Renew sincere worship after Ramadan
“Some of us have found Islam and as time goes our worship becomes more performative rather than sincere.”
After Ramadan, believers must renew sincere intentions in everyday worship, balance worldly responsibilities with remembrance of Allah, and avoid harming others so their deeds are not spiritually nullified.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- In Shawwal, believers should examine whether their Ramadan habits were done for Allah or for performance.
- The Quran warns that boasting, reminding people of favors, and showing off can nullify charity and good deeds.
- The story of Hanzala and Abu Bakr illustrates fluctuating spiritual states and the need to balance worldly duties with worship.
- The Companions' fear of hypocrisy teaches regular self-examination rather than complacency after Ramadan.
- The hadith of the bankrupt person warns that slander, backbiting, oppression, and insincerity can transfer one's good deeds to those they wronged.
- Listeners are urged to renew intention in prayer, Quran, charity, family life, and daily responsibilities, while remaining grateful for congregational worship.
In the khateeb's words
“verily the one who is Muflis is the one who comes on Yawm Qiyamah and he comes on the day of Qiyamah with the Salah he comes with a Siyam he comes with a Sadaqat”
“some of us have found Islam and as time goes our worship becomes more performative rather than sincere”
For the dinner table
After Ramadan, the khateeb reminded us that worship should be for Allah, not for people's praise or attention. He encouraged us to keep praying, reading Quran, giving charity, and remembering the Hereafter while also fulfilling our family, work, and other worldly responsibilities. The story of Hanzala teaches that spiritual highs and lows can happen, but we should notice them and return to Allah. The warning about the bankrupt person teaches that backbiting, slander, and harming people can take away the reward of our good deeds. We should be grateful for the chance to worship together and remember Muslims facing hardship, including at Al-Aqsa.
- What is one prayer or good deed you can do this week purely for Allah?
- How can we remember Allah while handling school, work, friends, and family?
- What words or actions might hurt someone and cost us our good deeds?
More on Prayer & worship
The remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is something very powerful.9:18ISCN · Corona, CA · Oct 24, 2026Knowing Allah makes worship joyful
Ali Khan Center · Suitland, MD · Oct 10, 2026Give the weekly prayer your full attention“Don't just time it so you get maybe five-minute kutbah and a five-minute salat, and you're out in 10 minutes.”
Don't set your floor at your peak time, like in Ramadan.19:52Al-Noor · Santa Clara, CA · Oct 24, 2026Build a sustainable spiritual floor