Among the beautiful names of Allah Almighty, one is Al-Wadood, meaning ‘’The Most Loving, The Most Affectionate '’’. Though love is a very pleasing human emotion, the most beautiful form of love is to love Allah. Once you embrace this feeling, it fills your heart with satisfaction and can not be compared to any other feeling or pleasure in the world.
To love Allah is very simple. You just need to obey and worship Him; your likes and dislikes should be according to Him. But remember, love always needs to be nurtured so that you can get the fruits of this love. That is why you need to take effective steps in your daily life routine to keep the love of the creator alive in your heart, and you will get immense rewards for it in the Quran, Allah says:
“If Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel saying: ‘Allah loves so and so; O Gabriel, love him.’ Gabriel in turn loves him. Gabriel then proclaims among the residents of Heaven: ‘Allah loves so-and-so; therefore, you should love him also.’ So, all the residents of the Heavens in turn love him/her. He/she is then granted the acceptance of the earth’s inhabitants.”
Keep reading this blog to learn how I can get closer to Allah, the Glorified the Exalted, and strive to intensify your love for the creator.
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If you want to boost your love for Allah Almighty, follow these practical steps and get closer to Him.
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Zikr
"…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (13:28)
Zikr is the central practice in Islam as it reminds you of Allah all the time. You can perform it anywhere and anytime. Keeping your tongue moist by glorifying Him saves you from worldly temptations and helps you maintain a stronger connection. The Holy Prophet (SAW) has told us about the easiest and his favorite izkar of all time. According to a hadith,
“(The uttering of) ’Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah), and Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great)’ is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.” (Sahih Muslim)
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Taqwa
A major step in how to be closer to Allah is to have taqwa. You need to have a fear of Allah and be conscious of His presence all the time, guiding all your actions.
Quran states:
There is no blame on those who believe and do good for what they had consumed before ˹the prohibition˺, as long as they fear Allah, have faith, and do what is good; then they believe and act virtuously, then become fully mindful ˹of Allah˺ and do righteous deeds. For Allah loves the good-doers. Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:93).
Taqwa is like a barrier to protecting you from wrongdoings, cultivating a sense of inner peace. To live a life filled with Taqwa, you have to follow the teachings of the Quran and the Holy Prophet (SAW).
The importance of Taqwa is beautifully narrated in a Hadith:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. Sunan Ibn Majah 79 From Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him)
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Prayers
The ritual act of worship that brings you close to Allah five times a day is Salat. It is just like a spiritual medication that reminds us we are slaves of Allah and we need His guidance in every path of life. Once you maintain a habit of Salah, you are halfway there, closer to Allah.
The Holy Prophet SAW has stated:
“The first thing which will be judged among a person’s deed on the Day of Resurrection is the Prayer (solat). If this is in good order, he will succeed and prosper, but if it is defective, he will fail and lose.”
Also, make a habit of offering Nawafil prayers to make more prostrations as you are closest to Allah in that state.
“A servant is nearest to his Lord when he is prostrating (in sujud), so increase your supplications at that moment.” (Sahih Muslim)
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Quran
The Quran is the greatest gift of Allah. Once you start reciting it, you will feel like you are getting a direct response from your creator. So, always make time to read this Holy Book and try to learn some of your favorite verses. Also, read books that explain the meaning of the Quran through Tafseer.
"And We send down the Quran which is healing and mercy for the believers. And it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss." Surah Al-Isra (17:82)
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Charity
Whatever blessings Allah has given you, you can earn His mercy and love by sharing them with His creation. When giving charity, it is important to offer what you value the most. For example, if you plan to give clothes to someone, do not donate old or worn-out garments. Instead, give those that are clean, well-maintained, and beautiful. These small acts of kindness carry great rewards.
The significance of charity is emphasized in a Hadith, which states: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Charity does not decrease wealth. No one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status." (Sahih Muslim)
From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
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Selawat (Darood Shareef)
One of the most beautiful ways of how to become closer to Allah is to express your love towards Prophet SAW. Selawat holds great importance in Islam. The more you send blessings to Prophet SAW, the more you will draw the attention of Allah.
In Quran Allah says, "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessings upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace." Surah Al-Ahzab (33:56)
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Repentance
Repentance is a fundamental concept of Islam in which you accept your sins in front of Allah and seek His forgiveness all the time. It purifies your soul and you aim to stay on the right path. So, no matter how major your sin seems to be, just bow before Allah and ask for His mercy.
In the Quran, it is stated that…”Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves…” [Quran 2:222]
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Calling Allah with Beautiful Names
As Allah has 99 names known as Asma ul Husna, each of these names reflects His qualities and attributes. To get His boundless grace, you can choose one according to your situation and call him again and again. For instance, in moments of despair, call him Al-Rahim to seek his mercy. When feeling anxious, call him As-Salam to get peace. Similarly, when you are feeling weak, call him Al-Aziz to draw strength.
A hadith states: From Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Invoke Allah by His Names, for He has names that He loves to be called by." (Sunan Abu Dawood)
Final Words
When you sincerely turn your life towards Allah, you will get his love more than you have ever expected. The more you love him, the more Barakah you will get in your life. By taking small steps, you will reach a level where you will be satisfied with everything you have. Also, with trust in Allah, you will start feeling more confident in life.
To know more about how I can get closer to Allah, you can explore the beautiful collection of our books at Dar-us-Salam Publications and get more information. May Allah guide you to the path that takes you closer to him! Ameen.