10 Steps to Gain the
Pleasure and Love of Allaah
The utmost desire of every
Muslim should be to attain pleasure and love of Allaah SWT, as Allaah SWT
created mankind for no purpose than to worship Him (Allaah). By drawing closer
and near to Allah we gain His help and pleasure 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.
When we call upon him he would answer our
calls and when we ask of him for anything he would give it to us and when we
draw nearer to him then our sincerity and intentions will enable us to become
closer to him. So we should strive to draw nearer to Allah, the Glorified the
Exalted, who is the majesty of honour and generosity and the giver of peace,
the most high and the most honoured.
The following are 10 steps for us to gain the
pleasure and love of the Almighty Allah:
1.
Fulfilling obligatory duties and abstaining from prohibited matters
The Prophet (SAW) has guided us. And Allah
(SWT), has guided us how to draw near to Him. As He said According to Hadith
Qudsi:
“Whoever draws near to Me
among those drawn near by fulfilling what I have made obligatory on them….
To gain the pleasure and love
of Allaah SWT, it is incumbent on us (Muslims) to fulfill our obligatory deeds such
as Prayers, and Zakat (obligatory charity), and Hajj, and Fasting and being
dutiful to Parents and abstain from the forbidden acts like dishonesty,
gossiping, backbiting, slandering, stealing, illegal boyfriend girlfriend
relationship, fornication, adultery, disobedience to parent
2.
Nawafil prayers (superogatory prayers)
To gain the pleasure of
Allaah SWT, we should engage in frequent optional prayers, as that will draw us
close to Allaah, and is a means of gaining the love of Allaah.
Allah says in Hadith
Qudsi:….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]
The Prophet SAW said: "Ask
(anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in
paradise." The Prophet said: “Anything else?" Rabi'ah said:
"That is it." The Prophet SAW said to him: "Then help me by
making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)." [Muslim]
….bow down in prostration
and bring yourself the closer (to Allah)." (96:19)
3.
Zikr (remembrance of Allah) and glorification of Allah
Remembrance of Allah is the
foundation of all good deeds. Whoever succeeds in it is blessed with the close
friendship of Allah.
"…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do
hearts find rest." (13:28), Remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest
virtue. (29:46), O ye who believe, remember Allah much. And glorify Him morning
and evening (33:42-43)
Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (RA)
reported: The Prophet (SAW) said, "The similitude of one who remembers his
Rubb and one who does not remember Him, is like that of the living and the
dead.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Some very rewarding dhikr
include: Subhan'Allah- 'Praise be to Allah', Al-Hamdullilah- 'Thanks be to Allah',
Allahu Akbar – 'Allah is the Greatest.', La ila ha illallah- There is no worthy
of worship except Allah, Subhanallahi Wabihamdihi - I deem Allah free of any
resemblances to anything whatever in any repeat, and I glorify his praises.
In fact the heart of the believer should be
attached to Allah's remembrance throughout his day to day activities such that
he protects himself from falling in love with the materials and temptations of
this world and that his love for Allah and his Messenger grows stronger and
stronger as time goes by. When a person begins to remember Allah all the time
it is then that he becomes conscious of his actions. His heart also gains
peace, tranquility, contentment and happiness!
"... And the men and the women who
remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allah has prepared for them
forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Jannah).'' (33:35)
4.
Calling upon Allah in Dua (supplication)
In order to build a close relationship with
Allah we should always call upon him in all situations and circumstances
whether we are happy or sad and we should ask him for all of our needs as well
as help and guidance in all aspects of our lives.
Allah the most compassionate says in the Holy
Quran, "Call on Me. I will answer your prayer, but those who are too
arrogant to serve me will surely find themselves humiliated in Hell"
(40:60).
"Call upon your Lord Humbly and in
secret" (Quran 7:55),
"When My servants question thee
concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every
supplicant when he calls on Me" (Quran 2:186),
"Is not He (best) who listens to the
(soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering."
