In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
To be close to our Creator is a fundamental need of every human being and striving to achieve it can be the healing for our chaotic inner selves which, in turn, leads to Allah’s love, greater productivity, confidence, peace, satisfaction and joy.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨[Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd 13:28]
Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.(28)
Therefore, it is essential to exert effort in seeking closeness to the Creator. How? It requires a great desire and sincere intention to get closer to Allah, patience, consistency and avoid procrastination and doing nothing.
Let’s first consider our worth to Allah. If you want to know your worth to Allah, then see what you are doing with your life. Are you pleasing Allah or disappointing Allah?
Don’t like your answer?
Well, there is good news. The fact that you are seeking closeness to Allah means He wants you to remember Him. Taking the first step to gain closeness to Allah is a righteous deed. A righteous deed is like a pearl necklace – when it breaks, all the pearls follow one another quickly.
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that Allah said, “I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.” (Sahih Muslim).
We have to struggle to achieve great things. The harder the struggle is, the better the outcome becomes. Getting close to Allah may take time. We cannot expect everything to magically fall into place by doing a righteous deed. You need to depend on Allah and trust that what He has planned for you is the best you can have, for this life and the Hereafter.
There are a few areas you can start implementing now to begin this exciting journey towards Allah, and keep doing them and build upon them gradually:
1. Du’a (Supplication)
Don't forget that we always need Allah’s help to guide us. When we get too caught up with dunya (this life) we often think we can do it on our own without His help. We have to know that nothing changes without the might and power of Allah. We need to ask Him for His help, even if it is to get closer to Him, or become better at worshiping Him. We need to seek refuge in Allah in everything. It could be negative thoughts we have, our lack of productivity or even our lack of faith. We need to ask Allah to help us and guide us to the Straight Path. Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:186]
And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. (186)
2. Stay Away from Poisons and Avoid What Allah has Forbidden
You need to get any poisons out of your life. Poison has many forms. Stay away from anything that is displeasing to Allah.
If you are around friends with whom you tend to waste time or do things that are displeasing to Allah, then you need to keep away from those people. If you have friends who make you sin, you need to get them out of your life, including removing them from your social media network.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might singe your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of the furnace.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
3. Get to Know Allah Through His 99 Beautiful Names and Attributes
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.
Wanting to get closer alone won’t do you any good without falling in love with your Creator. Witnessing His generosity, His benevolence, His favors and blessings, both hidden and open, for these things call to His love.
Start with the name of Al-Wadud, the Ever-Loving. Allah’s love for you is unconditional. He does not need or want anything from you in return. He loves you so He keeps giving you even if you disobey Him. Ask Allah with His 99 Names.
He is the One who is closest to you (Qareeb). So ask Him to bring you closer to Him. Call on Him using the name Al-Wadud and ask Him to love you more and make you love Him more. It’s as simple as that. We tend to overthink stuff and forget that if we seek refuge in Allah, He will make everything easier on us.
Abu Hurayra narrates that the Prophet (Allah bles him and grant him peace) said, “If Allah loves a person, He calls Jibril saying, ‘Allah loves so and-so; O Jibril, Love him.’ Gabriel would love him and make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of the Heaven. ‘Allah loves so-and-so, therefore you should love him also,’ and so all the inhabitants of the Heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
4. Keep Good Company
Surround yourself with people who remind you of Allah. Attend religious gatherings in the masjid or you can even create your own gathering of remembrance. The more you remember Allah, the more He will remember you. See what happens when you are sitting in a gathering that is filled with Allah’s remembrance.
Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
“Whenever some people gather in one of Allah’s houses (mosques) to recite the book of Allah and study it among themselves – then calmness (tranquility) descends upon them, the angels surround them, mercy covers them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him.” [Sahih Muslim]
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.
5. Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
Remembering Allah is essential in achieving closeness to Him. 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.
Look outside your window and say SubhanAllah about His beautiful creations. The most elegant form of remembering Allah is by reflecting on His creations.
6. Use Blessings For What It Is Intended For
Use everything that Allah has blessed you with for His remembrance and worship.
Examples:
- Use the blessing of your intelligence to know Allah, not to come up with useless things and things that distract you or others from Allah.
- Use the blessing of your eyesight to read various Islamic texts and books of knowledge, and not to look at forbidden things.
- Use the blessing of your hearing to listen to good speech, not listen to gossip and those matters that does not concern you. Remember, the best of speeches is the Qur'an.
- Use the blessing of your tongue to say good, or remain silent, and not to argue or utter bad speech.
Use the blessing of your hands to give, help others and do beneficial things, and not to do forbidden things or harm others.
- Use the blessing of your touch to caress the unfortunate orphans and helpless creatures.
- Use the blessing of your legs to walk to good places. Remember the most loved place by Allah is the masjid and the most hated place to Allah is the marketplace.
