إدريس عبدالله
_7 _January _2017هـ الموافق 7-01-2017م, 10:31 PM
All praise is due to Allah alone; may He send salutations and exalt the mention of the seal of all Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions.
A Muslim’s relationship with God is central to his belief. It should be the desire of every Muslim to draw nearer and closer to Almighty Allah the most Compassionate and the most Merciful. By drawing closer and near to Allah we gain his help in every aspect of our lives in this world and to be merciful to us so that we may gain mercy in the hereafter in order to enter Jannah in the next world.
It is from the mercy of Allah, the Exalted that He has legislated many deeds through which believer can assess his relationship with Allah. For someone to assess his relationship with Allah, he must ask himself, how great is my love for Allah? Do my love for Him supersedes any other type of love for any other object or creation? How is my relationship with His divine book? Do I among of those people who rarely touches the Quran? Alternatively, do you read daily, but don't find it is having the impact on you that it should? Do I among of those who are rarely observes the five obligatory prayers? By answering these questions and others, someone could be able to assess his relationship with Allah.
Relationship with Allah requires us to fulfill obligatory duties and abstain from all prohibited matters and to further demonstrate that relationship by following the Quran and the Sunnah. Whatever the case may be, let’s review some various aspects about making relationship with Allah and how we can build and nurture that relationship.
1 . The obligation to make relationship with Allah: Allah has made relationship with Him obligatory on the believers. Many of us find it easy to express that relationship verbally but unfortunately, our actions do not reflect that relationship with Him. How can we claim relationship with Allah when we take what He has revealed lightly, don’t follow His commands, and fail to make our behaviors reflect what pleases Him? As Ibn Taimiyyah stated in one of his books: Diseases of the heart, one of the reasons for this has to do with lack of right knowledge. To counter doubts, therefore, we need to firm up our beliefs, and we need a better overall spiritual perspective in order to counter desires and temptations. We also need to clear those doubts that hinder the instilling of that relationship with Allah by learning more and asking questions.
2 . Fulfilling obligatory duties and abstaining from all prohibited matters: the second thing we need to do to attain good relationship with Allah is fulfil all of our obligatory duties and abstain from that which Allah and his messenger have forbidden us. The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) has guided us. In addition, Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, has guided us how to draw near to Him. As He said According to Hadith Qudsi: “Whoever draws near to Me among those drawn nearby fulfilling what I have made obligatory on them…" You do not draw near to Allah except by fulfilling the obligatory duties which Allah has made obligatory on you; (that is) the obligatory duties from the obligatory duties (Faraid) such as Prayers, and Zakat (obligatory charity), and Hajj, and Fasting and being good to Parents and all these obligatory duties on you draw you near to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted. In addition, the faraid (obligatory duties) are the first things that draw you near to Allah. You do not reach the door of nearness nor do you reach to the presence of nearness except by fulfilling the obligatory duties. This is the first thing that draws you near to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, and you are in His Presence.
3 . Observing Nawafil prayers (supererogatory prayers): In one Hadith Qudsi, Allay says: " ….and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) 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..." [Bukhari].
4 . Building a close relationship with the Qur’an: In order to get closer to Allah and build good relationship with Him, we need to recite the Qur’an, understand it and implement it in our daily lives. We should recite the Holy Qur’aan as much as we can for It will come as an intercessor for its reciter’ on the Day of Judgement [Muslim]. In another Hadith, the prophet (peace be upon him) that, “Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the Qur’an) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it.” [Muslim]
5 . Voluntary fasting for the pleasure of Allah: Fasting in general and voluntary fasting in particular is a great worship. Fasting is not restricted to Ramadhan, but it is an act of worship that can be [and should be in some cases] performed at any time and at any place except when not recommended. Indeed, it is a worship that draws the believer closer to Allah and closer to perfection.
6 . Having good manners, character and being humble: One can never get close to Allah by being arrogant, full of pride and having a bad character and manners. Those who have humility, are humble, and have good character, manners are the closest to Allah, and Allah raises their ranks in the hereafter. If the ritual observances do not help the person to be humble, virtuous and truly God-fearing, then he or she is not a real Muslim. A Muslim should be good and just in dealing with others, no matter their religion, and take special care to keep away from all the shameful and sinful things Allah (God) has forbidden.
7 . 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.
8 . Calling upon Allah in Dua (supplication): Allah the most compassionate says in the Holy Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
"Call on Me. I will answer your prayer, but those who are too arrogant to serve me will surely find themselves humiliated in Hell" (Qur'an40:60). So let us build a close relationship with Allah by making much dua to him. He loves it when his slave calls upon him and it angers him if his slave does not call upon him.
9 . 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 Quran and Hadith), so that a person’s share of love is in accordance with his share of this remembrance.
Finally as the righteous say, "The love of Allah is the axis around which all good revolves." If you fall in love with Allah, and then strive to be true in your love--in accordance with the way of the Beloved of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), then you'll find nothing but increasing light and contentment in your life.
