27:20 the biggest way we can…32:40 whoever starts to pray…34:44 open up your hearts to…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Seize the last ten nights of Ramadan

SALAM Arden · Muhammed Elmarouk

“Whoever starts to pray with the Imam and continues with him until he finishes, it's as if he prayed the entire night.”

The khateeb, at 32:40

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In one sentence

The khutbah urges worshippers to seize the last ten nights of Ramadan through disciplined worship, reduced distractions, spiritual restraint, and sincere hope for Allah’s mercy.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. The last ten nights and Laylat al-Qadr offer extraordinary mercy, forgiveness, and reward.
  2. Ramadan requires inward discipline alongside fasting and prayer.
  3. Listeners are urged to limit screens, guard speech, and choose spiritually uplifting company.
  4. Eating less at iftar is presented as a way to weaken the nafs and deepen worship.
  5. Believers should balance hope and fear while competing in worship and seeking i'tikaf.
  6. The khutbah concludes with practical worship, charity, specific dua, community announcements, and prayers for suffering Muslims.
Try this week
Disconnect from social media, news, television, and other distractions for the last ten nights.
Guard the tongue by avoiding lying, backbiting, gossip, and useless conversation.
Spend time with people and in environments that remind you of Allah.
Eat less at iftar to weaken the nafs and improve nighttime worship.
Pray Isha and Fajr in the mosque and stay with the imam until the prayer ends.
Vary worship through Qur'an, dhikr, salawat, reflection, charity, and specific dua.
Make specific dua for personal, family, community, and global needs.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 97Used to explain Laylat al-Qadr’s incomprehensible value and the descent of the angels.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the biggest way we can actually gain spiritual peace from Ramadan we have to lower the amount of food we're eating we have to feel that weakness throughout the day where your nefs is weaker so you can do acts of worship”
SALAM Arden · Sacramento, CA
Play from 27:20
“whoever starts to pray with the Imam and continues with him until he finishes it's as if he prayed the entire night”
SALAM Arden · Sacramento, CA
Play from 32:40
“open up your hearts to Allah and ask Him sincerely for whatever you need and don't be shy with your dua”
SALAM Arden · Sacramento, CA
Play from 34:44
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

This khutbah urges us to treat the last ten nights of Ramadan as a rare chance for mercy and forgiveness, especially by seeking Laylat al-Qadr. It asks us to simplify our days by reducing screens and distractions, guarding our speech, choosing uplifting company, eating less at iftar, and balancing hope with fear of falling short. It recommends praying in the mosque, staying with the imam, reading Qur'an, making dhikr, giving charity, and making specific dua for ourselves and people suffering around the world. The message is to use these final nights well and carry their spiritual discipline beyond Ramadan.

  1. What distraction would be hardest for you to give up, and why?
  2. How can we make our words more purposeful this week?
  3. Which act of worship could our family practice together tonight?
Where it was given

The masjid

SALAM Arden Center985 Enterprise Dr, Sacramento, CA 95825Jumu'ah English khutbah 12:00 PMKhateebMuhammed ElmaroukMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at SALAM Arden56 khutbahs
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