Prepare your heart before Ramadan
“If you don't talk to your family member or your parents, please don't let this moment pass until you go and correct yourself.”
As Sha'ban leads into Ramadan, believers should prepare by cleansing their hearts, reconciling with others and parents, renewing worship, and serving people so Allah may forgive them and admit them to Jannah.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Interprets snow, illness, and blessings as tests requiring gratitude and prioritizing Friday worship over commerce.
- Introduces Sha'ban as a neglected month when deeds are raised, urging fasting and preparation for Ramadan.
- Warns that grudges and broken relationships can block forgiveness, calling listeners to reconcile and forgive.
- Urges self-examination through prayer, zakah, fasting, Quran, Sunnah, lawful income, and sharing knowledge.
- Connects care for the poor, orphans, sick people, janazah, parents, and family to entering Jannah.
- Closes with immediate family-centered actions and a dua for forgiveness, healing, provision, Ramadan, and Jannah.
In the khateeb's words
“Before the middle of sha'aban Before we raise our hand to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala By the dua We need to correct ourselves first”
“If you see your brother sad, just go make him happy. If somebody needs help, go ahead and help.”
“If you don't talk to your family member or your parents, please don't let this moment pass until you go and correct yourself.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah reminds us that Sha'ban is a time to wake up spiritually before Ramadan, not simply a month to plan around. We should ask Allah for forgiveness while cleaning our hearts of grudges, repairing family relationships, and treating parents with love and respect. It calls us to maintain prayer, Quran, fasting, lawful earnings, charity, and service to people in need, remembering that death can come at any age. The message ends with hope: Allah is Merciful to those who make mistakes, return to Him, and sincerely try to do better.
- What does it mean to clean our hearts before Ramadan?
- Who could we encourage or help this week, and what small action would show care?
- What is one way we can show love to our parents or grandparents today?
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