Friday Khutbah: Who Are You When No One Is Watching?

Part One

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.
صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّى عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ:

My dear brothers and sisters, students of faith, future leaders of our Ummah. Today, we gather in the sacred space of this masjid on this blessed day of Jumu’ah. But I want to ask you a question that reaches into the very core of our faith, a question that defines our character not in the spotlight, but in the shadows: Who are you when no one is watching?

In the theater of high school life, there is a constant audience. Teachers watch your grades. Coaches watch your performance. Parents watch your curfew. Friends watch your style, your words, your social media posts. We perform, often consciously, for these audiences. But what happens when the curtain closes? When the classroom is empty, when the phone is put away in the quiet of your room, when you are utterly and completely alone—who is the real you that remains?

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala answers this in the most profound way in Surah Al-Hadid:

أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى

"Does he not know that Allah sees?" (Quran 96:14)

And in Surah Al-Mulk, He says:

وَمَا تَكُونُ فِي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُو مِنْهُ مِن قُرْآنٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَلَا أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَا أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

"And you are not engaged in any matter or recite any of the Quran or do any deed except that We are witness over you when you are involved in it. And not absent from your Lord is any part of an atom's weight within the earth or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register." (Quran 67:12)

This, my dear young Muslims, is the ultimate reality check. The true test of Iman (faith) is not on the stage, but backstage. It’s in the choice to close the browser with inappropriate content, even when your internet history is "private." It’s in the decision to put your own answer on the test, even when you could easily glance at your neighbor’s paper without getting caught. It’s in the act of speaking kindly about a classmate you find annoying, when you’re in a group that’s gossiping about them.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ laid the foundation for all of this with one of the most famous and pivotal hadith in our religion. He said:

إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى

"Verily, deeds are only by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended." (Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim)

Your intention—that secret conversation between your heart and Allah—is what gives your action its value. That “like” on a post to help a charity, did you do it for the praise of your followers, or for the pleasure of Allah? That prayer you rushed through in your room before leaving for school, was it a genuine connection, or just a habit you ticked off a list? Allah is watching that intention. The angels are recording it. And you, alone, are responsible for it.

This concept in Islam is called Ikhlas—sincerity, purity of intention. It is the heart of our worship. A small act done with utter sincerity in the unseen is infinitely greater in the scales of Allah than a grand, public act done for show. The great scholar of the heart, Al-Hasan al-Basri, said, "The sin that humbles you is better in the sight of Allah than the good deed that makes you proud."

So, who are you when no one is watching? You are the person whose character is built not by external pressure, but by internal compass. You are the one who understands that the most important witness is not the teacher walking by your desk, but the two angels, Raquib and Atid, sitting on your shoulders, recording every single thing. You are the believer who lives with the profound awareness of Al-Muhsi—The One Who Counts and Records Everything.

Part Two

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. صَلَّى اللَّهُ وَسَلَّمَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ:

So how do we cultivate this integrity of the unseen? How do we become people who are just as good in private as we are in public?

First, Create a Private Relationship with Allah. This is your spiritual backbone. Beyond the five daily prayers in congregation, have your own private du’a sessions. Talk to Allah in the last third of the night, or in the quiet before Fajr. Confess your struggles, your fears, your secret hopes to Him. When you build that intimate connection, you will never feel truly alone, and you will never want to betray the One who is always watching with love and mercy.

Second, Audit Your Secret Actions. At the end of each day, ask yourself: What did I do today that only Allah saw? Did I secretly help someone by picking up trash no one noticed? Did I suppress an angry curse in traffic when I was alone in the car? Did I turn away from a temptation that nobody would have ever known about?

Jumu'ah Khutbah: Who Are You When No One Is Watching?

Part One

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله.

All praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our own selves and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allah guides, no one can misguide. Whomever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partners. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ

"O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam." (Surah Ali 'Imran, 3:102)

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

"O mankind! Fear your Lord, Who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from both of them scattered many men and women. And fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual rights, and be careful of the wombs. Surely, Allah is ever watching over you." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:1)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

"O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak always the truth. He will direct you to do righteous deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement." (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:70-71)

أما بعد: فإن أصدق الحديث كتاب الله، وأحسن الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة، وكل ضلالة في النار.

To proceed: Indeed, the best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (ﷺ), and the worst of matters are the newly invented matters, every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.

Dear brothers and sisters, today I want to speak with you about a question that lies at the very heart of our faith and our character. It is a question we must ask ourselves, especially as young Muslims navigating the complex world of high school and adolescence. The question is: Who are you when no one is watching?

In the hallway, you might pick up a piece of trash that someone else dropped. In the classroom, you might find a wallet left behind. At home, you have the choice to study for that test or to browse online instead. In your room, with the door closed, you decide how to spend your time. These moments, when you are alone, when there is no teacher to give you credit, no parent to check on you, no friend to impress – these moments reveal your true self.

This is what our scholars call Ikhlas – sincerity. And it is built upon Taqwa – God-consciousness. Islam teaches us that our value is not measured by what people see of us, but by what Allah knows of us, which is everything.

