NYU Islamic Center Podcasts · Islamic Center at New York University

Increasing Mindfulness Before Ramadan Khutbah by Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer

·33 min·2 clips

“It’s as if I can see myself standing in front of You.”

The khutbah begins in devotional language, with praise, seeking refuge, and repeated invocation before settling into its main concern: the coming of Ramadan. The speaker says the community should focus on taqwa and on increasing its relationship, understanding, and awareness of Allah. He recalls that a couple of weeks earlier he had started looking at one of Imam Ahmad's supplications as Ramadan approached. The talk then returns to the same spiritual ground from another angle, stressing that the purpose of Ramadan and of life in this dunya is to increase taqwa. The phrase lakum tattaqoon is treated as the month’s aim. The speaker explains taqwa as awareness and God-consciousness, being mindful of Allah at every moment. He then moves to the highest level of that awareness through the words of Imam Ali. Those words are presented as the image of a person standing before Allah and seeing themselves in that position clearly, while also feeling humbled by their dependence on Him. From there, the speaker turns to divine generosity and the way Allah gives beyond what people deserve. A guest image is used to make the point clear: even a difficult guest is not turned away from a generous home. The same logic is applied to the month of Ramadan, which is described as a guest in the believer's life. The point is not to lower the standard, but to recognize that mercy makes striving meaningful. The speaker insists that believers should still aim to be the best of the best. He returns again to Imam Ali's language of weakness before divine mercy. That language is used to show both humility and confidence in Allah's kindness. The khutbah then widens back out to the practical aim of entering Ramadan well. The desired outcome is to arrive among those who reach the best nights of the holy month. The closing moves toward forgiveness, purification of the heart, and readiness for what comes next. It asks Allah for the ability to take inspiration from the upcoming nights and become people who make a real difference. The ending returns to prayer and Qur'anic recitation, sealing the talk in the same devotional frame where it began.

As heard by us

A steady Ramadan reminder that taqwa, mercy, and accountability belong together.

This Ramadan khutbah keeps its focus tight: taqwa, self-accountability, and mercy. It moves from devotional opening language to Imam Ali's words, then into ordinary life with one plain but effective image, the guest who makes a mess is still a guest.

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Why you'd press play

You want a pre-Ramadan reminder centered on taqwa, mercy, and showing up more awake.

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