Seeking Closeness To Allah Almighty

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

If we are closer to Allah, we will enjoy numerous benefits in this life and the hereafter. If Allah is happy with us, He will respond to our supplication faster, He will protect us from the challenges of this life, and in general, we can enjoy a better life.

Seeking closeness to Allah comes through following the teachings of His beloved Messenger, Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wassallam.

Narrated by Abu Hurayra: Allah’s Apostle (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

Allah, the Exalted, said,

I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of mine. and the most beloved things with which my slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him;

And my slave keeps on coming closer to me through performing Nawafil (Prayer or Doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks;

And if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks my protection, I will protect him; and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him. [Bukhari]

We can seek closeness to Allah through actions such as the following:

Avoid what Allah has forbidden

Be dutiful to parents and keep your relations

Be kind to orphans, the needy and the poor

Be kind to His creation

Optional acts of worship, after the obligatory ones, can get us closer to Him and furthers the love of Allah beyond what is achieved through the sincere worship through obligatory acts.

Recitation of Qur'an with reflection and understanding of its meanings and what is intended by it. This also enables us to know Allah using His own words.

Constant remembrance in every circumstance by the tongue, the heart, actions and (one’s) condition (based only on sanctioned forms of remembrance as described in the Qur'an and Hadith), so that a person’s share of love is in accordance with his share of this remembrance.

Preferring Allah’s love over your own when desires overcome you and climbing to reach His love, even if the ascent is difficult.

The heart’s comprehension of His Names and Attributes, witnessing them and having knowledge of them, to immerse himself in the garden of this knowledge and its fundamental pillars. Whoever knows Allah by His Names, Attributes and Actions, will, no doubt, love Him.

Witnessing His generosity, His benevolence, His favors and blessings, both hidden and open, for these things call to His love.

The heart’s total defeat and humility in front of Allah, the Most High.

Being alone at the Time of the Descent of Allah (during Tahajjud) for having private conversations with Him, reciting His Words, investigating the heart, displaying the manners of servitude whilst in front of Him and then to seal all of that with seeking forgiveness and repentance.

Sitting with the truthful lovers (of Allah) and gathering the good fruits (arising) from their speech, just as one picks out the best of fruits; however, you do not speak except when the benefit of the speech prevails and when you know that there is a betterment for you and benefit for others in it.

Keeping distant from everything that comes between the heart and between Allah, the Mighty and the Majestic.

Develop perfect sincerity in your actions, and so on.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّـهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّـهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا ﴿٥٩

O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result. (59)

[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:59]

May Allah grant us tawfiq and bring us closer to Him. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam