start this week to help you get ready for Ramadan?
  2. How could you and a friend make doing something good together enjoyable?
  3. What distraction could our family spend less time on to make more room for worship?
Where it was given

The masjid

IMAAM Center (Indonesian Muslim Association in America)9100 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910Jumu'ah 1st Jumu'ah 12:15 PM · 2nd Jumu'ah 1:30 PMKhateebAmer TobingMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at IMAAM Center74 khutbahs
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