(Quran 27:62)
Dua’s are never wasted
Aisha RA said, "No
believer makes Dua and it is wasted. Either it is granted here in this world or
deposited for him in the Hereafter as long as he does not get frustrated."
In fact, it is even wrong
to never make Dua, "Whosoever does not supplicate to Allah, He will be
angry with Him." [Saheeh Jaami`as-Sagheer #2414]
Dua is a weapon for the
believers
Rasullullah is reported to
have said, “Dua is the weapon of a Muslim”.
"The supplication that
gets the quickest answer is the one made by one Muslim for another in his
absence." [Abu Daw'ud and Tirmidhi]
Let us have full hope that
our dua’s will be accepted and if you think they won’t they know Allah is
keeping the rewards for you in the hereafter and those rewards are so great
that one would wish that none of the duas were accepted in this world just so
that one can gain all the rewards for their duas in the next world.
5.
Building a close relationship with the Qur’an
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]
Learn the Qur’an and recite it, because the
example of one who learns the Qur’an, reads it and recites it in Tahajjud is
like an open bag full of musk whose fragrance permeates the entire place. And
the person who has learnt the Qur’an but sleeps while the Qur’an is in the
heart is like a bag full of musk but with its mouth closed.
“There is no envy
(acceptable) except in two (cases): a person whom Allah has given the Qur’an
and recites it throughout the night and throughout the day. And a person whom
Allah has given wealth, that he gives out throughout the night and throughout
the day.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Virtues of Surah Fathiha
The Prophet said, 'In the Fatiha of the
Qur'an, there is a cure for all maladies (illnesses)' [Darimi 3236, also
narrated by Ad-Darmi in his Al-Masnad and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’bul Imaan, Tafseer
Mazhari 1:30]
Surah Al-Fatihah is
equivalent to two thirds of the Qur'an [Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Haakim, Tafseer
Mazhari 1:31]
Reading, understanding and
implementing the Qur’an in our daily lives
The virtues of reciting the
Qur’an are too numerous to list. In order to gain the pleasure of Allah SWT we
need to recite the Qur’an, understand it and implement it in our daily lives.
We should make a target of
reading at least a chapter a day. If one can’t manage that then at least half a
chapter. If one still can’t manage that then recite at least quarter of a
chapter or even a page a day. However much we can manage we should try to
recite each day with its meanings and implement what we learn into our daily
lives.
Reading a little each day is better than
reciting a lot once in a while. We should build a close relationship with the
Qur’an which is in fact building a close relationship with Allah!
6. Keeping good company
The Prophet (saws) said, “The
case of the good companion and the bad companion is like that of the seller of
musk and the blower of the bellows (iron-smith). As for the seller of musk, he
will either give you some of the musk, or you will purchase some from him, or
at least you will come away having experienced its good smell. Whereas the
blower of the bellows will either burn your clothing, or at least you will come
away having experienced its repugnant smell.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
We should be very mindful of the people we associate
ourselves with, because we can be easily influenced by friends, we should avoid
taking friends who speak too freely, who miss Salah, who do not dress modestly,
who backbite, slander etc. we should befriend people who will remind us of
salat, fast, put us right when we wrong, share verses of the Quran with us, etc
We should seek out pious
friends who fear Allah SWT and who have the qualities of humility, charity,
compassion, modesty and knowledge. If we sit with them we will always benefit
and they will be a means for us to get closer to Allah SWT.
Remember: “All friends will
be enemies of one another on that Day (Day of Judgment) except those of the
virtuous.” (al-Qur’an 43:67)
7.
