(330): How do begin drawing closer to Allah Almighty?

12/16/2010

The question:

Peace be upon you, our respected Shaykh…

I have a great desire to mention Allah (God) Almighty (Dhikr) and to purify my soul of mistakes and faults that I have committed. I hope that you can provide me with a step-by-step procedure, how I can connect my soul to Allah Almighty and advance God willing?

May Allah reward you with goodness.

Name: Samurai

Reply:

Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

I pray to Allah Almighty to strengthen you and open your heart to His remembrance.

To prepare your heart for which you’ve mentioned and to purify it from imperfections that have stained it during the preoccupations of life. I suggest for you sincere repentance (Tobah) in conformity with the words of Allah Almighty:

O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] on the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, {Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, you are over all things competent}. (At-Tahrim 66:8)

Thus, repentance purifies the heart and refines it from the effects of sins, as our Beloved, peace and blessings be upon Him, his family, and companions, the pious of our hearts made clear in his saying:

“Temptations will be presented to the hearts, just as the straws that are sewn into a woven mat, one after another. Any heart which accepts the temptations, by them will have a black mark engraved on it. Any heart which rejects the temptations will have a white mark engraved on it. The hearts will therefore become two categories: white like a barren rock; will not be harmed by any turmoil or temptation, so long as the heavens and earth exist.; and the other black and dust-colored like a cup turned upside down, for this heart does not recognize righteousness or renounce evil.”

I also suggest for you to dedicate half an hour of your day in seclusion with your Creator His Majesty. To sit facing the qiblah with your eyes closed and reading the following:

– Surat Al-Fatiha (once)

– Ayat Al-Kursi [2:255] (once)

– Surat Al-Ikhlas (thrice)

(Read to yourself like the prayers during the day)

– Send prayers upon our Master, the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, his family, and companions. An odd amount either three, five or seven times and so on.

– Begin remembering your Lord Almighty within yourself in your mind.

Maintain this daily and you will find results of light in your heart, God willing. Maintain good companionship, for it is a strong means to up-lift you, God willing.

I would like you to review the answer of question No. (131) on this honorable website.

God bless His name knows best.

May the prayers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Master Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions.