Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, May 22, 2020.

Ramadan fasting builds taqwa and integrity

“You're doing the right thing because it's the right thing.”

The khateeb, at 9:42

In one sentence

Ramadan fasting is prescribed to develop taqwa, meaning obedience, integrity, wise choices, and steadfast focus on Allah.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Introduces fasting’s purpose as developing taqwa.
  2. Defines taqwa as abstinence from haram and making informed choices.
  3. Explains taqwa as obedience, submission, integrity, and focus.
  4. Warns about the seriousness of deliberately missing Ramadan fasts.
  5. Highlights Ramadan as a month of extraordinary mercy and forgiveness.
  6. Uses a smoker’s repentance story to show Ramadan’s power to inspire change.
Try this week
Fast Ramadan as an act of obedience to Allah.
Abstain from actions Allah has declared haram.
Make a firm intention to focus on Allah and seek forgiveness.
Choose the right action even when it costs or tempts you.
Use Ramadan as an opportunity to leave a harmful habit behind.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“So taqwa helps us develop that strong character, that strong, that sense of integrity, that you're doing the right thing because it's the right thing.”
ICN · Granada Hills & Northridge, CA
Play from 9:42
“So this is where we must make a solid intention, a solid niyyah within ourselves that this is what we're going to do.”
ICN · Granada Hills & Northridge, CA
Play from 13:20
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb reminded us that fasting is not simply about feeling hungry; Allah prescribed it to help us develop taqwa. Taqwa includes staying away from what Allah has forbidden, obeying Him, and choosing what is right even when that choice is difficult or costly. Ramadan trains our character by teaching us integrity, self-control, and steady focus on Allah despite temptation. It is also a special opportunity to seek Allah’s forgiveness and make a firm intention to change. The story of the man who gave up smoking showed that when someone sincerely chooses change for Allah, Allah can give that person remarkable strength.

  1. What is one right choice that can be hard to make even when you know it is right?
  2. What distraction would you like to control better during Ramadan?
  3. What is one change you would like to make sincerely for Allah?