0:24 you should not be…2:03 everyone will go up in…25:43 when people are lazy…26:41 when you worship Allah…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Prepare for Ramadan before it arrives

El-Zahra · Moutaz Charaf

“You should be waiting for it, you should be anticipating it, you should be ready for it.”

The khateeb, at 0:24

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In one sentence

The khutbah urges listeners to use Sha'ban as deliberate spiritual preparation for Ramadan through fasting, worship, salawat, reconciliation, and seeking Allah's pleasure.

The khutbah in 7 steps

  1. Sha'ban should prepare believers for Ramadan rather than allowing Ramadan to arrive unexpectedly.
  2. Believers should expose themselves to Allah's spiritual gifts through prayer, dua, dhikr, and fasting.
  3. Deeds are raised in Sha'ban, so Muslims should end the year's record with excellent deeds and repaired relationships.
  4. Surah al-Ahzab's command to send blessings upon the Prophet is presented as a major spiritual opportunity.
  5. Fasting, especially on Mondays and Thursdays, aligns with the raising of deeds.
  6. Worship during times of ghafla, when others are inattentive, brings distinction and benefits the wider community.
  7. The khutbah closes with Musa's eagerness to reach Allah and prayers for suffering communities worldwide.
Try this week
Begin preparing for Ramadan during Sha'ban instead of waiting for the crescent.
Fast during Sha'ban, especially on Mondays and Thursdays.
Increase prayer, dua, dhikr, and mosque attendance.
Send frequent salah and salam upon the Prophet, including at the beginning and end of dua.
Repair family conflicts, avoid sins, and end the year with excellent deeds.
Worship during times of ghafla, such as between Maghrib and Isha, the last third of the night, and in the marketplace.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 33Used to command believers to send salah and salam upon the Prophet Muhammad.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“you should not be surprised you should be waiting for it you should be anticipating it you should be ready for it”
El-Zahra · Midland Park, NJ
Play from 0:24
“everyone will go up in the eyes of Allah azawajal in the scale of Allah azawajal everyone will improve in the month of ramadan”
El-Zahra · Midland Park, NJ
Play from 2:03
“when people are lazy you jump when people are not doing it you do it when people are hesitant you don't hesitate”
El-Zahra · Midland Park, NJ
Play from 25:43
“when you worship Allah worship Him to please Him not to get from Him”
El-Zahra · Midland Park, NJ
Play from 26:41
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Sha'ban is a gift and a training ground, so we should prepare for Ramadan before its crescent appears. We can do that by fasting, praying, making dhikr and dua, sending blessings on the Prophet, and repairing hurt relationships. The imam reminded us that deeds are raised to Allah and encouraged worship when few people are paying attention. He urged us to worship Allah because we want His pleasure, not only because we want something in return. He closed by asking Allah to strengthen our communities and help people suffering around the world.

  1. What is one way we can prepare for Ramadan before it begins?
  2. When could we choose worship while other people are distracted?
  3. What does it mean to worship Allah for His pleasure?
Where it was given

The masjid

El-Zahra Islamic Center218 Irving Street, Midland Park, NJ 07432Jumu'ah 1st 1:00 to 1:45 PM (streamed to YouTube) · 2nd 2:00 to 2:30 PMKhateebMoutaz CharafMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at El-Zahra48 khutbahs
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