Maintaining a direct connection to Allah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

 

Allah says in Surah Anfaal;

O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to whom ye shall (all) be gathered.  (8:24)

The first part of the ayat has a lot of implications and importance.  When the call comes from Allah and His Messenger (pboh) you must respond.  Once Prophet (pboh) called out to a Companion who was at the time in salaat.  The Companion didn’t respond but instead waited until he completed his salaat and then went to Prophet (pboh) and informed him why he didn’t respond initially.  To this the Prophet (pboh) reminded him about the first part of the ayat quoted above.

Prophet (pboh) is reported to have said “Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart.  He turns that to any (direction) He likes”. 

Allah can guide us to righteousness or cause us to deviate.  This is why Prophet (pboh) prayed:

“Allahumma yaa muqallibal quloob thabbit qalbee ‘alaa deenik

Oh Turner of the hearts (Allah, the Most High), keep our hearts firm on Your religion”

We need to understand why Allah says Your wealth and your children are only a trial (fitnah).  It is because they can come between Allah and your heart and divert your focus.  The verse quoted above tells us that we should give nothing more preference than Allah.  Don’t let anything come in the way and hinder your connection to Him.

 

A true believer will carry out all the necessary undertakings of the world but his heart remains engaged in remembrance of Allah.  We have to get involved in the world for our livelihood etc. but don’t be consumed by it to the extent that you give preference to it over your religious obligations.

Do not put a ‘curtain’ between Allah and your heart.  Never forget that any time we do wrong a black spot will appear on our hearts, as Allah says: Nay, but they have put stains on their hearts.

Our goal should be to maintain a direct connection to Him.  It is not easy but possible.   Insha Allah let us all try to make this jihad for ourselves and don’t put spots between Him and yourself.  And leave this world in a clean and pure state insha Allah.