Khaled Abou El Fadl: "Longing for God and the Transformative Power of the Word," Khutbah 6.24.2016

In this continuation of powerful Ramadan khutbahs, Dr. Abou El Fadl challenges Muslims to reflect upon the transformative power of the remembrance of God and the Word--the Words of the Qur'an, which include Compassion, Mercy, Love, Kindness, Justice--and asks why these same words, which built an entire Islamic civilization at its height, now cease to move modern Muslims. He reminds us that Ramadan is not just a time for fasting, eating, praying and then going back to life as usual. It is a time for reflection, pause, renewal, and belief in the miracles of transformation that can come from God and the act of one's will. He reminds us that when we pray to God, God and God's angels pray back; and as we long for God, God longs back and wants to assist and enable us to come out of darkness and into the light, to emerge as better human beings. For those who want to believe, God is most merciful. He reminds us that historically and statistically, Ramadan was the month when Muslims produced the most change and good for all of humanity, and that in the remaining days of Ramadan, transformation is not just possible, but necessary, and more importantly, can be beautiful and miraculous.