Getting close to our Creator Allah is a fundamental need of every human being. This is the essence of being. Therefore, it is essential to exert mindful effort in seeking closeness to, and blessings from, your Creator. We need to struggle to achieve great things. ِِِAnd the harder the struggle is, the better the outcome becomes. Allah says:
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps [that] you dislike a thing and it (is) good for you; and perhaps [that] you love a thing and it (is) bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
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. Getting close to Allah takes time. We cannot expect everything to magically fall into place by doing one righteous deed. You need to depend on Allah. Always trust that what He has planned for you is the best you can have, for this life and the hereafter. Allah says:
لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا
“(Does) not love Allah the public mention of [the] ev [of] [the] words except (by the one) who has been wronged. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:148)
Being productive is very important as a Muslim. It is a sign of Allah’s mercy that you have come to seek beneficial knowledge from websites like this one. A righteous deed is like a pearl necklace – when it breaks, all the pearls follow one another quickly. Allah says:
فَآتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ الْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“So Allah rewarded them (in) the world and good reward (in) the Hereafter. And Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:148)
God is Al-Wadud, the Origin of Love. God does not start loving you to stop loving you, because His Love is Eternal and has no beginning to have an end. Love is not something God does, love is something God is. Love is a part of God’s Essence; you cannot separate love from God, any more than you can separate water from the ocean. God is not motivated or moved by human emotions, good deeds, or sins.
Steps to Get You Closer to Allah (SWT)
Getting closer to Allah requires a few things from you:
- Strong intention to get closer to Allah
- Patience
- Consistency
- Avoid doing nothing or doing things, not for the sake of Allah
We are given the choice to respond to Allah’s love by loving and worshipping Him, but our unwillingness to honour Allah does not change His love for us. Whereas the human being can be kind, God is Kindness (Ar-Ra’uf); where we can be merciful, God is Mercy (Ar-Rahman). God is not just forgiving, He is Forgiveness (Al-Ghaffur); He is not just peaceful, He is Peace (As-Salam). God’s love and attributes do not change in response to our choices because God is not reactive. He is the cause of everything in existence.
Here are some virtues of Loving Allah Almighty:
- Loving Allah is the follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
- Loving Allah is seeking Allah’s forgiveness and repenting
- Loving Allah is the principal for knowing Allah’s Lordship
- Loving Allah should be in the hearts of humans forever
- Loving Allah feel happiness, blessings, success in life
- Loving Allah is a source of nourishment of our souls
- Loving Allah is the seek knowledge and taking action
- Loving Allah being continuous in the remembrance
- Loving Allah is to stay connected to the Quran
- Loving Allah is the noblest and greatest deed
- Loving Allah is greater than that of anything
- Loving Allah is uncountable virtues
- Loving Allah is the pure worship
- Loving Allah is listening to Islamic lectures
- Loving Allah is happiness and success in life
- Loving Allah is the root and essence of Tawheed
- Loving Allah will be the source of every other love
- Loving Allah through fulfilling the obligatory duties
- Loving Allah greatly helps a person to abandon sins
- Loving Allah is a consolation at times of misfortunes
- Loving Allah is to be humble and submissive before Allah
- Loving Allah helps a person refrain from committing sins
- Loving Allah must be associated with glorifying and exalting Him
Love should be the driving force that motivates us to obey Allah, while our love is also pushed along by a healthy combination of fear and hope. Practice: When we are kind and loving to others reflecting God’s Love upon the Earth, we are more able to receive the unconditional love of God. Reach out to someone you love with a call or text and just let them know what they mean to you.
Here are some tips to achieve closeness to Allah:
- Dua (Supplication): We forget that we need Allah’s help and strength 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 need to ask Allah to help us and guide us to the Straight Path. Allah says in the Qur’an: “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.” (Quran 2:186)
- Stay Away from Poisons: You need to get any poisons out of your life. Poison has many forms. Fix your heart, by staying away from anything that Allah doesn’t love. “And put your trust in Allah, if you are believers indeed.” (Quran 5:23). If you are around friends that make you sin and make you disappoint Allah, then you need to get them out of your life.
- Get to Know Allah [SWT] Through His Beautiful Names: We fall in love with people as we get to know them more and realize that they have a lot of beautiful qualities and characteristics. Of course, Allah is above any analogy, but you need to know Him more. Wanting to get closer won’t do you any good on its own. “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us.” (Quran 9:51). You must learn to fall in love with your Creator. 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 and so He keeps giving you even if you disobey Him. Ask Allah with His Names.
- Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah): Remembering Allah is essential in achieving closeness to Him. You can remember him by engaging in dhikr (remembrance) and tasbeeh (praise). “But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.” (Quran 25: 31)
- Follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad: By following the Sunnah of our prophet 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 makes you a better person. You will have better behaviours and ethics. Read more about the Prophet; fall in love with your Messenger. After all, he was a mercy to all mankind. “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)
- Stay Connected to the Quran: Reading or memorizing the Qur’an alone is not enough. Understand it and act upon it. Try your best to act the way we are asked to in the Qur’an. Allah says so in the Qu’ran: “Verily with hardship, there is a relief.” (Quran 96:6). Reflect on its meanings; it will give you answers to your daily life’s complications. When you read the Qur’an and work to understand it better you are more likely to reach the level of Ihsan. You will want to do everything right. “To Allah belongs the most beautiful names.” (Quran 7:180)
The love of Allah reaches all people and all creatures through His innumerable acts of mercy to His creation. Every day we are the recipients of some blessings, whether it is in our health, our wealth, our family, our sustenance, our answered prayers, or even hidden favours we cannot perceive. Allah says:
وَلَا تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا
“And (do) not argue for those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah (does) not love (the one) who is treacherous (and) sinful.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:107)
Reading or memorizing the Qur’an alone is not enough. Understand it and act upon it. Try your best to act the way we are asked to in the Qur’an. Reflect on its meanings; it will give you answers to your daily life’s complications. May Allah guide us to the path that takes us closer to Him. Ameen.
