Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Feb 14, 2026.
Prepare deliberately for Ramadan
“You have to plan for everything.”
In one sentence
Listeners should prepare for Ramadan deliberately by reconciling relationships, structuring worship and family time, increasing charity and Quran engagement, and seeking Allah’s forgiveness and reward.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Introduces Ramadan preparation by comparing it to welcoming a guest or planning important life events.
- Urges listeners to cleanse their hearts and reconcile conflicts before Ramadan begins.
- Offers a practical plan for fasting, prayer, family routines, iftar, Quran recitation, charity, and feeding fasting people.
- Encourages extra worship during the last ten nights, including i'tikaf, Umrah, Zakat al-Fitr, and preparation for the final days.
- Closes by urging forgiveness and regular dhikr, emphasizing words that are light on the tongue but heavy on Allah’s scale.
Try this week
Reconcile disagreements and forgive people before Ramadan.
Plan daily fasting, five prayers, Quran reading, family time, and iftar.
Feed fasting people and increase sadaqah and zakat.
Increase prayer beyond last year, including extra rakahs and tahajud.
Plan time for i'tikaf during the last ten nights if possible.
Prepare for Zakat al-Fitr and maintain regular dhikr.
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“You have to plan for everything. To succeed. To have the best of Ramadan.”
“Increase, do more than what you have done last year.”
“Two words we say easily into our tongue, but they are heavy in the weight of the scale of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
Imam Aref Hammad encouraged everyone to welcome Ramadan by planning for it as carefully as we plan for an important guest or life event. He urged us to clean our hearts, forgive people, reconcile disagreements, and organize time for fasting, prayer, Quran, family, charity, and feeding others. He also encouraged extra worship in the last ten nights, including i'tikaf when possible, and planning for Zakat al-Fitr. He ended by reminding us that simple words of dhikr can carry great weight with Allah.
- What is one Ramadan habit you would like our family to plan together?
- Who might we forgive or reconnect with before Ramadan?
- Which short dhikr would you like to practice every day?
Keep listening
More on Ramadan & fasting
Fast the six days of Shawwal.20:06SALAM Arden · Sacramento, CA · Apr 3, 2026Six Shawwal fasts can earn a year
The most valuable thing is time.16:36NWIIC · Crown Point, IN · Apr 3, 2026Carry Ramadan’s taqwa throughout the year
Every single day you are doing something to make Allah happy.26:16ISGW · Worcester, MA · Apr 3, 2026Turn Ramadan’s remainder into lasting worship