The Islamic calendarFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 24, 2026.
Use Sha'ban to prepare for Ramadan
“Decorate your house but decorate your heart as well.”
In one sentence
Sha'ban should be used as a purposeful period of spiritual, moral, and practical preparation for Ramadan through worship, self-reform, forgiveness, and renewed hope in Allah's mercy.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Urges introspection, growth, and preparation so Ramadan worship remains consistent.
- Highlights the Prophet's fasting and vigilance during Sha'ban, including deeds being raised to Allah.
- Encourages worship during mid-Sha'ban, releasing grudges, making up missed prayers, and giving charity.
- Uses Qur'an devotion in Gaza to emphasize prioritizing the afterlife and acting on spiritual commitments.
- Concludes by rejecting despair, emphasizing Allah's forgiveness, and praying for suffering Muslim communities.
Try this week
Fast in Sha'ban as preparation for Ramadan.
Make the dua asking Allah to bless Rajab and Sha'ban and allow you to reach Ramadan.
Use the middle night of Sha'ban for prayer, Qur'an recitation, dua, and charity.
Make up missed obligatory prayers, pairing old missed prayers with current ones.
Avoid sins, grudges, and harmful speech while reforming personal conduct.
Respond to the adhan by prioritizing worship and the afterlife.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“Just as you wouldn't wish that for yourself, you don't wish it for others.”
“Allah's messenger is saying to you decorate your house but decorate your heart as well Decorate your houses Fill your houses but fill your hearts as well”
“when the Adhan is called, priorities are tested. What is my priority? Am I working for my Akhira?”
“Allah is greater Than the sins that we commit Allah is greater than our brokenness His mercy prevails”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that Sha'ban is a gift and a chance to prepare our hearts for Ramadan. We should examine how we treat people, avoid wrongdoing, forgive grudges, and improve our worship. Fasting, prayer, Qur'an, charity, and making up missed prayers can help us build steady habits. We should not give up because of our sins or weaknesses, since Allah's mercy is greater. The sermon also reminds us to care about Muslims suffering around the world and to pray for them.
- What worship habit could we begin now and continue after Ramadan?
- How can remembering Allah's mercy help someone who feels discouraged?
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.”