0:36 Even more difficult…1:57 Whereas hunger gives…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Jan 31, 2026.

Moderate hunger strengthens worship and self-control

ISCN · Obair Katchi

“Hunger gives you softness of the heart, enables you to experience the sweetness of conversing with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, of listening to the Qur'an.”

The khateeb, at 1:57

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Moderate hunger, especially through fasting and avoiding fullness, purifies the heart and intellect, humbles the ego, strengthens worship and patience, restrains sinful desire, and leads toward taqwa.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Defines hunger through fasting, prolonged fasting, and stopping before fullness.
  2. Explains hunger’s effects on spiritual clarity, memory, intellect, softness of heart, and worship.
  3. Uses fasting examples to argue that hunger can strengthen endurance rather than weaken it.
  4. Describes humility, patience, emotional openness, reduced sleep, health, savings, and preferring others as further benefits.
  5. Explains how fasting restrains sexual desire and protects young people from sin.
  6. Concludes that controlling the nafs through fasting leads to taqwa and prepares believers for Ramadan.
Try this week
Avoid eating to fullness and practice leaving food while still desiring it.
Fast regularly, including Mondays and Thursdays, and prepare for Ramadan through fasting in Sha'ban.
Use hunger as an opportunity for dhikr, Qur'an, prayer, humility, patience, and remembrance of those who suffer hunger.
For unmarried people struggling with sexual desire, increase fasting as a means of self-control.
Control food intake and pursue appropriate weight loss, especially for weight-related sleep difficulties.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Even more difficult than that is to have food and leave it while you're still desiring it.”
ISCN · Corona, CA
Play from 0:36
“Whereas hunger gives you softness of the heart, enables you to experience the sweetness of conversing with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, of listening to the Qur'an.”
ISCN · Corona, CA
Play from 1:57
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

This khutbah taught that hunger can be more than discomfort: when we fast or stop before we are full, it can clear the mind and soften the heart. It can help us remember people who are hungry, become humbler, and grow in patience during hardship. The speaker also said fasting can make worship and remembrance easier and can help a person restrain powerful desires. He encouraged us to control our food intake, fast regularly, and prepare for Ramadan while seeking taqwa, or awareness of Allah. The goal is not simply to feel hungry, but to use hunger to train the self and turn toward Allah.

  1. When is it hardest to stop eating even though you are not truly hungry?
  2. How can hunger help someone become more patient or remember people in need?
  3. What is one way our family could prepare our hearts for Ramadan?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Society of Corona-Norco465 Santana Way, Corona, CA 92881Jumu'ah Khutbah 1:10 PM and 2:20 PMKhateebObair KatchiMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ISCN40 khutbahs
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