Allah says in the Quran:
أَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ

"Whether you conceal what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it. Indeed, He knows what is within the breasts. Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Aware?" (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:13-14)

And in another verse:
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ وَإِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا

"To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allah. But if you disbelieve – then to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allah Free of need and Praiseworthy." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:131)

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us the importance of this internal state with a profound hadith. He (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ، وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ.

"Indeed, Allah does not look at your appearances or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds." (Sahih Muslim)

Let that sink in. Allah is not impressed by your trendy clothes, your phone, your social media followers, or your popularity at school. He looks at your heart. What is in your heart when you are by yourself? Is it filled with love for Him? With gratitude? With the intention to do good? Or is it filled with jealousy, arrogance, or the desire to cut corners when you think you can get away with it?

The famous companion, Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra), was once asked about Ta

Jummah Khutbah: The Eternal Declaration – Reflections on Surah Al-Ikhlas

Part One

الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله.

All praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, we seek His help, and we seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves and from our wrong deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whomever Allah leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

أما بعد: فإن أصدق الحديث كتاب الله، وأحسن الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة، وكل ضلالة في النار.

To proceed: Indeed, the truest speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The worst of matters are newly-invented matters, every newly-invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.

O Muslims! O servants of Allah! Fear Allah as He ought to be feared, and do not die except as Muslims in submission to Him. Know that the essence of our faith, the core of our belief, and the foundation upon which the entire universe is built, is encapsulated in one profound, powerful, and unparalleled chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A chapter so weighty that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ equated its recitation to a third of the entire Qur’an. A chapter that defines the Divine Reality with a clarity that silences all philosophical confusion. This is Surah Al-Ikhlas, the Chapter of Sincerity or the Chapter of Purity of Faith.

It is the chapter that begins with the divine command to His Messenger: قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

"Say, ‘He is Allah, the One.’" (Qur’an, 112:1)

Allah instructs His Prophet ﷺ—and through him, all of humanity—to declare with conviction and clarity: هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ – "He is Allah, the One." Not ‘one’ in a numerical sense that implies he could be the first of many, but أَحَدٌ – the Unique, the Absolute, the Indivisible One. The One whose Oneness is inherent and intrinsic to His very essence. This opening verse is a definitive response to every form of polytheism, to every notion of partnership, to every suggestion of multiplicity in divinity. It is the bedrock of Tawhid.

The Surah then elaborates upon this Oneness in the most concise and comprehensive terms:

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

"Allah, the Self-Sufficient, the Besought of all." (Qur’an, 112:2)

الصَّمَدُ is a term of profound depth. Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) explained it as: "The Master who is perfect in His sovereignty, the Most Noble who is perfect in His nobility, the Most Magnificent who is perfect in His magnificence, the Most Forbearing who is perfect in His forbearance, the All-Knowing who is perfect in His knowledge, and the Most Wise who is perfect in His wisdom. He is the One who is perfect in all aspects of nobility and authority. He is Allah, and these attributes are not befitting anyone other than Him." He is الصَّمَدُ—the Eternal Refuge, the One to whom all creation turns in need, while He Himself is in need of nothing and no one. Every heart that yearns, every tongue that supplicates, every eye that seeks help—ultimately, its direction is towards Him.

Then comes the negation of the most fundamental human error regarding the Divine:

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

"He neither begets, nor is He born." (Qur’an, 112:3)

This verse dismantles the anthropomorphic projections onto God. It refutes the claims of those who attribute sons or daughters to Allah, whether from among the angels, as the pre-Islamic Arabs claimed, or from among mankind, as claimed by others. It also negates the concept of God having a parent, a beginning, or a source. He is not born from another, thus He is not caused; and He does not beget, thus He does not cause another to share in His divinity. This establishes His absolute transcendence and eternal existence beyond the limitations of time, space, and biological process.

The Surah concludes with a declaration of His incomparability:

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

"And there is none comparable to Him." (Qur’an, 112:4)

There is no equal to Him, no rival, no peer, no opposite, no likeness, no equivalent. Nothing in all of creation shares in His essence, His attributes, or His rights. The word كُفُوًا implies a match in every sense. So this final verse seals the doctrine of Tawhid, ensuring that our understanding of Allah’s Oneness is not just numerical, but also qualitative. He is One and He is Unique.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Prophet ﷺ highlighted the immense status of this Surah. He said: "وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا لَتَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ" – "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, it is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an!" (Sahih al-Bukhari). On another occasion, a man heard another reciting it repeatedly in prayer. In the morning, he mentioned it to the Prophet ﷺ, as if he thought it was insufficient. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا لَتَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ" – again affirming its weight (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Why does it equal a third of the Qur’an? Scholars explain that the Qur’an’s message comprises three core themes: 1) Legislation and Commandments (Ahkam), 2) Narratives and Parables (Qasas), and 3) The Doctrine of Tawhid (The Oneness of God). Surah Al-Ikhlas is the purest, most concentrated exposition of Tawhid. Therefore, it embodies a third of the Qur’an’s fundamental purpose.

