71:39 the Creator says pray…84:18 the social dimension…88:44 this is an opportunity…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Feb 27, 2026.

Ramadan trains the heart beyond hunger

ICCC

“It's very difficult to feel the hunger of the hungry wherever they are.”

The khateeb, at 88:44

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Ramadan is an annual training program whose purposes extend beyond abstaining from food to cultivate submission to Allah, personal and social taqwa, compassion, self-control, Quranic connection, and night worship.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines maqasid as the purposes of worship, distinguishing shared purposes from Ramadan-specific ones.
  2. Presents servanthood and submission to Allah as the general purpose of every act of worship.
  3. Explains taqwa as both personal improvement and social commitment-keeping toward Allah and other people.
  4. Frames Ramadan as training for stewardship, empathy with the poor, bodily discipline, and spiritual balance.
  5. Adds practical aims: guarding speech and desires, connecting with the Quran, and strengthening qiyam and Taraweeh.
  6. Closes by urging believers to observe Ramadan, fulfill obligations, repent, and improve their relationships.
Try this week
Fast Ramadan and obey Allah's commands as an expression of servanthood.
Repent and seek forgiveness when weakness or forgetfulness leads to sin.
Honor commitments and fulfill obligations toward Allah, parents, neighbors, relatives, friends, and humanity.
Increase generosity and act on the empathy fasting creates for poor and hungry people.
Guard speech by avoiding lying, cheating, gossip, vulgarity, arguing, and harmful behavior.
Use fasting to restrain sexual desire and protect chastity.
Recite more Quran and attend Taraweeh or other night prayers.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2The fasting command is presented as a means of developing taqwa.
Surah 8Treaty-breakers are described as lacking taqwa, supporting taqwa as commitment-keeping.
Surah 9Honoring covenants, including with non-believers, is connected to taqwa.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the Creator says pray you pray the Creator says fast you fast whether you know why or not it doesn't matter”
ICCC · Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Play from 71:39
“the social dimension meaning that Taqwa here is to learn to observe your commitments Taqwa here means fulfilling commitments”
ICCC · Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Play from 84:18
“this is an opportunity for us to feel with the poor it's very difficult to feel the hunger of the hungry wherever they are”
ICCC · Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Play from 88:44
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Ramadan is not only about staying away from food and drink; it is a time to become better servants of Allah. The khutbah explained that taqwa means improving ourselves and honoring our commitments to Allah and to people. Fasting should help us feel compassion for hungry people and encourage us to help them. We should also guard our speech, control our desires, read more Quran, and pray at night. Ramadan is a yearly training opportunity to return to Allah and live with greater responsibility.

  1. What is one promise or responsibility you want to take more seriously this Ramadan?
  2. How can our family turn feeling hungry into kindness toward someone else?
  3. Which Quran or prayer habit would you like to build this month?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Community Cultural Center (ICCC)879 S Beverwyck Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054ArchiveAll khutbahs at ICCC75 khutbahs
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