11:33 Taqwa is more than…14:06 Fasting heightens our…19:00 So fasting teaches us…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Feb 14, 2026.

Fasting trains us to live mindfully

IFN · Azfar Uddin

“Fasting heightens our awareness of every hour.”

The khateeb, at 14:06

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Fasting is a gift designed to cultivate taqwa, turning awareness of Allah into disciplined action, and thereby produce self-control, empathy, gratitude, and joy.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. The speaker observes that many youth and adults lack excitement for Ramadan and introduces fasting as beneficial.
  2. He explains that taqwa is the primary purpose of fasting and means acting on revelation, not merely fearing Allah.
  3. He describes fasting as training for discipline, self-control, time awareness, patience, and empathy.
  4. He connects hunger with gratitude by recalling people facing deprivation, imprisonment, and restrictions on fasting.
  5. He presents fasting as protection against shaytan, uncontrolled desire, and sexual temptation.
  6. He concludes that Ramadan is joyful despite its difficulty and closes with prayers and community announcements.
Try this week
Fast sincerely to develop taqwa rather than treating health benefits as the main purpose.
Use hunger and thirst to practice discipline, resist bad habits, and strengthen self-control.
Pay attention to Fajr, sunset, and each hour so the day becomes more mindful and intentional.
Remember people facing hunger, imprisonment, or restrictions on worship, and respond with gratitude rather than complaint.
If marriage is not possible, use fasting to guard chastity and lower the gaze.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Taqwa is more than just a brand, it's more than just a clothing. It's what you do as a result of that fear.”
IFN · Libertyville, IL
Play from 11:33
“Fasting heightens our awareness of every hour. because we're waiting for the clock. Every hour becomes mindful and intentional.”
IFN · Libertyville, IL
Play from 14:06
“So fasting teaches us gratitude in a way no other act can teach us gratitude.”
IFN · Libertyville, IL
Play from 19:00
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Fasting is not meant to crush us; it is a gift from Allah that helps us grow taqwa, meaning that awareness of Allah changes how we act. By giving up food, drink, and other desires for a set time, we practice discipline, patience, and self-control. Hunger can open our hearts to people who face deprivation, while making ordinary blessings feel precious and teaching us gratitude. Ramadan can therefore be joyful even when it is difficult: the fast gives joy when we break it and hope for joy when we meet our Lord. We can welcome it by fasting sincerely, noticing Allah’s blessings, and letting that discipline improve our choices.

  1. What is one blessing you notice more clearly when you are hungry or thirsty?
  2. What bad habit could fasting help you practice resisting?
  3. How can our family make Ramadan feel joyful while still taking its lessons seriously?
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 PMKhateebAzfar UddinMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at IFN32 khutbahs
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