A Muslim’s relationship with God is central to his belief. It should be the desire of every Muslim to draw nearer and closer to Almighty Allah the most Compassionate and the most Merciful. By drawing closer and near to Allah we gain his help in every aspect of our lives in this world and to be merciful to us so that we may gain mercy in the hereafter in order to enter Jannah in the next world.
It is from the mercy of Allah, the Exalted that He has legislated many deeds through which believer can assess his relationship with Allah. For someone to assess his relationship with Allah, he must ask himself, how great is my love for Allah? Do my love for Him supersedes any other type of love for any other object or creation? How is my relationship with His divine book? Do I among of those people who rarely touches the Quran? Alternatively, do you read daily, but don't find it is having the impact on you that it should? Do I among of those who are rarely observes the five obligatory prayers? By answering these questions and others, someone could be able to assess his relationship with Allah.
Relationship with Allah requires us to fulfill obligatory duties and abstain from all prohibited matters and to further demonstrate that relationship by following the Quran and the Sunnah. Whatever the case may be, let’s review some various aspects about making relationship with Allah and how we can build and nurture that relationship.
1 . The obligation to make relationship with Allah: Allah has made relationship with Him obligatory on the believers. Many of us find it easy to express that relationship verbally but unfortunately, our actions do not reflect that relationship with Him. How can we claim relationship with Allah when we take what He has revealed lightly, don’t follow His commands, and fail to make our behaviors reflect what pleases Him? As Ibn Taimiyyah stated in one of his books: Diseases of the heart, one of the reasons for this has to do with lack of right knowledge. To counter doubts, therefore, we need to firm up our beliefs, and we need a better overall spiritual perspective in order to counter desires and temptations. We also need to clear those doubts that hinder the instilling of that relationship with Allah by learning more and asking questions.
2 . Fulfilling obligatory duties and abstaining from all prohibited matters: the second thing we need to do to attain good relationship with Allah is fulfil all of our obligatory duties and abstain from that which Allah and his messenger have forbidden us. The Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) has guided us. In addition, Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, has guided us how to draw near to Him. As He said According to Hadith Qudsi: “Whoever draws near to Me among those drawn nearby fulfilling what I have made obligatory on them…" You do not draw near to Allah except by fulfilling the obligatory duties which Allah has made obligatory on you; (that is) the obligatory duties from the obligatory duties (Faraid) such as Prayers, and Zakat (obligatory charity), and Hajj, and Fasting and being good to Parents and all these obligatory duties on you draw you near to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted. In addition, the faraid (obligatory duties) are the first things that draw you near to Allah. You do not reach the door of nearness nor do you reach to the presence of nearness except by fulfilling the obligatory duties. This is the first thing that draws you near to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, and you are in His Presence.
3 . Observing Nawafil prayers (supererogatory prayers): In one Hadith Qudsi, Allay says: " ….and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) 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..." [Bukhari].
4 . Building a close relationship with the Qur’an: In order to get closer to Allah and build good relationship with Him, we need to recite the Qur’an, understand it and implement it in our daily lives. We should recite the Holy Qur’aan as much as we can for It will come as an intercessor for its reciter’ on the Day of Judgement [Muslim]. In another Hadith, the prophet (peace be upon him) that, “Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the Qur’an) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it.” [Muslim]
5 . Voluntary fasting for the pleasure of Allah: Fasting in general and voluntary fasting in particular is a great worship. Fasting is not restricted to Ramadhan, but it is an act of worship that can be [and should be in some cases] performed at any time and at any place except when not recommended. Indeed, it is a worship that draws the believer closer to Allah and closer to perfection.
6 . Having good manners, character and being humble: One can never get close to Allah by being arrogant, full of pride and having a bad character and manners. Those who have humility, are humble, and have good character, manners are the closest to Allah, and Allah raises their ranks in the hereafter. If the ritual observances do not help the person to be humble, virtuous and truly God-fearing, then he or she is not a real Muslim. A Muslim should be good and just in dealing with others, no matter their religion, and take special care to keep away from all the shameful and sinful things Allah (God) has forbidden.
7 . 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.
8 . Calling upon Allah in Dua (supplication): Allah the most compassionate says in the Holy Quran:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
"Call on Me. I will answer your prayer, but those who are too arrogant to serve me will surely find themselves humiliated in Hell" (Qur'an40:60). So let us build a close relationship with Allah by making much dua to him. He loves it when his slave calls upon him and it angers him if his slave does not call upon him.
9 . 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 Quran and Hadith), so that a person’s share of love is in accordance with his share of this remembrance.
Finally as the righteous say, "The love of Allah is the axis around which all good revolves." If you fall in love with Allah, and then strive to be true in your love--in accordance with the way of the Beloved of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), then you'll find nothing but increasing light and contentment in your life.