Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Taqwa means obeying Allah and staying mindful

In one sentence

Taqwa is conscious obedience to Allah, cultivated through fasting, gratitude, remembrance, and readiness for death, and it brings divine guidance, relief, and provision.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines taqwa through Quranic guidance and obedience to Allah’s commands.
  2. Explains fasting as training in taqwa and guarding one’s relationship with Allah.
  3. Presents Imam Ali’s description: fearing Allah, following revelation, contentment, and readiness for death.
  4. Explains taqwa’s benefits, especially relief from difficulty and unexpected provision.
  5. Illustrates those benefits through the story of Musa’s mother and her obedience.
  6. Urges continuous worship and frequent istighfar during and beyond Ramadan.
Try this week
Obey Allah’s commands and avoid what He has prohibited.
Pray five times daily and continue worship between Ramadan and the next Ramadan.
Stay grateful and content with whatever provision Allah gives.
Remember death and accountability to keep priorities in perspective.
Say “Astaghfirullah” frequently throughout the day, especially during Ramadan’s final ten nights.
Ask Allah for forgiveness and seek guidance from the imam when needed.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 2:2Used to explain that the Quran guides people who have taqwa.
Quran 2:183Used to teach that fasting is prescribed so believers may attain taqwa.
Quran 65:2-3Used to argue that taqwa brings a way out of difficulty and unexpected provision.
Quran 71:10-12Used to connect seeking forgiveness with rain, abundance, children, and blessings.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“And every Muslim, every Muslim, their goal is to become a person of tapuwa.”
GMC · Gary, IN
Play from 7:34
“Meaning, you're guarding your relationship between you and your creator, which is Allah. You are preserving the relationship between you and Allah.”
GMC · Gary, IN
Play from 8:44
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah teaches that taqwa means being conscious of Allah and obeying His guidance. Fasting trains us to remember Allah even when we are hungry or thirsty, and to guard our relationship with Him. Taqwa also includes gratitude for what we have, contentment with Allah’s provision, and remembering that we will return to Him. The story of Musa’s mother shows that trusting and obeying Allah can lead to help and provision from unexpected places. We should keep building taqwa through prayer, worship, and frequent istighfar throughout Ramadan and after it.

  1. When do you find it hardest to remember Allah’s commands?
  2. What is one blessing you can thank Allah for today?
  3. How could you practice istighfar during an ordinary day?