5:18 the problem is that…9:01 the end and the…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Apr 2, 2026.

Ramadan clears the glare from our hearts

MakeSpace

“There is a haze and there is a glare and there is a veil between us and the light.”

The khateeb, at 5:18

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

The khutbah argues that Ramadan teaches us to clear the glare of material desire and heedlessness so Allah’s guidance can illuminate our hearts, orient our worldly responsibilities, and draw us into serving communities.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Uses city light pollution and dark skies as a metaphor for distractions obscuring divine guidance.
  2. Explains Ramadan as reducing impulses, anger, desires, and sins so spiritual perception can return.
  3. Interprets Qur’anic light imagery through fitrah, revelation, reason, and repeated return to Allah.
  4. Contrasts divine guidance with mirages and layers of darkness, emphasizing human agency and choice.
  5. Urges listeners to carry Ramadan’s lessons into daily work, humility, devotion, service, and responsibility.
  6. Concludes by emphasizing communities and places of remembrance, followed by prayers for the sick and wider ummah.
Try this week
Carry Ramadan’s lessons and disciplines into the rest of the year.
Keep work, commerce, achievement, and family responsibilities as means rather than the heart’s ultimate goal.
Reduce distractions, impulses, anger, hatred, and desires through remembrance, prayer, devotion, and humility.
Return to Allah whenever you slip, face despair, or encounter hardship.
Serve fellow human beings, practice patience and humility, and avoid reactive or self-superior behavior.
Build and participate in communities and places of remembrance that help people reconnect with Allah.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 24Used to explain Allah’s guidance as light and the layers of spiritual illumination.
Surah 24Used to argue that work and worldly responsibilities should remain means rather than ultimate goals.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“the problem is that there is a haze and there is a glare and there is a veil between us and the light so we don't see the light with the eyes of our hearts”
MakeSpace · Franconia, VA
Play from 5:18
“the end and the objective and the goal is Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala but all of these other things are means”
MakeSpace · Franconia, VA
Play from 9:01
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah compares city glare that hides the stars with distractions and sins that can hide Allah’s guidance from our hearts. Ramadan helps us quiet those distractions, and its lessons should continue through the rest of the year. Our fitrah, reason, Qur’an, and prophetic guidance are gifts that can lead us back to peace when we willingly receive and act on them. We should keep worldly work in its proper place, serve others, and return to Allah when we slip or face hardship. Faith also grows through communities and places of remembrance where people help one another carry the light.

  1. What is one distraction that makes it harder for you to remember Allah?
  2. How can we use our work or talents to serve people instead of only chasing success?
  3. Who helps you return to Allah when life becomes difficult?
Where it was given

The masjid

MakeSpace6142 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310Jumu'ah 12:30 PM at MakeSpaceArchiveAll khutbahs at MakeSpace46 khutbahs
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