7. Be Dutiful to Your Parents (even after their death), Keep Family Ties and Do Not Sever Family Ties
Allah Almighty says,
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ﴿٢٣[Qur'an Al-Isra’ 17:23]
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23)
In a report cited by Imam al-Bukhari in his famous work al-Adab al-Mufrad, it read, “A man approached the Prophet asking, “Is there anything I must do in terms of kindness towards my parents after their death?” The Prophet replied, “Yes, there are four things for you to do: Praying and asking forgiveness of Allah on their behalf, fulfilling their promises, respecting their friends, and fostering their ties of kinship…”
Upholding and honoring the ties of kinship is one of the most distinctive characteristics of true believers and one of the prominent traits of Allah's beloved Messenger sallallahu alayhi wassallam. His wife, Khadijah radhiAllahu anha said to Allah's Messenger while trying to comfort him after receiving his Prophethood, “Nay! Allah will never disgrace you. You uphold the ties of kinship...” [Agreed upon].
The Messenger linked it to worship of Allah itself, indicating its utmost significance. In a hadith narrated by Umar Ibn Absah, he asked the Messenger, “With what has Allah sent you?” He replied, “He has sent me to uphold ties of kinship, to break idols, and to proclaim the Oneness of Allah with nothing associated with Him” [Muslim].
Abdullah ibn Salam says: When the Prophet came to Madinah al-Tayyibah and I presented myself before him, the very first words from him which fell into my ears were: "0 men, make a practice of greeting each other with salaam, and feed people (for the pleasure of Allah), and treat near relations well, and pray by night while people sleep - you will enter Paradise in peace.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) put great emphasis on bonds of kinship. He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Whoever likes to have his livelihood made plentiful and his age extended for him should maintain good relations with his near of kin."
Dutifulness to kinship is therefore one of the greatest and loftiest good deeds that bring us closer to Allah.
Stern warnings are given to those with the attitude of cold-shouldering or severing of blood relationships. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
1. A breaker of (blood) relationships shall not enter Paradise.
2. Mercy shall not descend upon a people among whom there is a breaker of (blood) relationships.
Anyone who severs ties of kinship, Allah cuts him off. "Mercy does not descend on a people when there is someone among them who severs ties of kinship." [Bukhari] How lost will they then become?
Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَآءً ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا ﴿١[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:1]
O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. (1)
How lost will they then become?
Also, be mindful of your duties to your family, neighbors and those who have rights upon you. Be kind to orphans, the needy and the poor. Be kind to animals and protect the environment as much as you are able.
8. Follow the Sunnah of Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
By following the Sunnah of our Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) we will gain the love of Allah. When you gain the love of Allah, you will get closer to him. Following the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) will make you a better person. You will have better manners and ethics.
Allah says so in the Qu’ran:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣١[Qur'an, AleImran 3:31]
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (31)
Don't postpone to study the Seerah. Once you get to know him (Allah bless him and grant him peace), you will fall in love with him. After all, he was the best of creation and a mercy to all mankind.
9. Stay Connected with the Qur’an
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has complained to Allah Almighty against those who abandon the Qur'an and turn away from it.
وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا ﴿٣٠[Qur'an Al-Furqan 25:30]
And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (30)
Don't be one of them.
Reading or memorizing the Qur’an alone is not enough. Understand and act upon what you read is key. Try your best to act the way we were asked to in the Qur’an. Strive for the best. Reflect on its meanings; it will give you answers to your daily life’s complications. When you read the Qur’an and understand it more you will be more likely to reach the level of ihsan (excellence). You will want to do everything right. In the form of a man, Jibril (peace be upon him) once entered a gathering where the Prophet(Alah bless him and grant him peace) was sitting. One of the questions the angel asked was to elaborate on the term “ihsan”, Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “That you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you don’t see Him then truly He sees you.”(Bukhari and Muslim)
Muslims don't have free time. We should stay productive, seek knowledge and rush to good deeds.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ ﴿٢٩[Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd 13:29]
Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and work righteousness, Tuba (all kinds of happiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return. (29)
The more you love Allah, the more you will do to get closer to Him. The more you get closer to Him, the more He will get closer to you. The more you will want to learn about His Book and the Sunnah and want to get even closer to Him, the closer you will become to reaching the level of ihsan. When you reach that level you will feel Allah’s love and you will be satisfied with everything He gives you. You will be productive because you won’t want to waste time without pleasing Allah. You will be confident in anything that you do in your life, because you will have complete trust in Allah.
10. Develop Perfect Sincerity in Your Actions
Keeping distant from everything that comes between the heart and between Allah, the Mighty and the Majestic.
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[Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:59]
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)
11. Be 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.
Allah has praised those who wake up at night for His remembrance, supplication, and to seek forgiveness and entreat Him, saying,
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿١٦﴾ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٧[Qur'an, As-Sajda, 32:16-17]
They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (16) And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. (17)
Abu Salama ibn 'Abdu'r-Rahman related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
Every night, when a third of the night remains, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven saying, 'Is there anyone calling on Me that I may answer him? Is there anyone asking anything of Me that I may give it to him? Is there anyone asking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him? [Bukhari]
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.
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 worshiper 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]
May Allah guide us on the path that takes us closer to Him. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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