Having fear and hope in Allah
Fear and hope, both should be equally
proportioned in our hearts, in our worship, and in our dua to Allah. Allah
says: Call out to Him with fear and
hope. (Surat al-Araaf 7:56)
One must be hopeful of
Allah`s mercy and forgiveness and fearful of His punishment. It is this fear
that should lead one to seek Allah`s forgiveness with hope. Allah says: “Know
that Allah is severe in punishment and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
(Surat al-Maaidah 5:98)
In the above verse, Allah
gives us reason to fear because His punishment is justly severe, as well as
good reason to have hope, since He is the Most Forgiving and Merciful. There
should be a balance between fear and hope and not too much or too less of one
or the other. We should always remain between fear and hope. For, the right and
the approved kind of fear is that which acts as a barrier between the slave and
the things forbidden by Allah. But, if fear is excessive, then the possibility
is that the man will fall into despair and pessimism.
On the other hand the
approved state of optimism is of a man who does good in the light of the
Shari'ah and is hopeful of being rewarded for it. Or, conversely, if a man
committed a sin, he repents sincerely, and is hopeful of being forgiven. Allah
(SWT) said:
"Verily, those who believed, and those
who migrated and fought in the way of Allah, it is they who are hopeful of
Allah's mercy. And Allah is very Forgiving, very Merciful." (Al-Baqarah,
218)
They forsake their beds to
call their Lord in fear and hope. (Surat as-Sajdah 32:16)
8.
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 Allaah SWT and closer to
perfection.
Fasting Mondays and Thursdays:
`Aa'ishah said: The Messenger of Allah SWT,
used to fast Mondays and Thursdays". [An-Nasaa’i; Sahih]
Abu Hurairah reported that the most the
Prophet SAW, would fast would be Monday and Thursday. He was asked about that
and he said: "The deeds of people are presented to Allah on every Monday
and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim except for those who are deserting
each other. He says: "leave them for later." [Ahmad; Hasan]
Fasting three days of every
month (White days):
Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: "The Messenger
of Allah, SAW, said "O Abu Tharr! If you fast three days of every month,
then fast the 13th, the 14th and the 15th [these are call the al-ayaam
al-beedh, the white days]". [Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i and at-Tirmithi; Sahih]
“Fasting and the Qur’an
will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: ‘O
My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for
him.’ And the Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleep during the night, so
accept my intercession for him.’ He SAW said: ‘And they will (be allowed to)
intercede.’” [Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih]
So let us get closer to
Allah by fasting Mondays and Thursdays or at least 3 days every month on the
14th,15th and 16th. If we leave something for the pleasure of Allah then we
will get MUCH greater in return!
9. Sincerely repenting to Allah
Allah says: O son of Adam, if your sins were
to reach the clouds of the sky and you would then seek My forgiveness, I would
forgive you.
When a person sins and then
sincerely turns to Allah for forgiveness, one will find Allah ready to accept
his repentance and to forgive him. Everyone commits sin and does wrong, but
Allah is always willing to forgive and He always gives them a chance to repent
and seek His forgiveness. A believer should never forget the fact that Allah is
so forgiving. If Allah had willed, He could have held everyone accountable for
his or her sins, but He has decreed that He shall allow His servants to seek
His forgiveness and that He shall in fact forgive who and what He wills. In
fact, Allah commands that His servants seek His forgiveness:
And seek Allah`s
forgiveness. Certainly, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surat al-Muzzammil
73:20)
Repentance is an act, which purifies the soul
and brings the servant closer to Allah. It puts the heart at rest from guilt.
It protects one from falling prey to his desires and lusts and increases his
faith.
We must ask ourselves this question: Would we
be willing to forgive anyone who hurts us and disobeys us constantly as easily
as Allah is Able to forgive? Most probably, the answer would be no. But our
Creator is the Most Kind and He is the Most Perfect.
In Hadithi Qudsi, mankind
is encouraged to seek Allah`s forgiveness and repent, but there are five
conditions of repentance, which must be met for ones repentance to be accepted.
They are:
1.
The act of
repentance must be sincerely for the sake of Allah alone.
2.
The person must
feel remorse and guilt over his actions so much so that he wished he had never
done it in the first place.
3.
The person must
immediately cease performing the wrong and sinful act.
4.
The repenting
person must have a firm intention to never commit the sin again.
5.
The person must
repent before it is too late, meaning before death approaches.