This Surah is not merely for recitation; it is for internalization. It is the formula that purifies our belief from the subtle shirk of desires, from the shirk of seeking praise from people, from the shirk of fearing others besides Allah. When we internalize أَحَدٌ, we realize that only One truly matters. When we internalize الصَّمَدُ, we direct our ultimate hopes and fears only to Him. When we internalize لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ, we free our conception of God from all human limitations. And when we internalize وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ, we worship Him alone, without associating any partners with Him in our love, devotion, and obedience.

Part Two

**الحمد لله حمداً كثيراً طيباً مباركاً فيه كما يحب ربنا ويرضى، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem

Part One

Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah illadhi ja’ala as-siyama kitaaban ‘alalladheena min qablina wa ‘alayna li’allakum tattaqoon. Wa ashadu an la ilaha illallah, wahdahu la shareeka lah, wa ashadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluh, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallama tasleeman katheera.

All praise is due to Allah, who made fasting obligatory upon those before us and upon us, so that we may attain Taqwa. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and all his companions abundantly.

Amma ba’d:

To proceed: O servants of Allah, I advise you and myself to have Taqwa of Allah, for it is the provision for the Hereafter and the key to all goodness. As Allah says in His Mighty Book:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū kutiba ʿalaykumu ṣ-ṣiyāmu kamā kutiba ʿalā alladhīna min qablikum laʿallakum tattaqūn
"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous."
– Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183

My dear brothers in faith, we stand on the blessed threshold of a noble guest: the Month of Ramadan. It is a month that descends upon us with mercy, forgiveness, and emancipation from the Hellfire. It is a divine academy, a school of the soul where we are trained to elevate our consciousness of Allah, to purify our hearts, and to discipline our desires.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has distinguished this month by revealing in it the greatest guidance for mankind:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ
Shahru Ramaḍāna alladhī unzila fīhi al-Qur'ānu hudan lilnnāsi wa bayyinātin mina al-hudā wal-furqān
"The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion."
– Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185

Therefore, Ramadan is not merely about abstaining from food and drink. It is the month of the Qur’an. It is a time for a profound reunion with the Words of our Lord. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Jibreel (عليه السلام) would review the Qur'an together in Ramadan. What is our relationship with the Qur'an during these coming days? Will it gather dust on our shelves, or will it be our companion at Sahoor and Iftar, in our solitude and in our family gatherings?

The essence of our fast is captured in a profound Hadith Qudsi, where Allah says:

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ
Kullu ‘amali ibni Ādama lahu illa as-siyāma, fa innahu lee wa ana ajzee bihi
"Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is for Me, and I shall reward for it."
– Sahih al-Bukhari

Why is fasting singled out in this manner? Because it is a hidden act of worship. Only Allah sees the hunger and thirst you endure, the temptation you resist when no human eye is upon you. It is the ultimate cultivation of sincerity (Ikhlas). When you fast, you are doing so purely for the Countenance of Allah, hoping for His reward alone. This hidden act builds a private, unshakeable fortress of faith within your heart.

Furthermore, Ramadan is the month of multiplied rewards, where the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are chained, and the devils are shackled. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَصُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ
Idha jā’a Ramadān futihat abwābul Jannati wa ghulliqat abwābul nāri wa suffidatish shayāṭīn
"When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained."
– Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim

But O believers, do we then become sinless? No. The chaining of the devils means their ability to whisper and incite is severely weakened. It means the path to righteousness is clearer than ever. Yet our own souls, accustomed to misguidance, can still lead us astray. This is why the Prophet (ﷺ) warned:

مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ
Man lam yada' qawlaz-zūri wal-'amala bihi, falaysa lillāhi hājatun fee an yada' ta'āmahu wa sharābah
"Whoever does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allah has no need of his leaving his food and drink."
– Sahih al-Bukhari

Therefore, let our fast be comprehensive. Let it be a fast of the limbs: the tongue from backbiting and lying; the eyes from looking at the forbidden; the ears from listening to slander; the hands from harming others; the feet from walking to sin. Let our fast be a fast of the heart: from hatred, envy, and arrogance. Let us fill it instead with compassion, forgiveness, and love for the sake of Allah.

Part Two

Alhamdulillah ‘ala ni’amatil Islam, was-salatu was-salamu ‘ala rasoolil karam. Amma ba’d:

So, my beloved brothers, as we prepare to welcome this majestic guest, let us do so with purposeful preparation.

First: Spiritual Preparation. Increase in your voluntary prayers now. Reconcile with those you have wronged or who have wronged you. Cleanse your heart of grudges. Make sincere repentance (Tawbah) so you enter the month with a clean slate.

Second: Intellectual Preparation. Set your goals. How many pages of Qur'an will you recite each day? Which chapters will you memorize? Which Islamic lectures or books will you study? Plan your time. Ramadan is a precious capital; do not let it slip through your fingers in distraction.

Third: Physical & Practical Preparation. Adjust your sleep schedule. Plan nutritious Sahoor meals. Be mindful of not overeating at Iftar, which contradicts the spirit of the fast. Be generous—prepare to give your Zakat al-Fitr and increase in charity. Remember the one who gives food to a fasting person to break his fast earns a reward like his, without diminishing the reward of the fasting person at all.

This month contains a night better than a thousand months—Laylat al-Qadr. Seek