Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Mar 2, 2026.

Fasting disciplines desire and builds taqwa

“It is a God-given program to purify us.”

The khateeb, at 23:04

In one sentence

Ramadan fasting cultivates taqwa, a God-centered shield that disciplines desires, detaches believers from worldly delusion, and prepares them for accountability before Allah.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines taqwa as obeying Allah, avoiding prohibitions, and living God-centered inwardly and outwardly.
  2. Explains that worship, fasting, the Quran, and Jannah are connected to cultivating taqwa.
  3. Presents taqwa as a shield from punishment and a way to remain anchored amid worldly instability.
  4. Warns that consumption, unlawful earnings, and lust can lead people into escalating desires and moral corruption.
  5. Describes fasting as a God-given program for disciplining desires and replacing self-centeredness with virtue, compassion, justice, and honesty.
  6. Closes with prayers for purified worship, patience, and relief for people suffering in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and elsewhere.
Try this week
Fast as a means of cultivating taqwa, not merely abstaining from food and drink.
Examine what you eat and how you earn, choosing halal and pure provision.
Discipline and restrict desires instead of following every passion beyond Allah's boundaries.
Reflect often on death and what you are preparing for tomorrow.
Seek Allah's help, remain patient, and pray for relief for people facing hardship.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2Presents the Quran as guidance for the muttaqeen.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“this fasting, dear brothers and sisters, It is a God-given program. to purify us. to discipline us. to teach us the destructiveness of our own nature and the need for us to learn how to discipline and restrict our desires.”
OBKIC · Skyway, South Seattle, WA
Play from 23:04
“This is the madrasa of taqwa, the madrasa of fasting, to turn us away from all these vices, to make us God-centered people of virtue and compassion and justice and honesty.”
OBKIC · Skyway, South Seattle, WA
Play from 24:27
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that fasting is meant to build taqwa, which means living with awareness of Allah and choosing what pleases Him. Fasting helps us discipline our appetites, examine what we eat and earn, and resist desires that can pull us away from good character. The speaker reminds us that wealth, fame, and power cannot protect us from accountability before Allah. Ramadan should make us more honest, compassionate, just, patient, and concerned for people suffering around the world.

  1. What is one desire you could practice controlling this week?
  2. How can we make our fasting improve the way we treat other people?
  3. What would it mean to prepare for tomorrow in the way the khutbah described?