7:14 Now it's time to…9:14 Because if we only…23:28 If I have time to pull…
Repentance & taqwaFrom the masjid's own video, Mar 7, 2026.

Use Ramadan to rebuild your taqwa

IFN · Muhammad Adisa

“You're not going to get true piety until you give what you love.”

The khateeb, at 17:29

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In one sentence

The khutbah urges believers to use the remainder of Ramadan for honest self-assessment, sincere repentance, loving sacrifice, and focused Qur'an-centered worship so they can grow in taqwa and receive Allah's forgiveness.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Review Ramadan goals at the halfway point and prepare for the last ten nights and Laylatul Qadr.
  2. Understand taqwa as God-consciousness shaped by fear, hope, and love of Allah.
  3. Examine the heart, repent from past sins, and address personal weaknesses and bad habits.
  4. Pursue righteousness by sacrificing what one loves and exerting oneself in prayer, Qur'an, and character.
  5. Protect the last ten nights through i'tikaf, reduced distractions, tahajjud, dua, and Qur'an.
  6. Make the Qur'an central for oneself and encourage children to engage with it.
Try this week
Review the Ramadan goals you set and adjust them for the remaining days.
Repent sincerely, ask Allah for forgiveness, and seek forgiveness for past transgressions.
Identify a specific weakness or bad habit and work actively to correct it.
Give up or give away something you love as an act of sincere sacrifice.
Read Qur'an daily, pray salah on time, avoid backbiting, and practice better manners and anger control.
Attend i'tikaf if possible, reduce distractions, and spend time in tahajjud, dua, and Qur'an.
Encourage children to participate in Qur'an recitation and care about Allah's book.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2Fasting was prescribed so believers may attain taqwa, understood as God-consciousness.
Jami` at-TirmidhiReaching Ramadan without attaining forgiveness was presented as grounds for the curse mentioned by Jibreel and affirmed by the Prophet.
Jami` at-TirmidhiRepeated sin darkens the heart, while repentance reverses its effect.
Surah 83Hearts become rusted because of what people continually earn.
Quran 3:92True righteousness requires spending from what one loves.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Now it's time to assess ourselves. As Umar says famously, take account of yourselves before you are taken account of.”
IFN · Libertyville, IL
Play from 7:14
“Because if we only fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, what will happen is, when the object of that fear is removed, our motivation subsides.”
IFN · Libertyville, IL
Play from 9:14
“If I have time to pull out my phone, I have time for Quran.”
IFN · Libertyville, IL
Play from 23:28
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Ramadan gives us a chance to pause and honestly check how we are doing. The khateeb reminded us that taqwa is not only fear of Allah, but also hope and love that keep us worshipping sincerely. We should repent for our mistakes, work on our weaknesses, and be willing to sacrifice something we love. The remaining nights are precious, so we should protect time for prayer, Qur'an, dua, and less distraction. Families can also help children build a lasting love for the Qur'an.

  1. What is one Ramadan goal you would like to improve before the month ends?
  2. What is one distraction you could replace with Qur'an time?
  3. What is something you love that you could share or give up for Allah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Foundation North1751 S. O'Plaine Road, Libertyville, IL 60048Jumu'ah 1st Khutbah 1:10 PM · 2nd Khutbah 2:20 PMKhateebMuhammad AdisaMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at IFN32 khutbahs
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