13:23 The first step towards…19:17 What does it mean to…20:23 If we schedule time…
Ramadan & fastingFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Ramadan is a chance to reform

DarusSalam · Farhan Shariff

“The first step towards progress is recognizing sin and ensuring that we refrain from it.”

The khateeb, at 13:23

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In one sentence

Ramadan should be welcomed as a uniquely merciful opportunity to reform the heart and habits by removing distractions and sins, fulfilling obligatory worship, and adding intentional Quran, dua, and night prayer.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Ramadan is introduced as a uniquely blessed month, and listeners are asked whether they welcome it or see it as a burden.
  2. A story about a town rejecting the guest of Ramadan illustrates the danger of treating its obligations as unwelcome.
  3. Listeners are told to remove social media, music, and other pathways to sin, replacing some habits with Quran listening.
  4. Fasting is presented as protection from lying, backbiting, and other sins, not merely abstaining from food.
  5. The sermon closes by emphasizing prayer, fasting, Quran, dua, tahajjud, and a scheduled plan for worship.
Try this week
Reflect on whether you welcome Ramadan or experience it as a burden.
Delete distracting social media apps or have someone else set an inaccessible passcode for the month.
Guard the gaze and reduce online activities that can lead toward sin.
Replace recreational music with Quran listening.
Fast while avoiding lying, backbiting, and other sinful speech or behavior.
Maintain the five daily prayers and attend the masjid when possible.
Schedule daily Quran reading, dua, and tahajjud during suhoor time.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 12Used to explain the nafs as a force that incites people toward wrongdoing.
Surah 83Used to explain how repeated sins can leave the heart spiritually rusted.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The first step towards progress is recognizing sin and ensuring that we refrain from it in this month.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 13:23
“What does it mean to be the basic Muslim? To ensure that all of our prayers are being performed.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 19:17
“If we schedule time right now and we limit ourselves, our exposure to social media throughout this particular month, then inshallah we will find that we will make strides and we will come extremely close to Allah s.w.t.”
DarusSalam · Lombard, IL
Play from 20:23
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khateeb taught that Ramadan is a merciful guest that we should welcome rather than treat as a burden. It is a special chance to clean our hearts, leave sins, and come closer to Allah. He encouraged us to remove distractions such as social media and music, while filling that time with Quran, prayer, dua, and tahajjud. He also reminded us that fasting includes controlling our words and avoiding lying and backbiting. A simple schedule and sincere effort can help us make Ramadan a time of lasting change.

  1. Which worship habit would you like to build before the month ends?
  2. How can we make our words kinder and more truthful while fasting?
Where it was given

The masjid

Masjid DarusSalam21W525 North Avenue, Lombard, IL 60148KhateebFarhan ShariffMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at DarusSalam150 khutbahs
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