Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Mar 3, 2026.

Ramadan is a brief chance for worship

“Ramadan is a pure reflection of our life philosophy.”

The khateeb, at 14:13

In one sentence

Ramadan is a divinely ordained, uniquely merciful opportunity whose brief and uncertain duration demands purposeful worship, repentance, and generosity.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Discusses the lunar visibility issue and differing scholarly opinions about Ramadan's start date.
  2. Establishes Ramadan's Quranic and divine status beyond cultural practice.
  3. Explains Ramadan's exceptional sanctity, multiplied rewards, and Laylat al-Qadr.
  4. Presents Ramadan as a month of mercy, forgiveness, empathy, and charity.
  5. Uses recent funerals and mortality to stress that another Ramadan is not guaranteed.
  6. Closes with supplications for guidance, forgiveness, and benefit from Ramadan.
Try this week
Ask Allah to allow you to reach Ramadan and give you determination and purpose.
Use Ramadan intentionally through worship and acts of obedience.
Seek Allah's forgiveness throughout Ramadan and aim to finish among those who are forgiven.
Give zakat, zakat al-fitr, sadaqah, and support poor and needy people.
Choose a Ramadan start date according to a trusted scholarly opinion.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2The verses naming Ramadan and prescribing fasting show that Ramadan is divinely commanded, not merely cultural.
Surah 97The statement that Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months supports Ramadan's extraordinary reward.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“This is the divine intervention through the Quranic revelation itself.”
IAGD · Rochester Hills, MI
Play from 2:57
“When a person does something mubah, something just permissible, recommended, the thawab of that is given equal to the act of farida, obligation.”
IAGD · Rochester Hills, MI
Play from 8:26
“Ramadan is a pure reflection of our life philosophy. Our life is fragile. It's temporary. It's uncertain. And it's not guaranteed to be given.”
IAGD · Rochester Hills, MI
Play from 14:13
“So it tells you that Ramadan is not only spiritually important, it is existentially urgent.”
IAGD · Rochester Hills, MI
Play from 15:44
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Ramadan is more than a yearly custom; it is a gift and command from Allah. The khutbah reminds us that its days are brief, its mercy is great, and its rewards are multiplied, including the special night of Laylat al-Qadr. Because life is uncertain, we should not assume we will see another Ramadan. We can prepare by asking Allah for help, worshipping with purpose, seeking forgiveness, and caring for people in need.

  1. What would you want to make time for if you knew Ramadan might not come again?
  2. How can our family show empathy and generosity during Ramadan?
  3. What does it mean to use Ramadan with determination and purpose?