Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 24, 2026.
Prepare your heart before Ramadan
“The month of Ramadan needs preparation.”
In one sentence
Sha'ban matters because it is the overlooked month in which Muslims should prepare their intentions, hearts, and worship for a fruitful Ramadan.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- The Prophet increased fasting in Sha'ban, an overlooked month between Rajab and Ramadan.
- Worship during heedlessness has special virtue, and deeds are presented daily, weekly, and annually.
- Rajab is described as planting, Sha'ban as watering, and Ramadan as harvesting.
- Listeners are urged to begin fasting, Qur'an recitation, night prayer, supplication, and repentance before Ramadan begins.
- Preparation requires sincere intentions, a purified heart, repentance, and replacing harmful habits with good deeds.
- The khutbah closes with supplications for Islam, Muslims, and oppressed people in Palestine, Sudan, and elsewhere.
Try this week
Fast on Mondays and Thursdays if unable to fast extensively in Sha'ban.
Begin now the acts intended for Ramadan, such as Qur'an recitation, night prayer, daily supplication, and repentance.
Renew and examine intentions so worship is sincerely for Allah.
Remove harmful habits and distractions, then replace them with beneficial deeds.
Recite a daily portion of the Qur'an regardless of fluency level.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 50Uses the living heart as a condition for benefiting from reminders.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“the first thing you rectify before you get to the acts is your intention and your heart why are you fasting why are you reading Quran”
“the month of Ramadan needs preparation the month of Ramadan needs you to prepare and to be ready”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Sha'ban is an often-overlooked month between Rajab and Ramadan, but the Prophet increased his fasting during it. The speaker compares Rajab to planting seeds, Sha'ban to watering them, and Ramadan to harvesting the results. We should begin preparing now through sincere intentions, repentance, removing harmful habits, and regular worship. Even small practices such as fasting Mondays and Thursdays or reading a daily portion of Qur'an can help. The goal is to arrive at Ramadan with a heart and routine ready for worship.
- What is one Ramadan habit you could start practicing this week?
- How can we replace a distracting habit with something beneficial?
- What Qur'an reading routine could our family try together?
Keep listening
More on Ramadan & fasting
Fast the six days of Shawwal.20:06SALAM Arden · Sacramento, CA · Apr 3, 2026Six Shawwal fasts can earn a year
The most valuable thing is time.16:36NWIIC · Crown Point, IN · Apr 3, 2026Carry Ramadan’s taqwa throughout the year
Every single day you are doing something to make Allah happy.26:16ISGW · Worcester, MA · Apr 3, 2026Turn Ramadan’s remainder into lasting worship