However, there is a
condition. One must not associate any partners with Allah, which is shirk. And
Allah does not forgive shirk and if one dies without believing in Allah alone
as ones Creator, then he will be doomed to the Hellfire for all of eternity.
Allah`s forgiveness and
mercy is far greater and vaster than the sins of the creation. One must always
have trust and hope in Allah in both good times and bad times and especially
when seeking Allah`s forgiveness. And the believer who calls out to his Lord
for forgiveness demonstrates his true weakness and that he is totally dependent
on the Creator.
When one confesses his sins
to Allah and sincerely repents with hope in Allah`s mercy, the heart should
come to peace and the soul should feel rest. When a person has hope, he has no
reason to despair because it only leads to destruction. Allah gives hope to
all, especially those who despair that there is no reason to despair because
Allah is the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy. Allah praises those who
repent and turn to Him:
And those who, when they commit a lewd act or
wrong themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins
and who forgives sins except Allah? And they do not persist in what (wrong)
they were doing while they knew it. For such, the reward is forgiveness from
their Lord and Gardens with rivers flowing through, wherein they shall abide
forever. How excellent is the reward of the doers (of good)! (Surah Ali Imran
3:135-136)
10.
Having good manners, character and being humble
Many of us think that “a perfect Muslim” is
simply one who is correct in the observance of the salah (ritual Prayer), the
fasting, the zakah (payment of a certain portion of one’s wealth to the poor),
and the Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah). This indeed is not the case.
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 has forbidden.
One can never get close to Allah by being
arrogant, full of pride and having a bad character and manners. Those who have
humility and are humble and have good character and manners are the closest to
Allah and Allah raises their ranks in the hereafter. The best person is the one
who is best towards others.
The superiority of good character:
Hadrat Abu Darda, RA, relates that the Holy
Prophet Muhammad, SAW, said, “Nothing is heavier in the scales of a believer on
the Day of Judgement than his good behaviour. Allah detests a person who is
obscene and shameless”. (Tirmidhi)
The best friend in the sight of Allah is he
who is the well-wisher of his companions, and the best neighbour is one who
behaves best towards his neighbours. (Tirmidhi)
Having humility and being humble:
The Prophet (SAW) said: "He who was
humble for the sake of Allaah by one degree, Allaah (SWT) would then elevate
them to a degree till they reach the uppermost of high Orders, and he who was
arrogant to Allaah (SWT), Allaah (SWT) would then lower him for a degree till
he reaches the lowest of low Orders", (Narrated by: Muslim (Hadeeth:
6535).
Al-Nawawi said: The Prophet (SAW) said: “And
no one humbles himself before Allaah but Allaah will raise him (in status).”
Humbleness is to know the
value of oneself, to avoid pride, or disregarding the truth and underestimating
people. As the Prophet SAW said, according to Muslim and others, "Al-Kibr
is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people" [Muslim, Tirmidhi and
Abu Dawud].
Humbleness is to humble
oneself to one who is below you. If you find someone who is younger than you,
or of less importance than you, you should not despise him, because he might
have a better heart than you, or be less sinful, or closer to Allah than you.
Even if you see a sinful person and you are righteous, do not act in arrogance
towards him, and thank Allah that He saved you from the tribulation that He put
him through. Remember that there might be some riyaa' or vanity in your
righteous deeds that may cause them to be of no avail, and that this sinful
person may be regretful and fearful concerning his bad deeds, and this may be
the cause of forgiveness of his sins.
Humbleness is that your
deed should not become too great in your eyes. If you do a good deed, or
attempt to get closer to Allah ta`ala through an act of obedience, your deed
may still not be accepted, "Allah only accepts from those who have taqwa
(fear of Allah)." (Surat al-Maida: 27)
Please do not forget to
share with family and friends in shaa Allaah
Keep smiling
May Allaah (SWT) forgive us
our sins, accept our repentance, purify us from all impurity, direct our path
towards His pleasure and grant us success in this world and hereafter, Aameen.
