17:42 more important than…23:30 these are people that…25:13 the good news is that…34:16 Allah please show us…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Mar 3, 2026.

Ramadan helps us see truth clearly

ICSC · Gasser Hathout

“The good news is that the knowledge still gives us power even if the illusion doesn't dissipate.”

The khateeb, at 25:13

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In one sentence

Ramadan is a time to recognize and resist spiritual illusions that make worldly or harmful things appear good, using Quranic discernment, worship, and dua to let truth guide action.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces a visual illusion and frames Ramadan as a time to break illusions.
  2. Distinguishes illusion from temptation and explains the Quranic concepts of ghurur and tazyin.
  3. Uses Quranic examples and terrorism to show that wrongdoing can appear righteous.
  4. Explains that knowledge may not erase attraction, but it empowers wiser choices.
  5. Recommends divine light, voluntary worship, and clearer spiritual perception.
  6. Closes with the straight path and duas asking to recognize truth and falsehood accurately.
Try this week
Set one specific spiritual goal for Ramadan.
Increase voluntary worship, such as qiyam, to draw closer to Allah.
Pause when something seems attractive and evaluate it with reason, heart, and soul rather than appearance.
Use the dua asking Allah to show truth as true and falsehood as false.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 4Satan's promises are described as delusion and vain desire.
Surah 31Warns that worldly life and the deceiver can beguile people.
Surah 27Shows Satan making sun-worship appear good to the people of Saba.
Surah 29Uses Aad and Thamud as examples of deeds beautified through illusion.
Surah 57Presents worldly life as temporary growth and ultimately an illusion.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“more important than resisting temptation is not falling prey to illusion”
ICSC · Koreatown, CA
Play from 17:42
“these are people that have become convinced that murdering innocent civilians is something that they are doing for the greater good”
ICSC · Koreatown, CA
Play from 23:30
“the good news is that the knowledge still gives us power even if the illusion doesn't dissipate”
ICSC · Koreatown, CA
Play from 25:13
“Allah please show us the truth as true and give us the capacity to follow it and show us the false as false and give us the capacity to avoid it”
ICSC · Koreatown, CA
Play from 34:16
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Dr. Gasser Hathout taught that Ramadan is a time to notice the illusions that can make harmful or worldly things look good. The Quran describes Satan as using promises and beautification to confuse people, so even intelligent people can lose their way. Knowing that something is an illusion may not remove its attraction, but it gives us power to pause and choose with reason, heart, and soul. The speaker encouraged setting one Ramadan goal, growing through voluntary worship such as qiyam, and asking Allah to show us truth and falsehood clearly. In that way, Ramadan can help us walk the straight path with clearer sight.

  1. What is something that can look exciting but turn out not to be good for us?
  2. What helps you slow down and see a choice more clearly?
  3. What is one spiritual goal you would choose for Ramadan?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Southern California434 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020Jumu'ah Qur’an recitation 12:45 PM · Khutbah 1:00 PM · prayer 1:30 PMKhateebGasser HathoutMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICSC71 khutbahs
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