Ramadan preparation should transform your character
“It's about wanting to be different for the sake of Allah.”
Ramadan should be welcomed with intentional spiritual preparation so fasting cultivates taqwa, transforms character, and brings lasting closeness to Allah.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Compares Ramadan to an honored guest and urges preparation before it arrives.
- Identifies worldly busyness, shopping, food, and distractions as inadequate preparation.
- Explains fasting as prescribed worship intended to develop taqwa and sincere heart-consciousness.
- Connects physical fasting with truthful speech, restraint from sin, and lasting transformation.
- Recommends setting intentions, scheduling worship, reducing phone use, reflecting, forgiving, and abandoning harmful habits.
- Calls for balance among worship, work, marriage, children, and shared household responsibilities.
- Concludes with prayers for transformation, forgiveness, family unity, global relief, and reaching Ramadan.
In the khateeb's words
“But this is not the point of Ramadan The point of Ramadan is not what you eat”
“It's about wanting to change It's about wanting to be different for the sake of Allah”
“Try turning things off Unplugging for the sake of Allah And plug into your relationship with Allah”
For the dinner table
Shaykh Abdullah Misra compared Ramadan to a beloved guest: we know it is coming, so we should prepare our hearts to welcome it. Food, clothes, and decorations can help us celebrate, but the purpose of fasting is to grow in taqwa, or awareness of Allah. That means paying attention to our words, choices, and treatment of others, as well as staying away from food and drink. We can begin with a sincere intention, make time for Quran and reflection, give generously, and work on letting go of harmful habits. When we share the cooking and cleaning and make time for one another, we help the whole family worship and grow closer to Allah. The hope is that the goodness we practice in Ramadan will stay with us after Eid.
- If Ramadan were a special guest coming to our home, how would you help welcome it?
- What could we do with a little of our screen time to grow closer to Allah?
- Which household task could you help with so someone else has time to pray or read Quran?
More on Ramadan & fasting
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The most valuable thing is time.16:36NWIIC · Crown Point, IN · Apr 3, 2026Carry Ramadan’s taqwa throughout the year
Every single day you are doing something to make Allah happy.26:16ISGW · Worcester, MA · Apr 3, 2026Turn Ramadan’s remainder into lasting worship