Friday khutba – 13 February 2026 (25 Shaʿbān 1447 AH)
How to Welcome Ramadan
All praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, and that Muhammad (salla lláhu ʻalayhi wa sallam) is His servant and Messenger.
“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak words of righteousness. He will rectify your deeds and forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great success.” (33:70–71)
Dear brothers and sisters,
In only a few days, the Muslim Ummah will receive a noble and beloved guest. Hearts yearn for his arrival. Souls rejoice in anticipation. Every believer hopes to witness him and to partake in the immense goodness and blessings he carries.
That honored guest is the blessed month of Ramadan — a month distinguished by Allah with unique virtues and immense rewards, unlike any other time of the year.
If we wish to welcome this month in a manner worthy of its greatness, we must prepare ourselves properly.
The first and most important preparation is sincere supplication. Let our hearts be filled with the duʿā’:
“O Allah, allow us to reach Ramadan and bless us in it.”
Ramadan itself is a tremendous gift. If Allah grants His servant the ability to fast its days, stand in prayer during its nights, and increase in obedience, this is a blessing that demands gratitude. The true success is not merely to live until Ramadan, but to live through it in righteousness.
Through sincere devotion, a believer may surpass others in rank. It is reported that a man once outstripped his martyred companion in status simply because he lived longer, witnessed another Ramadan, and increased in worship.
Part of proper preparation is to welcome Ramadan with joy. It is a month of mercy, forgiveness, and multiplied rewards. Allah says:
“In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy — in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.” (10:58)
The Prophet (salla lláhu ʻalayhi wa sallam) used to give glad tidings of Ramadan to his companions. He described it as a blessed month — blessed in its time, blessed in its worship, and blessed through the revelation of the Qur’an.
The fasting person experiences two joys: one at the time of breaking the fast, and the greater joy upon meeting his Lord. And we witness one of the signs of Ramadan’s blessing when mosques overflow with worshippers during its nights.
Among the greatest matters to reflect upon before Ramadan is the power of sincere intention. A truthful intention may reach heights that actions alone cannot. Whoever intends good but is prevented from fulfilling it will still receive its reward.
So renew your intention now. Make a firm resolve to fast the entire month, to stand in night prayer, and to draw nearer to Allah. Set clear goals: How much of the Qur’an will you read? How often will you engage in dhikr? What charity will you give? Which family ties will you repair?
Ask yourself honestly: What does Allah see in my heart today? A sincere longing to return to Him? Or distraction and heedlessness?
Allah says: “And if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.” (47:21)
A believer does not enter Ramadan casually. He enters it with repentance. For Ramadan is the month of forgiveness. The gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.
Sins weigh heavily upon the heart. They deprive a person of the sweetness of worship. Therefore, begin this month with sincere tawbah — repentance that cleanses the soul.
True repentance is completed by purifying the heart. Ramadan is the opportunity to remove envy, hatred, and resentment. It is the time to mend broken relationships and strengthen family ties so that we may be worthy of Allah’s mercy.
Ramadan is a profitable trade for the believer — and no wise person wastes a profitable opportunity. Its days are limited and precious. It is the month of fasting, charity, feeding the needy, reciting the Qur’an, night prayer, and Laylat al-Qadr — a night better than a thousand months.
ʿUmrah in Ramadan equals Hajj with the Prophet (salla lláhu ʻalayhi wa sallam). How then can its days be wasted in heedlessness or idle entertainment?
At the same time, knowledge is essential. Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, and worship without knowledge is incomplete. Learn the rulings of fasting before Ramadan begins. Teach your children. Encourage them. Instill in their hearts love for this blessed month.
One of the greatest threats to the spirit of Ramadan today is the careless waste of time — especially through excessive use of the internet and social media. Ramadan is only a limited number of days, and time is the most valuable asset a person possesses.
Surround yourself with righteous company — people who remind you of Allah, who encourage prayer, who inspire you to read the Qur’an.
And do not restrict yourself to personal reform alone. Use Ramadan to invite others to goodness. Hearts are softer in this month, more open to guidance. And guiding even one person is better than the entire world and all it contains.
In conclusion, Ramadan is a rare and precious opportunity — as our righteous predecessors understood well. They would pray for six months asking Allah to allow them to reach Ramadan. Then they would pray for another six months asking Him to accept it from them.
We ask Allah the Most High to grant us life until Ramadan, to help us fast its days and stand in its nights, to grant us sincere repentance and purified hearts, to accept our deeds, and to make us among those freed from the Fire.
